If you want to avoid hanging mesh fencing to keep deer out of your garden, try this instead: Choose bitter and strongly scented herbs and flowers for your garden. Deer use their strong sense of smell to find food, so when you plant things they hate (like garlic, chives and lavender), it can act as a deterrent. The strong scent of unwanted plants acts like a fence to keep deer away from flowers, vegetables and fruit they find appetizing. It isn't foolproof, but it's a strategy that can minimize damage.

One of the simplest ways to find out if your tap water is safe is to search the Environmental Working Group's National Drinking Water Database (ewg.org). Type in your ZIP code and your water company name. A chart will show you the chemicals that have been found in tests and if they've exceeded the legal limit for safe water. It also includes summaries on pollution and EPA violations and compares your water supply to the national average to help you gauge the safety of your tap water.

Opting not to own a car is one of the biggest decisions you can make to lessen your carbon footprint, save money and make an impact on the environment. But there are times when a car could be handy to run errands or take a road trip. The app Getaround is making car-sharing easy: All you do is search for cars nearby, enter your necessary license and credit card info and unlock the car of your choice. Each car comes fully insured, and you can rent it for just a few dollars for as little as one hour.