Americans can save energy in a number of ways, not all of them as efficient as you might think.

The New York Times compared a number of such steps by three standards — reduction in global warming gases emitted, reduction in oil consumed and the dollar savings.

Their conclusion is that "while choosing energy-efficient lighting and appliances makes a difference, changing how we travel would make by far the biggest difference."

Energy saving light bulbs make a difference, especially if everyone used them. However the cars we travel in can make a much bigger difference by picking a more fuel efficient car or traveling by car less frequently.

According to the New York Times "The larger the vehicle, the bigger difference even a small increase in fuel economy makes. For example, buying an S.U.V. with fuel economy rated at 16 miles per gallon instead of 14 — say a Chrysler Pacifica or a Buick Rendezvous, instead of a Chevrolet Tahoe or GMC Yukon — cuts oil consumption and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by three and a half times more than saving 2 miles per gallon in a typical car — going from, say, the 23 miles per gallon consumption of a V-6 Camry to the 25 miles per gallon of a Saturn Ion or a Honda Accord hybrid."

Two miles per gallon may mean nothing more than picking a vehicle with the standard engine instead of the souped-up version, or picking the vehicle that has the best fuel economy in its size class.

The way we travel back and forth to work can make the biggest difference. The average commute is 23 miles roundtrip using an average of one gallen of gas a day or 250 gallons of gas a year which produces about 5,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. If trains or buses are available for the daily commute try to take them at least a few days a week. Carpooling is another good option.

To cut carbon dioxide emissions consumers can help by saving either gasoline or electricity. To decrease consumption of oil, saving electricity provides little help, because only 3 percent of electricity comes from oil.

The modest goal set by the Kyoto Protocol, which would have required the United States to cut emissions by about 3,100 pounds per person annually, are well within reach and something that each citizen can try to accomplish, with or without government regulations.