Green living is becoming increasingly popular and with all of the improvements in household goods, a lot easier as well. Although it may seem like there's nothing you can do to be more energy efficient or environmentally friendly in your dorm room, you might be surprised at what you can do to stay green and save some green at the same time.

One of the best ways to start a green trend in your room is to replace all of the light bulbs in your lamps or overhead lights with compact fluorescent light bulbs (also known as CFLs). These bulbs, compared to regular incandescent lamps giving off the same amount of light, use significantly less power and have a longer life. Studies have shown that a CFL can save over $30 in electricity costs over the bulb's life and saves over 2000 times its own weight in greenhouse gases. Although the price of CFLs is slightly higher than an incandescent bulb, it's longevity and lower energy costs quickly make up for the price difference.

CFLs have received some negative press due to the fact that the bulbs contain mercury, a toxic element. However the Environmental Protection Agency suggests there is no need to call in authorities if a bulb is broken and offers a step-by-step list of instructions for how to clean up fluorescent light bulbs.

CFLs can make a huge difference in the amount of energy used by your college and a difference in the number of times per year you have to run out to the store to buy light bulbs! CFLs are available at most retail outlets that sell lighting or home goods.