Tired of breaking the bank just to keep up with the Joneses? Forget fancy cars and other status symbols. How about a way to maintain a friendly neighborly competition that actually involves saving money instead of spending? Americans have a wealth of resources at their disposal to empower families to cut back on energy consumption and reduce their electricity bills, but we don't do a stellar job of taking advantage of that information. Recent research, however, has shown that homeowners are more likely to take efficiency measures with their electrical work when they can compare their own consumption to that of their neighbors.

Whose Bill is the Lowest?

The experiment took place last summer, when the Vermont utility company Green Mountain Power worked with Opower, a software company that specializes in behavioral economics. During very hot days when air conditioning use was expected to be high, the utility reached out to customers with tips on reducing the amount of energy they need to power their home electrical work.

Afterward, the utility gave a report which ranked households in the neighborhood based on how well they had done on cutting back. By the end of the summer, electricity consumption among Green Mountain customers had dropped by five percent during hot days. That's some serious savings!

Peer Pressure at its Best

That five percent resulted from simple behavioral changes like bumping the thermostat up a few degrees and using curtains to block out sunlight during the hottest part of the day – no major investments or new equipment needed, just a little peer pressure. This research should be useful in helping understand what motivates people to save energy in order to develop more effective outreach programs for utility companies around the country.

One of the big takeaways is that the utility didn't give its customers any kind of incentives or payments to change their behavior – just the money they saved through efficiency, and the bragging rights of being more conservation-minded than their neighbors.

"Some of the decisions we make are not entirely rational, and they are due to a lack of context," Kevin Hamilton, Opower's vice president of marketing, said to Utility Drive, "and by providing that context you can encourage individuals to adjust their usage in ways that can benefit both the customer and the utility as well."

Little Changes Mean Big Savings

People come up with all kinds of reasons not to implement efficiency measures: It costs too much in initial capital, they are too busy to think about it, or they simply don't think the savings are worthwhile. But the reality is that even making small behavioral changes can add up in the long run.

If you want to decrease the cost of your electrical work and impress your neighbors, have a qualified home services technician perform an energy audit on your house to identify the most cost-effective ways for you to cut back.

If the lights in your business are on their way out, making a change to your ballasts or bulbs may offer you tremendous opportunity. There’s a lot to consider when selecting the right ballast and bulb combination, however, and the decision you make today will affect your business for years to come.

The right lighting can result in substantial savings on your monthly energy costs, of which lighting accounts for nearly 35 percent. The right lighting can also reduce maintenance needs, improve productivity, and reduce your carbon footprint.

Watts measure the amount of energy required to light a bulb. Today, however, bulbs are measured in lumens, or the amount of visible light produced. Why? It all boils down to efficiency. Opting for ballast and bulb combinations that are more efficient than yesterday’s incandescents offer a superior return on investment.

There’s more to upgrading your lighting than simple bulb and ballast replacement, however. According to the SBA (Small Business Association), technology plus effective design equals performance and energy savings. Screwing in more efficient bulbs are a great start, but not enough if you want the whole package. Ballast selection and lighting design are essential to getting the most bang for your lighting buck. For this, you’ll need the help of a Mr. Electric® lighting professional to coordinate:

Finding the most efficient technology to meet your application needs and/or style.

Including taking into consideration ceiling height, spacing, glare, light distribution, and task plane height.

Including taking into account room finishes - paint colors and types that will improve lighting quality.

From safety considerations to integration with other building systems

No matter what type of lighting your business utilizes, from LED indoor lighting solutions to landscaping and security lights, Mr. Electric has your covered. Contact Mr. Electric and discover the many ways new lighting can brighten up your business today.

By Kristin Waites

Warm weather makes it more appealing to be outside after the sun goes down, and do-it-yourself lighting projects can add a distinctive flair to outdoor gatherings. Mr. Electric® has ways to power your tomorrow and help make your backyard the place to be on summer evenings with these great DIY backyard lighting ideas.

This inventive project uses a small can, a thrift-shop vase and a wooden stick to create outdoor lighting that looks store-bought. It requires a few simple tools, but is very quick to put together. Real or battery-operated candles inside the vase will cast a dreamlike glow across your yard. Try making a few of these and lining a sidewalk or porch with them.

Recycle old wine bottles by making a mosquito-repelling torch. All you need is a bottle, washer, wick, and citronella oil. You can add decorative stones or rocks to the bottom of the bottle to decrease the amount of oil you need. This can also help weigh the bottle down if you are worried about stability. Place the torches around the backyard where the flame won’t be blown out.

This project turns recycled cans into lanterns that can be painted and hung outside. Some of the steps require extra time, so plan ahead. Lanterns are a simple way to add color and light to your backyard or porch. Not only are they fun and easy to make, you can customize the paint colors and design to fit the atmosphere you want.

This is a simple project that can add lots of character to your yard. All you need is an opaque glass light shade and a string of lights. The string lights can be coiled inside of the shade and when placed around the yard, add a muted glow. They are also simple but striking decorations during the daytime. A benefit to this project is that the orbs are easy to reposition throughout the yard. Invest in a few extension cords to make sure you can put the lights exactly where you want them.