Change a light, and you help change the world. Replace the conventional bulbs in five frequently used fixtures with ENERGY STAR® bulbs and you will help the environment while saving money on energy bills. If every household in the U.S. took this one simple action, we would prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars.

When buying new products, such as appliances for your home, get the features and performance you want AND help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Look for ENERGY STAR qualified products in more than 50 product categories.

Simple steps like cleaning air filters regularly and having your heating and cooling equipment tuned annually by a licensed contractor can save energy and increase comfort at home, and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When it's time to replace your old equipment, choose a high efficiency model, and make sure it is sized and installed properly.

Sealing air leaks and adding more insulation can really help reduce energy use. The biggest leaks are usually found in the attic and basement. If you are planning to replace windows, choose ENERGY STAR qualified windows for better performance. Seal and insulate any ducts in attics and crawlspaces to improve the efficiency of your home.

Consider signing up for <a href="/sites/aue/Environment/PurePower/Pages/PurePower.aspx">Pure Power</a> - Ameren Missouri's voluntary program that allows customers to contribute to the development of environmentally friendly electricity that is generated from renewable energy sources.

Use products in containers that can be recycled, and items that can be repaired or reused. In addition, support recycling markets by buying products made from recycled materials. Recycle and reuse materials to help reduce energy use, and to cut greenhouse gas emissions resulting from resource extraction, manufacturing and disposal.

Use a push mower, which, unlike a gas or electric mower, consumes no fossil fuels and emits no greenhouse gases. If you do use a power mower, make sure it is a mulching mower. Composting your food and yard waste reduces the amount of garbage that you send to landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Saving water around the home is simple. Municipal water systems require a lot of energy to purify and distribute water to households, and saving water, especially hot water, can lower greenhouse gas emissions. Look for products and appliances labeled as those that save water. They perform as well or better than their less efficient counter parts.<br></br> There are also simple actions you can take to save water. Be smart when irrigating your lawn or landscape. Only water when needed, and do it during the coolest part of the day, early morning is best. Turn the water off while shaving or brushing your teeth. Do not use your toilet as a waste basket - water is wasted with each flush. And did you know a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day? Repair all toilet and faucet leaks right away.

Tell family and friends that energy efficiency is good for their homes and good for the environment, because it lowers greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Tell five people and together we can help our homes help us all.