I think I should get a cape, but it's really easy to change light bulbs so I will just wear a mask.

1. Change your light bulbs. We're sure you've heard
this before -- and we know it's tempting to buy the four-pack of bulbs
for $2 -- but compact fluorescent bulbs use two-thirds less energy and
last 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs.

Payoff: We've done this at our house and see the results in our bill. If Americans
replaced just one bulb in their homes, it would save enough energy to
light 2.5 million homes in one year and prevent an amount of greenhouse
gases equivalent to the emissions of 800,000 cars.

2.Save water. Run the dishwasher only when it's
full and don't prerinse dishes (a waste of time, water, and energy).
But the real water drain is the shower -- take shorter ones.

 Payoff: By skipping
prerinse, you'll save 200 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released
and $40 a year. And by taking shorter showers, you'll conserve 350
pounds of CO2 and keep about $100 in your pocket each year. We have low-flow shower head in our shower and I thought it would be like a drip, but it's great, I don't notic the difference. We also bath the kids together to save on time and water.

3. Unplug things you're not using. Turn off your computer. When in standby mode,
your PC is still using energy. In fact, 75 percent of electricity used
in your home comes from electronics that are turned off. Stop this
phantom electro rush by plugging your computer into a power strip and
shutting the strip down completely at the end of the day. Also, remove
your iPod, digital camera, and phone chargers from outlets when not in
use.

Payoff: Turning off
a 75-watt monitor for 40 hours a week might only save $4.38 a month,
but it reduces CO2 (greenhouse gas emissions) by 750 pounds, burning
450 fewer pounds of coal each year!

6. Reuse plastic bags. Instead of chucking 100
billion plastic sacks a year (wow!), try and get a second, third, or
tenth use out of them. Tote your lunch to work or your groceries home
in them, or at least use them as garbage bags. Better yet, next time
you shop, try a reusable bag. Learn how at reusablebags.com.

Payoff: You're reducing pollution. The amount of oil it would take to make just 14 plastic bags would run your car for one mile. I use the reusable bags and our old plastic ones, keep them in your car!