Lower the Heat
Most water heaters are set at 130°F or 140°F, but you can easily turn yours down to 120°F. You'll use less energy to heat your water and save up to 5 percent per year in water-heating expenses.

Rescue Your Mail Carrier
About 19 billion catalogs are mailed in the U.S. each year-many of which go directly into the recycling bin. For an easy fix, visit catalogchoice.org, a Web site that contacts companies on your behalf to request you be removed from their mailing list.

(Dry) Clean Up Your Act
About 85 percent of dry cleaners in the U.S. use perchloroethylene, a volatile organic compound linked to respiratory problems and increased risk for several types of cancer. Go to greenearthcleaning.com to find a cleaner near you that uses earth-friendly processes. If you can't find a green alternative, at least forgo the clear plastic bag-both to save resources and air out the chemicals-and return the wire hangers for reuse. (More than 3.5 billion wire hangers end up in landfills each year.)

Replacing your toilet? Opt for a low-flow model like the Toto Aquia Dual Flush (from $395; totousa.com for stores). Or, trick your toilet. Most standard models require 3 to 5 gallons of water to function properly, but you really only need 2. By placing large rocks or a sealed 1-liter bottle filled with sand in the tank, you can displace a couple of gallons and use less water.