Do you wait for a pot of water to boil before you add pasta to cook it perfectly al dente? Turns out, there's no need to wait and waste all of that energy heating up the water. Instead, some chefs say you should add the pasta to the pot of cold water, turn on the heat and place the lid on top. When the water starts to boil, remove the lid and cook away. You'll have perfectly cooked pasta in about half the time, and you'll save lots of energy, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Ever see a dry cleaner that advertises itself as an "organic" operation? Don't be fooled into thinking it's the same thing as organic farming. Since there are no regulations for using the word "organic" in cleaning, what it basically means is "slightly less toxic" than regular dry cleaning. These cleaners still use chemicals that are neurotoxins, and those products are still petroleum-based. Instead, consider if your clothes really need dry cleaning at all, and if they do, try to limit the number of times you take them in.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Ever wonder what to do with ashes from the fireplace? After the ashes have cooled, scoop them and save them for your backyard. Wood ashes are super rich in calcium, potassium, phosphorous and other minerals. You can simply sprinkle the cooled ashes all over your yard and mix them right into the soil. You can even add wood ashes to your compost pile to make it nutrient-rich, too. But don't overdo it; about 5% of the total amount is just right to make it the perfect compost blend.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION