Save electricity, light the day

* Turn off lights you're not using

This is a no-brainer and certainly one of the easiest measures of all, and yet it is a key step toward acting with a conservation mindset. Just flip a switch to stop wasting hundreds of watts of power every day.

* Cut back on the lights you use

Indoors, use dimmers or decrease the wattage of bulbs. Opt for task lighting instead of general room lighting where possible. Outdoors, put motion sensors on light fixtures so bulbs only turn on when and where they are needed.

* Maintain your refrigerator

Because it is one of the biggest energy-users in the home, a refrigerator should be operated at maximum efficiency. This means opening the door only briefly and adjusting the "Cold" control according to the manufacturer's directions. Vacuum refrigerator coils to remove excess dust. Defrost if necessary (most refrigerators are frost-free)

*Use electrical appliances less

Only run an electric dryer with full loads or, even better, air-dry your clothes. Opt for cooking in the microwave instead of with an electric oven. When buying new appliances, check the Energy Guide labels to be sure they are energy efficient models

* Fluorescent bulbs

Replace standard incandescent light bulbs with highly efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, which use from about one quarter to one third the energy to produce the same amount of light (a 20-watt compact fluorescent will give you about the same light as a 75-watt incandescent). Though most cost considerably more than conventional bulbs, they last up to thirteen times longer which, combined with the energy savings, makes them a long-term good buy.

* Use natural light

To increase the amount of natural light that floods a room, bounce it off the ceiling and walls with the aid of louvers or operable blinds (light-toned ceiling, walls, and floors work best).

Hometips.com, Picture greengop.org