20 More Green Things in 20 Minutes

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Little Thing #8: Don't throw away hard-to-recycle items, get your crafter on with our huge library of projects. Stock Photo

6. Green your smartphone

You use your smartphone for many things – from planning to tweeting to Web browsing. But mobile multitasking can quickly deplete your battery, which can often force you charge your phone multiple times a day. A battery-saving app like iamgreen, available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry, can teach you how to easily change your phone’s settings to maximize battery life – saving energy, time and money.

READ: 5 Smartphone Apps You Need This Summer

7. Don’t buy what you can make

It may seem commonplace to hit the shopping center for common kitchen and personal care items. But making some of these items yourself saves on transportation emissions, packaging waste and the use of raw materials. And some of these homemade substitutes only take minutes to make and are actually better than those found at the store.

SEE: Common Kitchen Staples You Can Make Yourself

8. Get crafty

We know what you’re thinking – crafts take time, right? Not always. And a quick and easy craft project is a great reuse option for items you’d usually throw in the trash. Use your crafts to decorate your own home, or give them away as gifts to spread the homemade love with friends and family. Check out our DIY craft ideas for kids, college co-eds and home décor divas.

READ: Last-Minute Homemade Gift Ideas

9. Take a break from beef

We’re not saying beef is bad, but red meat usually carries a heavier footprint than other menu choices. Switching from beef to poultry for an entire year can save up to 1,555 pounds of CO2 emissions, and going vegetarian saves 1.5 tons over the same time period, according to the National Resources Defense Council. If you’re not up for a year-long switch, try planning a vegetarian or poultry-based meal at least once a week. You may even discover a recipe that becomes a new family favorite.

READ: Compostable Meals for Vegetarian Week

10. Purge your plastics

You’re bound to forget your reusable grocery bag a time or two, leaving you with loads of plastic shopping bags lying around the house. You may end up using this bounty of bags to pack lunches or clean up household messes, and then they usually wind up in the trash. Remove the temptation by taking plastic bags with you on your next trip to the grocery store. Most grocery chains offer plastic bag recycling – even if the bags aren’t from their store.

READ: Will Aspen, Colo. Slap a Fee on Shopping Bags?