YOU’VE HEARD Replace regular bulbs with compact fluorescents
WE SAY Make the switch in certain rooms, not all
By far, the easiest way to save energy is to change out incandescents for compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), which use about 75 percent less energy and can last 10 times longer. So why hasn’t everyone made the swap? “The main reason is light quality,” says Josh Dorfman, author of The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget. “It’s still inconsistent across brands.” For a warm, incandescent-like glow, choose a CFL with 2,700K (Kelvin) rather than 5,000K (the lower the number, the warmer the color of the light), and pick a highly rated manufacturer, like GE or N:Vision. Then install CFLs where lighting isn’t a big deal, like in a hallway or bedroom, and keep incandescents in the living room and bathroom.

Finally, remember that CFLs contain a small amount of mercury. When the bulb burns out, call your municipal solid-waste department or go to epa .gov/bulbrecycling to find out about disposal in your area. You can also drop off used CFLs at Home Depot or Ikea stores.