If you must print documents, one easy way to reduce paper consumption without noticing any difference is to change the margin setting. The standard margin setting is usually 1 inch from the sides of the paper. By reducing that margin 25% to 3/4 inch, you’ll get more words onto a printed piece and cut back on paper consumption by about 5%. It may not sound like much, but a Penn State study found the university would save $120,000 a year in paper costs if they did this one thing.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you have lots of laundry to do, it might seem like an economical and time-saving idea to slightly overload the washing machine. The problem with this cleaning tactic is the weight of the excess wet clothing will eventually wear out the machine's internal drum and start to decrease the machine's overall cleaning efficiency. When clothing doesn't have room to be agitated during washing, it doesn't come out clean. And running your laundry through the cycle a second time adds up to more water and energy waste. Save time and resources by not overloading your washing machine!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

The majority of plastic cutting boards are made from a plastic resin known as HDPE, or high-density polyethylene. This is the same as the No. 2-marked plastic found in items like plastic detergent bottles. When it comes to cutting boards, HDPE boards are the preferred choice because they can be sanitized and used to keep food prep healthy. But what you may not know is that HDPE is also recyclable. When it's time to replace your plastic cutting board, simply toss it into the recycling bin. Because it's the same resin as No. 2-marked plastics, it can be recycled and turned into other products.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION