The kitchen is one of the biggest energy hogs in the home, so every little effort to save energy there can help lower your utility bill and save money. One easy tip is to defrost frozen food before cooking. By simply remembering to place that frozen lasagna in the refrigerator for a few hours before cooking, you'll use 50% less energy to bake it from frozen. And bonus tip: Defrosting in the fridge also helps your refrigerator use less energy, since frozen items give off a chill too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

We all can’t be completely perfect, so when you do use a disposable plastic bag and you’re forced to toss it in the trash, do one more thing before throwing it away: Make a knot. Thin plastic bags that get caught in the wind and go airborne can end up tangled in trees and wires or become litter on the road. By simply making a large, dense knot in the plastic before tossing it, you can prevent it from being easily airborne. Of course, the best solution is to avoid plastic bags altogether, but do this if you must throw one away.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Are you tired of being inundated with catalogs in your mailbox? Not only is it a nuisance to receive unwanted catalogs, it’s also a waste of natural resources. To have your name removed from the catalog lists, visit dmachoice.org. This is the online home of the Direct Marketing Association, and the site will allow you to unsubscribe from all catalogs (or pick and choose which ones you actually want) at a cost of $2. Unsubscribing will activate around 90 days after you opt out and should last for about 10 years.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION