(Editor's Note - the following letter was submitted by the FIRST Lego League Robotics team. As part of this year's challenge, the team conducted energy audits in the community, and have made suggestions for energy conservation. They have summarized these suggestions in this letter to the community).

We are a FIRST Lego League Robotics team. FIRST stands for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology." As part of our challenge as a team, we have been evaluating ways for our community to conserve energy, and save money at the same time.

We've conducted home energy audits throughout the community. We were surprised that many homes are not using Compact Fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs. These are energy efficient light bulbs that fit in regular light bulb sockets. They use 3/4 less energy than a regular light bulb, and last 10 times longer.

If every home in our community changed 10 bulbs in their home, for one year, each of those homes would save approximately $340. The community combined would save well over $3 million! That is enough energy saved to light over 18,000 homes for an entire year!

There are other simple things that we can do that will save energy with very little effort. These are some suggestions:

Use only CFLs - energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs use 1/4 the energy

Install an energy efficient, programmable thermostat

Install a clean oil filter annually

Install solar powered exterior lights

Install ceiling fans so that A/C runs more efficiently

Dust your light bulbs, it makes them more efficient.

Carpool or walk whenever possible

If you would like to conduct a home energy audit of your home, go to www.pobots.com, click on POB FLL click here, then click on BetaBots Energy Audit Info. This will provide you with an easy to follow spreadsheet that will allow you to conduct your own energy audit.

FIRST Lego League Robotics Team