Let’s face it, the economy and the cost of living today was not the same twelve months ago. It had been, for many, a rather drastic change in economic climate. Major fiscal institutions have closed up, many small and medium businesses have filed for bankruptcy, and financial analysts have forecasted it will hang around for quite some time.

For the average household, this means tightening the belt a little bit more, cutting down on the expenses, and apply cost cutting measures to save up. The budget may need to have a complete makeover and a cut back on some luxuries to make room for the essentials.

This may mean enforcing some rules around the house like switching the lights off when not in use, pulling the plug of electrical appliances when you’re done, and using some practical energy saving tips not only to save money on the electrical bill but a way to contribute in saving the planet as well.

To save on your electrical bill, one of the smartest decisions you can do is replace your lights with compact fluorescent lamps or CFL’s. They can give the same amount of light compared to incandescent lights but they use less power and can also last longer. But the downside with these low energy bulbs is that they cost more than incandescent lights. You will have to invest some to save more, so to speak, once you see the latest bill after installing CFL’s around the house, and then you’ll know it was a worthwhile investment. They also have a longer lifespan, lasting up to seven years based on an average household use.

Incandescent lights such as halogen bulbs when compared to fluorescent lights have no significant difference in lighting output (measured in lumen) but there is a substantial distinction between the wattage, your G9 light bulb may be costing you more once you change over to fluorescent. Less wattage means less energy used, less electrical bill, and a big contribution to saving energy for the planet.

Another noteworthy feature of fluorescent lights is that they use less mercury than a halogen light, for instance, making disposal much easier. It was noted, in a coal-powered plant, that one 60 watt incandescent bulb needs 13.6 mg while only 3.3 mg is needed for a fluorescent bulb; thus there is a significant reduction in mercury emissions in coal-powered plants which are the major source of mercury.

These have a big impact on the alleviation of climate change, which has been around for decades now, in contrast to the recent dismal economic climate which has taken over the world. So not only are we going to contend with the unpredictable changes in the weather but also with the levels of unemployment and bankruptcy.

Start replacing your incandescent lights at home as well as the office. It will require some upfront investment because low energy bulbs cost more than G9 light bulbs but in the long run, it will cost you less in electricity bills and maintenance. You will not have to change your bulbs as often as you used to since they get dimmer after a long use.

It would also be your contribution in helping lessen greenhouse effect and climate change by using energy efficient appliances around the house as well as being more aware of what you can do as an average person.

So use fluorescent lights whenever possible instead of incandescent bulbs. By doing so, you are saving up on your money in these hard times which can surely help you budget your finances and on a bigger perspective, do your part in lessening the impacts of climate change.