Rethink the Sink
Hand-washing a huge pile of dirty dishes can require up to 20 gallons of water, more than five times the water used by most EnergyStar-certified (deemed energy-efficient by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy) dishwashers in a single load. But rinsing them before you load them can suck up almost as much.

Most dishwashers today are strong enough to remove the food residue from plates. If yours isn't, take advantage of your appliance's rinse cycle, which uses less water than hand-washing. And always wait until the dishwasher is full before running it.

Switch to Recycled Paper Products
It takes 40 percent less energy to make paper from recycled stock than from virgin materials. Easy swaps to make today: Use paper towels and toilet tissue from earth-friendly companies like Seventh Generation.

Get "Green" Electronics
Computers and other gadgets gobble more energy than you might think, and many are made with materials that can be hazardous to the environment after they're thrown away. To help you find better alternatives, the Consumer Electronics Association has put together a guide to earth-friendly devices. So if you're thinking of buying a new laptop, cell phone, or TV, go to mygreenelectronics.com to study up. There you can calculate how much it costs you per day to run the machines you currently own-that will probably persuade you to spring for a greener replacement or two.