This Thursday, April 22, marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Countless Americans will be wearing hemp t-shirts and banning plastic utensils for the day in honor of our planet. But why not take advantage of Earth Day as an opportunity to set some year-round changes that might actually have an impact on the planet?

Switching out incandescent light bulbs for energy-saving ones, like CFL bulbs, may be the best bet for easily making a difference this Earth Day. The Wall Street Journal reports that CFL bulbs - which cost anywhere from $1 to $3 - use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 10 times as long as traditional lighting. These are the most affordable green lighting solutions on the market, and switching on the 22nd could reduce energy consumption and electricity bills all year long.

Another eco-friendly lighting option is the LED bulb. If every American switched to LED technology in honor of Earth Day, the impact on the planet would make a difference worldwide. EonEnergy.com reports that if the U.S. population used LEDs, carbon emission would be reduced by about 246 million metric tons. Moreover, the U.S. Department of Energy says Americans could collectively save $120 billion on energy bills each year.

No matter what kind of bulbs consumers use, everyone can cut back on energy consumption by turning off unused lights on Earth Day.