It may seem harmless, but you should avoid taking seashells when you're visiting the seashore. With beach-bound tourism on the rise, visitors taking home shell souvenirs can wreak havoc on natural ecosystems that depend on the shells, which are a vital material resource for nearly every type of aquatic wildlife. Birds use them for nests; fish hide inside them; hermit crabs use them for shelter and even microorganisms need them to survive. And even broken shells are vital, so leave them as well.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When you have a choice in beverage containers, is aluminum the most sustainable choice, or is it glass? The answer is aluminum. Aluminum as a recyclable material has more value than glass and is easier to recycle back into metal containers. Glass, while recyclable, has a greater chance of being contaminated during the recycling process; it also retains less value, is heavier and is far more fragile. Opt for aluminum over glass whenever you can.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When choosing paint to use indoors, look for semi-gloss or satin finish instead of flat paint. The slight sheen helps reflect more light off the walls from light fixtures, so you can use fewer lights and lower-wattage bulbs to save energy. When buying paint, you can avoid overbuying by using an online paint calculator to help you purchase the exact amount you need. These calculators use the dimensions of the room to precisely tell you the number of gallons and quarts you need for perfectly primed walls.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION