You might just be filling up on water from the faucet because it's convenient and you're thirsty. But when you turn to the tap, you're also saving money, avoiding plastic waste ... read full tip

You might just be filling up on water from the faucet because it's convenient and you're thirsty. But when you turn to the tap, you're also saving money, avoiding plastic waste (last year alone, an estimated 38 billion water bottles ended up in landfills), reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and drinking water that is safe.

In 2006, the average American spent around $455 on bottled water. And about a quarter of the bottled water sold didn't gush from any spring or trickle off a glacier. Aquafina (sold by PepsiCo) and Dasani (Coca-Cola), for example, are just filtered tap water with splashy packaging. They taste the same as the water from your sink. What's more, the enormous bottled-water industry has an enormously negative impact on the environment. Consider Fiji Water: It costs as much to transport it overseas and truck it to warehouses in the United States as it does to extract and bottle it.

To go a little greener: Tap into public water outside your home. Fill up a reusable bottle with tap water for the road. Ask for tap water when dining out, if the restaurant hasn't already made tap water its norm. Use the glasses provided for you in a hotel room. Drink from the water fountain at the gym, at school, at work. If drinking tap water still makes you nervous-and it shouldn't-you can invest in a long-lasting filter to put on your faucet. Tap water is stringently monitored for safety. So if you notice any unusual color, smell, or taste, it could indicate a problem with either the water main near you or the plumbing in your home. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has a handy guide for evaluating unusual tap water and addressing the possible causes. You've got some of the greatest water on Earth ready to drink at home right now. How's that for refreshment?