When choosing an eco-friendly candle to burn in your home, it's always best to look for non-paraffin wax candles like soy, beeswax and coconut. But the wick itself is important, too. Though metal wicks are less common than they used to be, make sure your wick is metal-free; you can feel it with your fingers, since the metal can be woven into the wick fibers. Also consider a wick that contains no cotton. New candles use a strip of wood, which crackles like a real fireplace and doesn't produce any soot or ash when lit.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you're replacing the countertops in your home with a natural stone or quartz material, you're often stuck with leftover pieces from the fabrication job. Instead of throwing the pricey scraps away, use them as decorative pieces around the house. Ask the fabricator to make small rectangular shelves that can sit on top of radiators or be mounted on the wall as extra storage. Use small pieces to make beautiful bookends, and even use a piece cut into a circle or square to upgrade a tabletop. You can often find scraps at your local countertop company, selling for next to nothing.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Do you know what two things in your home are responsible for more than 50% of the energy consumption of your entire household? It should come as no surprise to find out it's your heating/cooling system and electric water heater. So if you want to reduce your energy waste by putting in minimal effort to get maximum results, focus on raising the thermostat when you're cooling your home, lowering it when heating, and changing the setting on your water heater to conserve and save the most energy.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION