It's not easy being green.

Okay, so its the beginning of a new year and we've all decided to be better members of the planet. Right...right?

Well, you might not have decided to recycle your own waste or anything but a simple change in the bulbs you use in your house can make a TON of difference. Believe it or not, only about 10 percent of the power consumed is given off as light in traditional incandescent bulbs, the the other 90 percent is wasted, normally given off as heat. How did we not learn this in Science class?! On the other hand, a compact fluorescent light(CFL), uses power to excite the electrons in gas (mercury vapor) and can be up to six times more efficient. Even with that kind of good science behind it few are making the switch. Why? Partly because of the harsh glare. Well fret no more, the lighting industry is getting hip to our issues and is making a variety of bulbs with different coating in order to "tune" the color of light emitted and give us "soft, medium and hard" lighting just like with incandescents. The way to tell CFL lights about is to read the package and see the degrees in Kelvin listed, That number will let you find the perfect CFL for desired effect. Use the guide below (totally swiped from Wired Magazine) the next time you're buying lights at the hardware super store.

Living Room/Dining Room
You want warmer CFLs where you're entertaining guests. The yellow and red tints cast in the 2,700 to 3,000 K range make skin tones and clothing look softer and more inviting. Cooler, bluish bulbs will cause guests to look harsh and plastic, overpowering even the thickest beer goggles.

Study/Workshop
Go with cooler Kelvins for task lighting: The iris contracts in response to a bluish-green tint, making it easier to focus on stuff close up. Stick to the low end of cool (3,500 K) if you do a lot of reading; go high (4,100 K) for detail work like building model airplanes or painting the armor on your Warhammer miniatures.

Bedroom
Though a cooler bulb will help your bedtime reading, you might want to sacrifice Melville for Jackie Collins and go for something warm — around 2,700 K. You know, for business time. A few CFLs are available in dimmer and 3-step varieties, so you can cue up the Barry White and turn the lights down.

Bathroom
A CFL isn't the best option in the WC: Its lifespan, normally about 10 times that of an incandescent, is cut short when it's turned on and off frequently. So keep an extra incandescent around — or brush your teeth in the dark.

Backyard
Tiki torches are great for BBQ ambiance but foul the air with particulates. Go CFL and make up for some of the energy it took to produce that burger. You'll want warmth (so your food looks good) and brightness, so stick to the upper end of the warm range (3,000 K) to have your steak and see it, too.

And boom goes the dynamite! With CFLs you can get great lighting, save money AND be more green.