If you are interested in doing your part for conservation, but don't know where to begin, start by changing the standard light bulbs in your home and business to compact fluorescent bulbs. They are very cost-friendly, great for the environment and will reduce your electric bill, resulting in savings.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if every household in the United States replaced just one standard light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb, it will prevent 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, which equals to taking about 7.5 million cars off of the highways. And by doing this, we will save enough energy to light over 2.5 million homes in a year. The less energy we use, the less coal the power plants will have to use resulting in less emissions and harm to the environment.

Even though these bulbs do cost more than standard bulbs, replacing just one bulb will save the consumer over $30 in the life of the bulb, two-thirds less energy will be used and the bulbs last 10 times longer than the standard bulbs. And cooling costs will also drop due to the compact fluorescent bulbs generating 70 percent less heat. These bulbs also are backed by a minimum 2-year warranty.

For people who cannot afford to change out all bulbs in their home, start small by changing out the most used lighting. The kitchen, bedroom and bathroom lights are more commonly used than other lights in the home. And the compact fluorescent bulbs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and wattages, just about the same as your standard bulbs. They also have an exterior line of bulbs for lighting the outside of your home or business.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy have started a joint program called EnergyStar. The EnergyStar label helps consumers when shopping for appliances, doors, windows and other products because they are tested to meet strict guidelines to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly. EnergyStar has a website set up for consumers to report that they have made the step to helping the environment by changing their light bulbs to the more eco-friendly version. They have started the "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign to help the public become familiar with the compact fluorescent bulbs and the many benefits they bring to the environment. Every year EnergyStar has a celebration called "Change A Light Day" which will be on October 3, 2007 to promote changing to the more energy efficient bulbs.

If you are interested in making the change in your home or business and would like to record your pledge to help save energy and the environment, then go to EnergyStar's website http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=cal.showPledge. By pledging your change of light bulbs in your home, EnergyStar can keep track of your progress and benefits you make to the environment.