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Switching over to energy efficient light bulbs is one of my favorite "going green tips". If you are interested in doing what's good for your wallet as well as the planet, you should definitely swap out all your conventional incandescent lightbulbs for more efficient light bulbs (compact fluorescent bulbs, also known as cfb and cfl light bulbs).



This is such a simple change to make- the bulbs are available just about everywhere these days- and the savings really add up: according to Renee Loux, author of Easy Green Living, "one CFL saves 700 pounds of carbon dioxide emmissions"!

The problem with incandescent bulbs is that they are very inefficient; up to 90% of the energy they use is lost as heat. They are cheap, but need to be replaced frequently-- compact flourescent bulbs cost more initially, but they last much longer (up to 10 times as long) so you'll end up saving money in the end (approximately $45 for each bulb).

If you are at all confused about cfl light bulbs, check the Energy Star website. They have lots of information about how cfls work as well how to choose the best energy efficent light bulb for all your lighting fixtures. They also explain what to do if one breaks in your home (because cfls contain a small amount of mercury, they need to be sealed properly before disposal). If you need to recycle your cfl light bulbs, use the handy widget below to find a location.