Water heaters ... Drive smarter

Water-Heater Improvements. Simple changes to your existing unit can cut your energy bills and carbon emissions by 25 percent or more. Wrap the device in a water-heater-insulating blanket and insulate the first 3 to 6 feet of hot- and cold-water pipes. These changes should take less than an hour to complete and cost less than $50.

X...X...X

Use High-Efficiency Outdoor Lighting. Replace standard 100-watt floodlights with compact fluorescent bulbs, which emit the same level of bright light and use a quarter of the energy. Also replace low-wattage halogen landscape bulbs with LED versions. They cut energy use by over 80 percent and can last for 10 years or more.

X...X...X

Drive Smarter. A few simple changes in your driving habits can improve fuel efficiency by up to 25 percent. Help reduce fuel waste by driving the speed limit, keeping your tires properly inflated, making sure oil and air filters are clean and stepping on the gas or brakes carefully.

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)