In a period when many Americans are careful with their spending, changing outdoor light bulbs can be an easy way to keep a house looking snazzy.

According to the Census Bureau's most recent data on outdoor lighting, exterior and landscape lights are a $2.3 billion market. While buyers can find some installations that cost thousands of dollars, other kits are available for as little as $50. Moreover, homes can get a dramatic facelift for the cost of a couple of new bulbs.

Jeff Dross, senior product manager at Kichler Lighting, told the Associated Press that lighting is a "fashion industry." He reminds home owners they should try to be up with the times, saying "You don't have the same pair of slacks that you had 30 years ago!"

Homeowners can update outdoor lighting with bright, energy-saving light bulbs not only to make a home shine bright at night but also to display their commitment to going green.

The San Francisco Chronicle suggests that people can "easily bring innovation into their homes" by switching to CFL and LED outdoor lights. This gives a completely new look to home facades and becomes a marker of the owners' tech savvy.

The paper reports that home owners are not the only ones interested in decorative, energy saving lighting techniques. One of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's latest projects involves constructing light-reflecting "green roofs" and updating exterior bulbs to CFLs on some of the city's major corporate buildings.