The current economic crisis has had the predictable effect of turning formerly free-wheeling consumers into penny pinchers nearly overnight. A slowdown in spending isn't the best thing for the economy, but signs of a new frugalness are still showing up everywhere—especially in how people shop for groceries. While the reduced trips to the grocery store and eating out less often help diminish carbon impact from transportation, running a large freezer 24/7, complete with ozone depleting refrigerant, might largely negate these savings.

Fortunately, there are green options that can restore the damage to your carbon footprint, and your wallet. GE is rolling out a new line of fridges that conserve power during peak demand, and process high energy tasks, such as automatic defrosting, when electricity supply is highest—handy, considering that your local solar plant is offline roughly half the time. GE is also hoping to replace ozone chomping hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants with atmoshperically-safe-but-highly flammable isobutane as soon as it gets EPA approval.

Another great project for the home could be converting an old chest-syle freezer into a fridge, increasing your food storage energy efficiency ten- to twenty-fold.