4/27/14

If you can afford to make only one repair at home, fix that leaky toilet. The average family of four in the United States uses about 400 gallons of water every day. That's for showers, washing clothes and dishes, flushing toilets and more. If you have a leaky toilet in just one bathroom, you can waste up to about 200 gallons of water every day, or half your daily average use. Multiply that by additional leaky toilets, and not only are you wasting water, but money is literally going down the drain. The repair costs to fix the toilet will pay for itself over time.

4/26/14

One of the biggest culprits of wasting gas and creating an inefficient commute is when road conditions are at a standstill. An easy way for drivers to get real-time current road and traffic reports is to simply dial 511. The quick call will give you actual information for your area about traffic, accidents, road closures and other important information that could impact your commute. By avoiding these areas, you'll improve your car's fuel efficiency and save time getting from home to wherever you need to go.

4/25/14

The Environmental Protection Agency has identified more than 90 known contaminants in drinking water, and many of them are odorless and almost impossible to detect. One way to make sure your water is safe to drink -- especially if you travel abroad where some countries have more lax standards -- is to purify the water yourself. The eco retailer company Real Goods sells a portable UV purifier that can purify 1 liter of water in just 90 seconds. Simply crank the handle on the side and an integrated UV light on top will destroy bacteria and viruses. It's reusable and can replace the need for thousands of plastic water bottles.