Martha Stewart: Dr. Martha makes a house call

IT'S TIME for an annual physical - for your home, that is.

Living

areas

Diagnosis: Your lights are wasting energy, air circulation is poor from dirty filters and the sun is heating your living room like an oven.

Prescription:

Chances are you've heard it before, but replacing incandescent light bulbs with long-lasting, energy-saving compact fluorescent, or CFL, bulbs is one of the easiest changes you can make. And CFLs have grown up: Today, they give off softer light, work with dimmer switches and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. LED bulbs have become viable alternatives as well.

Install dimmers and motion sensors to reduce your energy consumption (and bills). Use motion sensors; they program lights to turn on when you enter the room and off when you leave (they sense when you're in residence, so they won't shut off accidentally).

Install a smart thermostat to facilitate temperature control, ultimately reducing your heating and cooling costs.

Apply window film or put up solar shades to keep heat out in the summer and retain it in the winter. Some also block ultraviolet rays, so that furniture, artwork and paint are better protected.

Clear the air with a HEPA filter, which removes allergens. Studies show that air quality indoors is often worse than outdoors.

Moisten the air with a humidifier to relieve cold symptoms or other respiratory conditions, not to mention dry lips and skin. You'll need to clean the filter regularly following the manufacturer's instructions in order to keep it free of mold and mildew.

Take off your shoes near the door to avoid tracking in dirt. This simple ritual can save on cleaning products and make air and vacuum filters last longer.

Replace your vacuum filter every six months to keep it running at full capacity and the exhaust virtually dust and allergen-free (vacuums can return to the air some of what you've just cleaned). If your vacuum doesn't have a HEPA filter, consider upgrading to a model that does.

Clean or replace filters in heating and central air conditioning systems as well as window air conditioning units to keep them operating at peak efficiency. You can clean filters yourself. This should usually be done three or four times a year, but check the manual for specifics.

Opt for no-VOC paints and stains to avoid low-level toxic emissions that can smell bad and cause respiratory problems and headaches. You can buy them in just about any color and finish.

Diagnosis: Your appliances are wasting energy and you're spending more on water than you need to.

Prescription: Choose Energy Star-rated appliances to cut your electricity consumption, but don't throw out perfectly good machines. A good rule of thumb is that appliances five to eight years old and in need of repairs should be replaced. Energy Star models may cost more up front, but you'll end up saving a lot. A new refrigerator, for example, can run on half the energy of an older one.

Vacuum the condenser coils on your refrigerator twice a year to keep it running efficiently. Be sure to unplug the appliance before cleaning them.

Purify your water with a filtration system. Under-counter systems attach to the cold-water line beneath the sink, delivering purified water directly to your tap. Drinking tap water saves about $500 per year and hundreds of plastic bottles.

Diagnosis: Your fixtures are wasting precious natural resources.

Prescription: Choose low-flow fixtures to cut water usage. Even a small reduction in your daily shower time can result in nearly 2,000 gallons saved a year for each person in your family. Look for a dual-flush toilet, which can save 8,000 to 20,000 gallons of water annually, depending on the size of your family. If you aren't ready to replace your toilet, consider a converter kit, which fits into any standard two-part toilet and takes minutes to install.

Questions should be addressed to Ask Martha, care of Letters Department, Martha Stewart Living, 601 W. 26th St., 9th floor, New York, N.Y. 10001 or by e-mail to: mslletters@marthastewart.com. Please include your name, address and daytime telephone number.