According to the Department of Energy, household energy costs have increased a whopping 12 percent from 2004. Even more startling is the price of natural gas, which rose by 23 percent.
The good news is that there are many actions Americans can take to lower their energy bills, and at the same time help the nation become more energy independent.
Keep Your Cool This Summer
• Use a microwave oven instead of a conventional oven.
• Use a power strip to control your electricity use. A large number of electrical products-especially home electronics-can’t be switched off completely without being unplugged. These products draw power 24 hours a day. Plugging them into a power strip to shut them off will save you money.
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 115