Like other areas of society, there has been a data revolution in the energy industry in recent years. In the past, power companies delivered data to customers only in the form of paper bills with basic information, usually the total amount of energy used over the month and the dollar amount owed.
Today, however, many consumers have greater access to their energy data than ever before due to the implementation of smart meters by power companies and the arrival of WiFi-connected devices in the home, like smart thermostats, smart appliances and smart lighting.
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In the past, most consumers didn’t have many options (if any at all) when it comes to paying for the electricity that they use at home. However, with smart grids in place in many areas of the country, power companies are now able to offer different options.
Depending on what kind of energy consumer you are, these rate plans m… >>
Over the last decade, there has been considerable progress in updating our power grids, which until recently had remained largely unchanged since the early days of electric power. Using digital technologies, like smart meters and sensors, today’s modern “smart grids” are optimizing the delivery of power to your home and around your community.
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Along with changing leaves, cozy sweaters and pumpkin spice everything, fall means cooler temperatures. During this brief respite between the heat of the summer and cold of the winter, now is the perfect time to make your home more energy efficient.
Even if you’re mostly remaining at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic or not able to make significant financial investments in energy efficiency at this time, there are still many impactful steps that you can take to reduce your home’s energy consumption.
Here are five ways to improve your home’s energy e… >>
Today, solar panels, electric vehicles, energy storage and other technologies are garnering a lot of attention as we look for ways to decarbonize the economy and address climate change. But there’s one important area that sometimes overlooked in this conversation: energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency means using >>
The dog days of summer are in full swing, and you have probably noticed some changes in your energy bills accompanying the heatwaves. COVID-19 quarantine precautions of staying at home may have also contributed to higher bills these last few months. Why do energy bills go up during extreme weather months?
There are two reasons: weather impacts how much energy you use, and ene… >>
As new technologies are developed and introduced to various aspects of our lives, it can be difficult to decide which upgrades are worth committing to. Despite previous directives to use less electricity, there’s now reason to use more as electricity generation becomes cleaner. Beneficial electrification is the process of switching your energy sources from direct fossil fuel burning to electricity, which can be generated using renewable energy and low-carbon sources.
The three main goals of beneficial electrification for consumers are lowering prices, increasing the re… >>
As temperatures start to soar, energy bills also rise as you rely more on your air conditioner to stay comfortable. The amount of time almost everyone is spending inside due to COVID quarantining is also contributing to more energy use in the home. Luckily, there are many different ways to stay cool while using energy efficiently.
Here are six easy ways that you can save energy this summer:
1. Make sure your ceiling fans are rotating in the proper d… >>
While we all do our part to flatten the curve of the coronavirus pandemic, we’re all spending much more time at home, and this can make a big impact in how much energy your home’s using and, therefore, your upcoming power bills. If you anticipate needing help paying your upcoming bills, contact your power company as soon as possible – most have pledged extra assistance for customers during this unprecedented time.
However, if you’re looking to save a bit of money by cutting down your energy bills, you’re in luck – there are many actions th… >>
Right now, there’s a fight going on over the lightbulb. At the beginning of the year, incandescent lightbulbs that didn’t meet new efficiency standards were set to be discontinued nationally. These energy-wasting bulbs – developed in part by Thomas Edison in the 19th century – use electricity to heat a wire filament until it gives off light, a highly inefficient process that results in only five percent of energy converting to visible light.
However, the U.S. Department of Energy stated in late December 2019 that they would >>
