If you want to change the world, start by changing a few light bulbs. It is one of the best things you can do for the environment — and your budget.

Did you know that lighting accounts for 20 percent of the electric bill in the average U.S. home?

If every U.S. household replaced just one regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb, it would prevent 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

That is the equivalent of taking 7.5 million cars off the road. And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that by replacing regular light bulbs with CFL bulbs at the same minimal rate, Americans would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year.

On top of that, replacing one regular light bulb with a CFL bulb would save consumers $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. Factor in the fact that the average home has over 30 light fixtures and the savings really add up.

CFL bulbs use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and they last up to 10 times longer.

CFL bulbs also generate 70 percent less heat, so they are safer to operate and can also reduce energy costs associated with cooling homes and offices.

To save the most energy and money by using CFL bulbs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends replacing standard bulbs in areas where lights are used frequently and left on for a long time, such as family rooms, living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, and porches.

To make sure you get the same amount of light when replacing standard bulbs with CFL bulbs, check the lumen rating on the light you are replacing and purchase a compact fluorescent light bulb with the same lumen rating. (A lumen rating is the measure of light the bulb puts out.) Wattage varies greatly between standard light bulbs and CFL bulbs.

CFL bulbs typically use about one-quarter of the wattage used by standard bulbs to produce the same amount of light. So to replace a traditional 60-watt bulb, look for a CLF bulb that is about 15 watts.

CFL bulbs are available in many different sizes and shapes to fit in almost any fixture—from three-way lamps to dimmer switches—for both indoor and outdoor use.

CFL bulbs also come in a variety of color temperatures, which helps determine the color and brightness of the light each bulb provides.

With all of the choices now offered by compact fluorescent technology, saving energy, saving money, and protecting the environment is as easy as changing a light bulb.