...that

1. Turning down your thermostat by one degree can cut your energy bill by  8%. Consider installing a programmable, mercury-free thermostat to manage the temperature in your home.

2. An energy efficient washing machine will use a third less electricity for each wash, which could save you more than the cost of the appliance. Look for appliances that are Energy Star rated.

3. If every household replaced one roll of regular toilet paper with one recycled post-consumer waste roll, 424,000 trees would be saved. Read the labels and look for the % of post-consumer recycled content. Some brands with a high percentage include: Cashmere EnviroCare; Bio-Life; PC Green; Seventh Generation; Fiesta; and White Swan.

4. The energy saved from one recycled aluminum can will operate a television for three hours. Better yet, recycle he can and turn the t.v. off for three hours and read a book, go for a hike, play a board game with friends. Reducing energy use in your home will save on your bills and reduce your carbon footprint.

So, if you are in the spirit of making resolutions right now, consider making a resolution that will have real results - reduce, reuse and recycle! Small changes in our daily living habits can result in meaningful impacts for our environment.  

Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield has been "tweeting" photos from the International Space Station. Here's a beautiful shot of our very own backyard! Taken from space on January 10, 2013. 

The Huron-Erie Corridor: St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River and western basin of Lake Erie are visible in this shot. 

Note: there is some ice visible in the photo but most of the white in the image is not snow or ice, it's called sunglint (the sun's reflection off water into the camera).

Check out the Space Tweet here!