Do Just One Thing

Whatever type of blinds you invest in for your windows -- bamboo, wooden, cellular, roman or roller style -- they can help to improve energy efficiency in your home. If you live in a cool climate, blinds should be left open in the winter when it's sunny to help bring heat inside the home. But at night, they should be closed and snug in the window frame to prevent cold air from seeping in and to help reduce heat loss. Some blinds are more efficient than others, but any style is better than none.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you love wine and want to be a little greener with your purchases, consider glass bottles made from something called "Eco-Glass." Although glass is infinitely recyclable, it can still be heavy in cases and require a lot of fuel to ship from the vineyard to your store. Eco-Glass is 25% lighter than regular glass, with absolutely no compromise in the quality of the wine inside the bottle. There are some big players using this lighter glass; to find out if your favorite varietal is using it, visit eco-glass.org.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

What can you do with a bottle of olive oil that has gone rancid? While you may not be able to cook or make a salad dressing with it anymore, that doesn't mean you can't put it to some other good use. Old olive oil is a fantastic conditioner for leather furniture. Just rub it all over the cracked, dried leather and let it sit for 30 minutes, then buff away the excess with a clean towel to reveal furniture that's supple and soft. The same can be done with leather shoes; just a little goes a long way to turn dull leather shoes into a polished pair.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION