12.04 - Is it normal for compiz to consume 40% of my CPU with no other programs running?

When I have no other programs running, compiz takes up at least 40% of my CPU.
Is this normal? If it is normal, is there anyway I could make this program take a smaller percentage?

Edit: As of Ubuntu 12.10 this is no longer an option, as Unity-2D was dropped with quantal.

I have the same issues with cpu usage because of compiz. My workaround was to switch session from Ubuntu to Ubuntu 2D.