Help minimize global warming by using environmental light bulbs. Environmental light bulbs are a guaranteed way to save money and help the environment. The fluorescent bulbs reduce your monthly energy bills and their long-life prevents multiple trips to the light bulb store. Replacing one light bulb with a compact fluorescent or LED bulb can save almost $50 over its lifetime. Environmental light bulbs now come in all shapes and sizes.

Environmental light bulbs use about one-quarter of the energy an incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of light. To replace a traditional 60-watt bulb, look for an environmental light bulb in the 15-watt range.

Look for Energy Star bulbs. They are the most energy-efficient and have been rigorously tested. Energy Star is a government-backed, labeling program that helps people save money and protect the environment by identifying products that offer superior energy efficiency and performance.

Incandescent bulbs are far too inefficient in saving the environment? 90 percent of their electricity is wasted as heat, leaving only a small amount to produce light.

Environmental light bulbs meet strict efficiency criteria -- they use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, they are able to sustain their light output over time, and they have a minimum rated lifetime of 6,000 hours or greater (about 5 years of regular use at 3 hours/day) though the current average lifetime is 8,000 hours. What more can you ask for?