03/12/12

Today is the first day of Fix a Leak Week, the Environmental Protection Agency's nationwide effort to find and fix hidden water leaks in homes. Did you know the average home wastes about 10,000 gallons of water a year due to running toilets and drippy faucets? One way to find out if you're wasting water is to turn off every faucet, shower, washing machine, etc. Check your water meter, and then come back a few hours later -- if the meter reads the same, you're good to go. If there's a difference, you probably have a leak.

03/11/12

One way to significantly cut down on energy use when running a dishwasher is to skip the drying cycle. Take advantage of the time-saving benefits of using the wash cycle, then open the door when the dishwasher is done washing and let the hot water evaporate off the clean dishes. This is a great way protect your pots and pans; air drying helps keep nonstick coating from wearing off, which often happens during the dry cycle.

03/10/12

As for that unused treadmill, set of weights or soccer equipment you've never used ... If you have athletic and fitness equipment collecting dust in the garage, turn it into cash at secondhand sports stores, like Play It Again Sports. Bring your gear to the store, where a sales associate will review the items based on condition, brand and the store's current stock levels. The associate will determine the value of your items and either pay you on the spot or apply the value toward a trade. You can walk out of the store with new gear, money in your pocket or both!