On the web

Go green to fight climbing light bills

The temperature is rising, and so is your utility bill.

Energystar.gov offers simple ways to cut down on your energy consumption, says David Dismukes, an energy economist and associate director of LSU’s Center for Energy Studies.

With its whimsical logo that decorates new appliance stickers, Energy Star helps utility customers save money and to reduce pollution.

A joint effort by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, the site shows the difference in costs between the average household and one using modern appliances in dollar amounts, and it can calculate your “carbon footprint.”

Skeptical that a government site will actually save you money? Consider this: Since its creation Energy Star has saved Americans $16 billion on utility spending. —MARY GELPI

JUNE DOWNLOADS

Violet Hill. This track, one of the best from Coldplay’s sessions for divergent new album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (out June 17), proves a little extra time gave the London soft rockers the breathing room to explore new sonic spaces. In this case “Violet Hill” renounces the twee falsetto Chris Martin had overused by 2003 and annoyed the masses with by 2005, and lays on distorted guitar riffs and a blues beat for a more engaging, rough-around-the-edges sound. This is a new Coldplay that is less self-aware and a whole lot more fun.

Jennifer Connolly in charity. As summer approaches, days are getting longer and hotter. Baton Rouge has it good with some of the best drinking water in the country, but imagine if America’s taps went dry? In this clip actress Jennifer Connolly walks to Central Park to draw dirty water for her family like millions do in Africa daily. Charity: Water wants to change that by building wells in impoverished countries. charitywater.org —JEFF ROEDEL