Many of us keep a pitcher of water or juice in the refrigerator. But if you leave that pitcher uncovered, do one thing: Look for a lid or place a small plate on top to cover it. A refrigerator will draw moisture from uncovered liquids, which forces it to go into a "no-frost" mode. This makes it work harder and use more energy. A simple rule of thumb is: The less moisture inside your fridge, the less energy it uses to do its job.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

You don't have to be a resident of a community in order to join a local public library. This is a great thing to do if you're going somewhere for an extended vacation. Instead of buying new books and bringing them with you, you can join the library at your vacation spot and check out books for free. When you're done reading them or your vacation comes to an end, just return them. This is a great way to avoid lugging heavy books, and it lets you be a little more green when you travel.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you forget your reusable coffee cup, be sure to recycle at least one thing from your single-use container: the cardboard sleeve. The paper sleeves are made from a flat paperboard and cardboard (which itself is often made from recycled materials), and they are recyclable with traditional cardboard boxes and paperboard. If you compost, you can also shred them into small pieces and add them to your pile. And of course you can always ask for no sleeve if it's something you really don't need.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION