1. Get New Bulbs
You probably know that those twisty compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) are more energy efficient -- in fact, ones that are Energy Star qualified use about 75 percent less electricity and last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescents. They now come in a covered style that resembles a regular bulb, so they don't look strange in fixtures and can hold up a clamp-on lamp shade. Manufacturers have also worked to reduce that hard blue cast typical of earlier fluorescent lights.

CFLs do contain a small amount of mercury, so you should follow the Environmental Protection Agency's directions for disposal and cleanup if one breaks (for details, go to epa.gov/mercury/spills). To find out which CFLs have the best light quality and brightness, the Good House-keeping Research Institute (GHRI) and consumer testers compared a standard 60-watt “soft white” lightbulb against 23 equivalent CFLs. The big illumination: Our winner's light quality was preferred over the regular incandescent! (See our picks at right.)

2. Turn Down the Lights
The lower the lights, the less electricity used. Setting your dimmer at 75 percent output saves an estimated 20 percent in energy -- and can quadruple the life of the bulbs. Since people often turn on a dimmer to full blast without thinking, the GHRI recommends the Lutron Skylark EcoDim Dimmer, which limits the light output at 85 percent.

3. Power-Off Savings
Stairways, halls and garages get a lot of through traffic, and people often forget to shut off lights once they've passed by. Install motion sensors that turn lights on when you walk in and off when motion is no longer detected. Indoor sensors range from $15 (with the sensor fixed in the wall switch) to $45 (a kit with a separate sensor to put where you'd like). Outdoor ones can cost $16 (for basic floodlights) to $100 (for more decorative or powerful models). Outdoor fixtures that are solar-powered charge during the day and don't draw off house electricity (they cost $60 to $100).

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