NBC25 NEWS – Some quick and simple things could help save you money and save the planet.

Darryl Birkenfeld's house is full of great ideas you could easily copy. You could start with something simple like changing a light bulb.

“They're compact fluorescent bulbs,” said Darryl Birkenfeld, Environmentalist.

If every home in America replaced just one old-fashioned bulb, it would make a big difference. Some said it would have the same environmental impact as taking 800,000 cars off the road.

“So, instead of having a fluorescent, a big fluorescent bulb, you know, like a lot of people have. They are very tiny, little lights, you can see them up there,” said Birkenfeld.

You could forget the lights altogether and open the blinds.

“But, these are low and double-paned, so they are more efficient than single paned or things we had 10 years ago,” said Birkenfeld.

Remember the toilets we had 10 years ago? They used up to five gallons of water with a single flush. In an effort to cut back on water usage, change your toilet flapper or install a new toilet that uses less than two gallons a flush. Another easy project is to weather strip your doors and windows.

“Lots of insulation; weather-stripping. I had to have them do it twice because sometimes they don't get it all properly weather-stripped the first time. But, it's a pretty tight door,” said Birkenfeld.

For a really well-sealed house, forget old fashioned insulation and consider the spray kind instead. If it's energy-efficient, it’s "r-rated."

“The great advantage of it, energy-wise, is it gets into every corner and crevice, and it really makes a tight seal,” said Birkenfeld.

There are other do-it-yourself jobs. Insulate your water heater; just wrap it and duct tape it or buy a programmable thermostat. When you are not home, it can change the temperature automatically.