There are plenty of good reasons to buy food and other items in bulk: You'll pay less in the long run, and you'll also cut back on wasteful packaging. In fact, bulk items reduce waste up to 90 percent by volume and 75 percent by weight over single-serving portions. And there are many creative ways to repackage bulk items for everyday use in your home. Keep bulk cereal, beans, and other dry goods in glass containers for easy access.

When heated, plastic containers can break down and leach chemicals into food. Reusable, durable lidded glass ones are safer for your family and the planet. Use them to store leftovers or dry goods like pasta and beans.

Save energy by turning the thermostat on your water heater down 5 degrees. Then install an AirTap from AirGenerate. It's a device that conserves large amounts of energy by drawing heat from the ambient air to warm your water.

To prevent winter's cold weather from turning your concrete foundation into 40 tons of refrigeration, Peter Lytle, founder of the Minnesota-based Live Green, Live Smart Institute suggests taking on the sizable project of adding a 2-inch layer of Styrofoam 4 feet below ground around the house. (Be sure the local utilities mark the gas and electric lines coming into your house before you dig.) Styrofoam, you ask? It makes sense because it's a stable, inert product that doesn't leach chemicals underground (it breaks down only when exposed to UV light or certain bacteria).

Analyzing everything from your basement to attic, an energy audit pinpoints where you're losing energy and how to make a home much more efficient. Because the auditor can prioritize what changes offer the highest payback, following the suggestions can save serious money and energy.

Machine-wash clothes, especially outer layers such as jeans and sweatshirts, only when they're truly dirty. Line-dry your laundry whenever possible. (If your towels or jeans are stiff after hanging on the clothesline, set the dryer to "air fluff" and pop them in for just a few minutes.)

Is there an alternative to tossing your unwanted electronics, other than letting them pile up in the attic? Yes. If your computer is less than five years old and in working condition, consider donating it (and any peripherals) to a nonprofit organization.

If your old phone powers up and the outside is intact, Green Phone will pay you for it. Visit their website and find your model to see how much you'll get -- usually between $1 and $10. Fill out a form online, print a prepaid shipping label, and send it. You'll receive a check in about three weeks. Green Phone also plants a tree for every phone it buys and recycles broken models free of charge.

Pre-charged or ultra-low self-discharge batteries hold their juice even longer than standard rechargables, and they are ready to use straight from the package for up to a year. Recycle these as you would other rechargables.

Set up a recycling center in your basement or storage area.