According to a recent survey, about 49 percent of all Americans made a green New Year's resolution for 2008. Energy, one of the largest North American providers of energy services has tips to help homeowners keep their green resolution all year round.

Among their tips:

- Change your light bulbs: Year-around, lighting can account for as much as 25 percent of a home's electrical use. Simply replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights that use up to 75 percent less energy. The estimated national savings would amount to nearly $8 billion a year - greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars!

- Upgrade to ENERGYSTAR appliances: ENERGYSTAR labeled products can cut your energy bills by up to 30 percent when you're ready to replace your heating and cooling systems - as well as appliances, lighting, windows, office equipment, and home electronics.

- Use the dishwasher more: One load of dishes cleaned in a dishwasher requires 37 percent less water than washing dishes by hand. However, if you fill the wash and rinse basins instead of letting the water run, you'll use half as much water as a dishwasher.

- Unplug the charger on your cell phone: When portable devices such as a Blackberry(TM), cell phone, or iPod(TM) are finished charging, disconnect the device and unplug the charger. Even if the device isn't connected, energy continues to seep out through the charger itself.

- Purchase a Rug in the season's newest color - Green. A rug is not only a decorator's must have, but it also helps insulate your floors and cut down on the noise too.

- Let the sunshine in. Open the drapes or blinds on sunny days and bask in the 'free' heat. Keep those south-facing windows squeaky clean to let the light through. Remember to close the drapes or blinds when the sun sets.

- Pledge to do one thing - even change just one light - and you will see savings over time.

(Copyright Newsroom Solutions)