THE LEFT LANE
Lip balmoholics

By Tanya Bricking
Advertiser Staff Writer

The confessionals are classic: "Recently, I have been covering my Bath & Body Works Cherry Lip Balm with Clinique Black Honey Gloss, hoping that I can convince those who care about me that it's just lipstick. They see through my pathetic ruse," a woman identified as Steph E. wrote. "Cold turkey won't work, as I just stage midnight raids on the Vaseline jar. I don't think I can ever kick this thing."

Fluorescents at home

Fluorescent lights, long considered mere factory fixtures, are becoming favorites of homeowners, who have benefited from a three-year program by the U.S. Department of Energy to increase fluorescent use. The new so-called "compact fluorescent lamps" use about one-fourth of the electricity but last up to 10 times longer than typical incandescent light bulbs. They come in a variety of sizes and are guaranteed to last five years.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if every U.S. household replaced just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a 15-watt CFL, it would be comparable to removing the pollution from 1 million cars on the road. Find the bulbs at Home Depot, Costco and Safeway; they cost $4.99 to $20 per lamp.