Do you know what two things in your home are responsible for more than 50% of the energy consumption of your entire household? It should come as no surprise to find out it's your heating/cooling system and electric water heater. So if you want to reduce your energy waste by putting in minimal effort to get maximum results, focus on raising the thermostat when you're cooling your home, lowering it when heating, and changing the setting on your water heater to conserve and save the most energy.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

You probably have a box of old baking soda in your refrigerator that needs to be replaced. But don't toss out the old box; you can use it to help clean around the house. Fill your coffeepot with 1/4 cup of baking soda and cool water. Dissolve the mixture, then run it through your automatic coffee maker. The baking soda mixture will help disinfect and clean the inside of your coffee maker, picking up mineral deposits and grime. Follow it up with a full pot of clean water to make sure it's sparkling clean.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Even if there are recycling bins at parks or other outdoor recreational areas you are visiting, consider taking your recyclable trash home with you instead. Wild animals can't tell the difference between trash cans and recycling bins, so they'll root through them no matter what. Glass and plastic containers that once held snacks can be tempting to animals, possibly causing them to get stuck inside with no way to escape. Taking these containers home is a good way to help keep animals safe.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION