Save hundreds on energy costs.

You want to save money as well as do your part to combat global warming. But what's the best way to get started? This special section includes the results from our testing and advice from our experts on the products and programs that work and those that promise more than they deliver.

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1 CHANGE YOUR LIGHTS Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) are required to meet certain standards, one of which is they have to save you at least $30 in energy costs over the bulb's roughly 7,500- to 10,000-hour life. While concerns about mercury content have raised questions about those more-efficient bulbs, they contain only a fraction of the mercury in an old-fashioned thermometer.

But the mercury inside CFLs means you should take them to a recycling center instead of throwing them in the trash. For buying advice on the types of CFLs and tips on the best places to use them, see "New Twists in Savings," on page 28.

2 PROGRAM YOUR THERMOSTAT Lowering your home's temperature 5 to 10 degrees at night and when no one is home can slash your heating costs by up to 20 percent per year. Programmable thermostats are supposed to make saving simpler. But confusing controls on some models might actually discourage savings. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, roughly 50 percent of homeowners don't change temperature settings at night. Check our report on page 30 for electronic setback thermostats that work best and have the friendliest controls and displays.

3 BOOST HEATING EFFICIENCY A new furnace or boiler probably won't save you enough to recoup the $4,000 to $5,000 you'll spend to replace it. Instead, make your current system more efficient by sealing any cracks or gaps in ductwork and by insulating the ducts. Also caulk any holes in your walls, especially if they penetrate between floors to an unheated basement or attic. Those holes turn walls into pathways that can siphon heated or cooled air from your home. Those simple, low-cost steps can save you up to 40 percent on your annual energy bill now, and you will keep saving even if you replace your system later.

4 ADD INSULATION Improving your home's insulation can save hundreds of dollars a year on your energy bills and pay for itself in as little as two years. Roughly 80 percent of older homes are underinsulated, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Start by sealing large gaps around chimneys, furnace flues, plumbing pipes, duct-work, light fixtures, and soffits in your attic. Then lay insulation between attic-floor joists and on the hatch or door, or add more if it's already there. Next, seal air leaks in the basement and insulate ceilings in unheated basements and around the walls in heated basements or unvented crawl spaces.