On a hot summer day, it's best to try to park your car in a shaded spot. But if this isn't possible, be sure to take with you or store personal electronics. Exposure to intense heat from the sun's rays can quickly deteriorate the lifespan of electronic items like smartphones and GPS devices. Unplug the items and place them inside glove compartments if you're away from the car for a short period of time; if you're gone for an extended time, bring them with you. Doing this one simple trick will help prolong the lifespan of these electronics.

In the hot summer months, sometimes a portable air conditioner is necessary to keep rooms habitable. If you use a window air conditioning unit, be sure to choose a window that's shaded or north-facing. Doing this helps the unit draw in cooler air, which means it uses less energy to blow cool air into your home. And avoid having direct sunlight on it or placing it near heat-generating items like televisions and lamps with incandescent lightbulbs. Anything that produces heat can make the air conditioner work harder.

When you're driving down the road enjoying an apple, pear or nectarine, has the thought of tossing the core of the fruit into the woods crossed your mind? It's completely natural and biodegradable, so why not? The reality is that food is food, and when edible trash like an apple core is tossed out of the car window, it ends up not too far from the road. The smell of food attracts wild animals, who get dangerously close to the road. And even if an animal eats the core without harm, it learns that the sides of the road are potential places for food. No litter -- even the biodegradable kind -- is safe litter.