Did you know your water heater can also take a vacation? Maybe it can't visit a faraway destination, but it can be set to use less energy when you place it on "vacation" or "away" mode. In some homes, a water heater can account for as much as 25% of your home's overall energy usage. And as always, raise or lower your thermostat depending on the season; according to the Department of Energy, set it to 85 degrees in the summer and 50 degrees during colder months.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When visiting our national parks, there are a few easy tips you can use to help keep them pristine and make your impact as light as possible. First, always stick to the marked trails; when you go "off-trail," you risk crushing vegetation and creating other unintentional damage. Also, consider visiting when it isn't peak season for park visitation; a high influx of people can strain the landscape and overall infrastructure of the park.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Nobody wants to hit a deer while driving a car, and the reality is that avoiding a collision with the first deer often leads to a collision with a second deer. Research says that 70% of all deer-related car crashes occur because a driver slowed to avoid the deer they saw, then sped up again, failing to see the ones right behind them, resulting in a crash. Female deer often have one or two baby fawns -- some as big as an adult deer -- running right behind them. When you see one deer, slow down and drive at a crawl while scanning the road sides until you know the coast is clear.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION