Many of us are converting our garages into workspaces and adding things like air conditioners and heaters to make it habitable for year-round use. To make your garage as energy-efficient as possible, make sure the door is as insulated as possible. Avoid garage doors with windows; they are rarely well-insulated and can leak air very easily. Try to use “triple-layer” doors, which have foam insulation that protects from the elements. And if you use a garage-door opener, opt for one that is designed for low-energy standby mode; it won’t draw as much energy when it's not in use.

Many of us look for safer alternatives to bleach, especially when it comes to disinfecting countertops and surfaces in places like the bathroom. And while white vinegar has been hailed as a biodegradable and disinfecting ingredient here at Do Just One Thing, it’s not strong enough to kill tough bacterial strains like staphylococcus. If you want to truly disinfect, use a vinegar/water solution as a general cleaner and spray hydrogen peroxide after the first clean. This is an antimicrobial approach that can be just as effective as bleach.

The independent Environmental Working Group (EWG) has assembled a list of fruits that “pack the most nutrition for the lowest cost, are low in sugar and toxic pesticides and have plenty of vitamin C, fiber, folate and potassium.” When you’re trying to eat healthy and green on a budget, the EWG says to aim for two servings of these fruits per day. The list includes apricots, avocado, bananas, cantaloupe, watermelon, tangerine, nectarines, papaya and orange juice. Even dried apricots, mango, raisins and prunes are nutritionally dense and have low pesticide loads.