Do Just One Thing

While air conditioners, furnaces, kitchen appliances and water heaters make up the bulk of electricity usage in your home, your entertainment devices account for about 4% of the total energy used. This consumption is easy to reduce simply by making sure the devices are totally powered off when not in use. This includes televisions, cable boxes, Wi-Fi routers and video game consoles. To avoid wasting energy, unplug items whenever you're not using them, and turn down the brightness on anything with a monitor.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

To help with cleanup and extend the life of your bakeware, consider silicone liners. Silicone bakeware and liners that go on top of existing metal bakeware are naturally nonstick, and they're safe -- they do not leach any harmful chemicals into your food when you use them. They are a breeze to clean, and they also allow you to bake, roast and microwave food without the need for extra oil or grease. While silicone is not recyclable or biodegradable, it is highly durable and is considered ocean-friendly, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Your beloved air fryer not only saves you time, but it's an energy saver, too. On average, it only costs about 25 cents in energy to run a standard air fryer for an hour (divide that by the few minutes it takes to make crispy fries, and it adds up to pennies per use). In comparison to a large gas or electric oven, an air fryer is around 35% to 50% more efficient. Over a year, using an air fryer instead of an oven can save you around $100 in electricity costs alone.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION