Energy Star

Making the lighting in your home more energy-efficient is as simple as changing a light bulb. Energy Star-approved light bulbs and fixtures provide bright, warm light but use about 75 percent less energy than standard lighting, produce 75 percent less heat, and last up to 10 times longer, according to the Energy Star web site.

To save the most money and energy, replace the bulbs in the highest-used fixtures with energy-efficient models. The most-used lights in a home are usually kitchen ceiling lights, living room floor and table lamps, and outdoor porch lamps. If every American home replaced the five most frequently used light fixtures or the bulbs in them with ones that have earned the Energy Star, we would save close to $8 billion each year in energy costs, and together we would prevent the greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars, according to Energy Star statistics.

Lighting uses about 15 percent of the electricity consumed in a home, and aside from changing out bulbs and fixtures, other simple changes can make a difference. Turning off lights when you don't need them remains a good idea. Dimmers save energy, and outdoor timers do, too.

There are many Energy Star-approved products on the market today, and you can find the specially marked items in your local home improvement store. Light bulbs and fixtures, ceiling fans, decorative light strings, exit signs, and even traffic signals now come in Energy Star-approved versions. If you decide to go the energy-efficient route, there are so many products available today, it should make your transition easy and worthwhile.