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" Switch to compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). These spiral-shaped bulbs, priced as low as $3 each, are the new green standard when it comes to environmentally friendly redecorating because they use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. Each bulb you install could save $30 on your utility bill over the bulb&amp;#039;s lifetime. Find your carbon footprint. Log on to carbonfootprint.com to see where you stand now \u2014 then try to lower it by going vegetarian one night a week, cutting out one trip to the grocery store, or buying only those fruits and vegetables that are in season (an easy challenge to meet in the summer!). Instead of a book club, try a green club. Schedule a meeting once a month with friends and discuss ways to go green. See conversation topics at idealbite.com, treehugger.com, thedailygreen.com.  The next time you shop online, go to climatecooler.com. This retailer offers products from namebrand vendors like Apple, Netflix, The Body Shop, Barnes &amp;amp;amp; Noble, and more. Every purchase you make will help offset greenhouse-gas emissions \u2014 at no extra cost. Change the air filter on your car. This should be done at least once a year (more if you live in a highly polluted area). Changing a dirty filter can save the equivalent of 28 cents per gallon of gas. Slay your energy vampires. The easiest way to do this is to plug electric appliances into a power strip, then turn off the strip at night or other times when the appliances aren&amp;#039;t in use. Invest in a programmable thermostat. Using one can save $150 a year on energy costs. Or simply set your thermostat 1 degree higher for air-conditioning and 1 degree lower for heating. You won&amp;#039;t feel the difference \u2014 but you will notice a lower utility bill.  Create an indoor garden. Houseplants remove volatile organic compounds, or VOCs (emitted from things such as paints, synthetic materials, and cleaning supplies), from the air. Free your lint bunnies. A dirty lint filter causes your dryer to use 30 percent more energy. Switch to sponges for daily cleanup. One sponge can last the equivalent of 17 rolls of paper towels! Just sap it in the microwave for two minutes each week to get rid of germs (make sure it&amp;#039;s thoroughly wet first to avoid a potential fire hazard). Conserve when you compute. Set your printer&amp;#039;s default to double-sided, if it&amp;#039;s an option, to save paper; set the computer to sleep after five minutes of idle time. Say no to catalogs. Sign up at catalogchoice.com to get rid of the catalogs that go from the mailbox straight to the trashcan. Set your wash cycle to cold. Environmental advocates say a cold wash will clean your laundry just as well as a hot one \u2014 and you&amp;#039;ll save up to $63 a year. Wrap up your hot-water heater. Use a thick fiberglass blanket (around $20 at hardware stores) to insulate your hot-water heater and reduce your energy bill. Share a purchase. Try splitting large-ticket items, like a lawn mower, with a neighbor, or check out freecycle.org to find necessary items up for grabs in your area. Rethink your lawn care. Generally, grass needs only 1 inch of water a week, including rain, to stay healthy. So install a rain gauge outside. Save any additional watering for an early morning, when the sun is less intense and the water won&amp;#039;t evaporate as quickly. Shave two minutes off your shower. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, even a five-minute shower uses 10-25 gallons of water. Buy in bulk. Stock up on nonperishables when possible; it saves trips to the store and eliminates unnecessary packaging.  Stick to the speed limit. Even driving at 65 mph instead of 55 mph increases fuel consumption by 15 percent. Green your giving. Mark occasions with show tickets or restaurant certificates instead of material presents. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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