What's one way to save more than $100 and 4,600 gallons of water a year? Shut off the shower when you are shampooing and conditioning your hair. Typical showers account for around 17% of the average household use of water, making showering the second-biggest water hog in the home. Just turning off the shower for a minute while shampooing can cut down on both energy and water usage. Bonus points if you opt for shampoo bars over plastic bottles to cut back on plastic consumption.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American family spends about $2,000 a year combined on household heating, cooling and electricity. One way to help reduce those costs is to think about how to save money when nobody is in the house. If you turn back your thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees for at least eight hours a day, it's estimated you can reduce your costs by as much as 10%. You can save even more if your home is empty for longer periods of time. Over a year, you can reap a few hundred dollars in savings with this one simple switch.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

While it may seem all-natural, burning incense in your home can equal the polluting effects of smoking cigarettes. Incense sticks contain the chemical benzene, which is also found in cigarettes, and this carcinogen is released into the air when you burn it. Instead, try oil burners for fragrant scents. Burners warm up scented oil using a candle and gently waft the scent without releasing any smoke into the air.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION