At my daughter's urging, I finally broke down and bought the curley lights at the local 99-cent store. Lowe's wanted near $3 each for the darn things. I didn't know we had so many light sockets. I replaced something like 17 lights. If our monthly PG&E bill is an indication, we've saved about $10.

Moral of the story: If an alternative is affordable and there is a direct benefit I can see, I'm game to try something new or innovative. Telling me to "fight" air pollution by parking my car and riding a bike in 100 degree heat is stupid.

 I too went "curley light" except in the bathroom where the pair of tulip shades looked absolutely ridiculous with those things sticking out of them.  Ehhhh as the buzzer says....out they went and those energy wasting incandescents went right back in.

My motive was green only in the sense that if they saved me money, it was cool with me.  Speaking of cool, the little heat spell we had Sunday and into Sunday evening showed me I'm not as tough as I hoped to be this summer.  Last year I used the county a/c during the day but this year I'm afraid it's going to bite ME since I'm now home during the day.  Odd how I noticed the increase in use of household products now that I'm not working full time.  A 12 pack of TP used to last a LOT longer then it does now.  Spending anywhere from 9 to 12 hours a day away from home and sleeping another 6 or so made a big difference in ....  well nevermind.  Maybe a little TMI. 

:-)

You can buy the CFL's at FoodCo periodically at a four-pack for 98 cents.  With the exception of appliance lights and one reading lamp, every bulb in our house has been replaced. 

 Of course, after I replaced our light bulbs I learned that I will die from the mercury if one of them breaks. Go back to candles and kerosene lamps?

And you won't die from the ensuing fires?  (The mercury "threat" is way overblown--yes, dispose of them properly, but no, the tiny bit of mercury isn't going to kill you.)

We have the CFLs throughout the house now, as well. I'm still the lone ranger on the block with my blue can every other Wednesday for recycling, and the lone garbage can on the block not filled to overflowing on our garbge pick-up day.  We have dual pane windows throughout the place. Keeps down on the noise as well as a better insulator. I use my coffee grounds as the nitrogen nutrient for my lawn and garden, with the occasional banana peel. I drive much less these days.

 Yes, The first thing we did was change all the bulbs in our house. We got ours at home depot because I really don't trust the durability of the $1.00 store bulbs.

We stopped buying water bottles and now just refill sport bottles when needed.

We don't buy paper towels or paper napkins.

We bought cloth shopping bags at Walmart to use in place of the plastic bags. Now if we can just remember to bring them when we shop!! ha Ha

I've started buying eco friendly cleaners and soaps but am still looking for a really good one. (any suggestions there?)

We buy in bulk on most things like snacks and stuff to keep from buying the individual pks.

Stuff like that.

But like I said we are still trying to figure it out. There is so stinking much more we need to do ha ha

Honestly It does make me feel better to do something :-)

 yes i have gone green to.Instead of pouring my used motor oil down the storm drain I now have my oil changed at the lube and go.....

 Oh yeah,  Adam reminded me. We are going to start a compost box. I have never had one before. We got it at Sams for only $40.00 and thought we would give it a try. My biggeset fear is it will stink! We'll see :-0

Also my husband just ordered a Neuton lawnmower. It is supossed to be wonderful but... again we'll see ha ha ha

:-)

 We replaced our light bulbs as well.  We recycle our water bottles and also use our sports botlles. Itry to recycle my cans and plastics.  Nothing big but we are trying and it's a step.

In my house we have 3 cars, teenager hates to drive, not only is it common sense but now I make her go with us if we are all headed to the same place, saving her gas is my excuse;)

 The "curley bulbs" (love that name!) have replaced most of our indoor lights.  We use them on the outside fixtures, too.  Our water bottles and soda cans go to the recycle center (can't see paying the city to take them away).  Also, last year we turned in our gas mower and got a certificate for a Neuton mower (great price) -- we love it.  It's easy to maneuver and I can handle it on my own.  We're also planning to buy/lease a hybrid car this spring to use for long distance trips and for going to and from work.  We're working on it one step at a time. 

 Ford has a Hybrid Escape I'd love to get.

 Well when gas went up and up, I parked my Hot rod Roadster and that makes me cry... I so loved to drive that critter, but She is a bit of a drinker, not a full drunk by any means... So I bought a People 150 cc scooter to get around town... 70 plus mpg there abouts... Depending how hard you push it,  but I love saving at least $5 everyday, for each trip to the coffee shop... and yes I changed to the cool watt savers only because they are so much cooler and that makes them much safer... A cat had knocked down a cloth screen that I had set up in my shop, directly onto a lit lamp, with a cool bulb (curly) it sat there all weekend and no fire! That sold me on them....  I just use everything over as many times as possible...that is how I recycle...