CFLs

One of the most effective ways to lower your energy use is as easy as changing a light bulb. By replacing the traditional incandescent bulbs in your home's light fixtures with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), you can rack up big savings. CFLs produce the same light output as incandescent bulbs while using only about a quarter of the energy and producing 90 percent less heat.

Replace the bulbs in your home's five most frequently used light fixtures, and you can save more than $60 a year in electricity alone. Because CFLs last up to 10 times longer, you'll save even more by replacing them less often. Over the life of each bulb, the savings total up to about $25. In fact, if every U.S. household replaced just one incandescent light bulb with a CFL, we'd eliminate more than 35 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

To choose the right CFL, check the lumen (light output) rating on the package of incandescent bulbs, and then choose a CFL with a similar rating. For example, 75-watt incandescent bulbs usually produce about 1,100 lumens. So when you shop for a CFL, look for one that also produces around 1,100 lumens. While safe, CFLs do contain small amounts of mercury, so it's important to dispose of them properly.