With gasoline prices so high, the last thing you need is higher electricity bills. Unfortunately, they are here and will be around for the next 5 years. So here are things to do to manage that bill now and in the future.

Lifestyle Changes

Electricity prices this summer are higher than they were last year and will continue to increase in the next 5 years. The major reason is an over reliance on natural gas fired power plants and long lead times and uncertainty in building coal, nuclear and renewable energy projects.

Generating electricity from solar panels installed on roof tops is not a new idea. More people who live in condominiums and co-op apartments are now considering this solar option. They are tired of rising electricity costs and want to embrace renewable energy.

Condominium and Co-op Apartment associations and owners of larger commercial buildings can reduce their electricity costs and go green by installing wind energy on their roofs. The technology is here. All it takes is some persisitence.

Higher gasoline prices ultimately mean higher costs for materials used to remodel homes and higher food costs as well. Gasoline prices will also affect where you buy your next home and what buyers will pay for it.

We explore what electric cars are on the horizon and what you can do right now if you are thinking of abandoning your gasoline powered car.

Carmakers in Japan, Europe and now the US see the hand writing on the wall. No one will be able to afford to drive their gasoline powered cars when oil is between $100 to $330 a barrel.

Why we don't get it

Heating and cooling our houses is getting more expensive and accounts for 17 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. It's time to put the the sun and the 78 million house roofs to work with solar photovoltaic roof modules. By doing so, you could reduce your electricity needs by 30-50 percent.

Today I heard on the radio that some local governments were going to require home sellers to disclose to buyers how much it cost to heat and cool a home. While this seemed strange at first, I thought it made perfect sense given increasing electricity and natural gas prices.

When we hear metal roofs, we usually think of warehouses and commercial buildings. Not any more. Home remodelers are now using them for porches, porticos and entire roofs. They're also literally cooler than asphalt roofs.

Teleworking or telecommuting can easily reduce traffic congestion in large cities and help you save money. It's also good for the environment and you'll probably get more work done too.

Prior to 1978, the relative prices of gasoline, electricity and natural gas were not very expensive. However, things are dramatically different now. US consumers are still wondering what is going on and why things have changed from the good old days.

We presented evidence on how color can convey information in Part 1 of our ambient devices article. We now will discuss how ambient devices are used in Utility Demand Response Programs and how you can use them if there's no program where you live.

Color conveys a great deal of information to us everyday. It can even provide enough information to tell us when it pays to conserve energy.

Residential and small business customers experienced very high electricity during the summer. You're likely to do the same thing this winter when you see your natural gas bills. How come? Because natural gas is used to produce a lot of electricity.

Ignorance is bliss when it comes to our electricty and natural gas bills. However, the party turns sour when we look at our bill. The problem in a nutshell: you don't know the cost when you are actually consuming it!

You can build all of the electric power plants you want, but it won't do much good if you can get the electricity to where it's needed. Ditto for natural gas with respect to pipelines. This the second of a five articles on electricity and natural gas prices.

Now that you have read about how electricity and natural gas prices are affected and formed, it's time to use your knowledge. You'll use an Electricity Calculator to do that.

Demand Response and Advanced Metering programs now allow you to earn some money for reducing your electricity and natural gas consumption just like the big companies do.

Ceiling fans are a wonderful way to save energy and keep warm or cool air circulating year round. When installing two or more ceiling fans in a large room, consider wiring them to turn on and off in unison.

Using energy takes money, which ususally means more time spent away from the things we want to do.

Here are nine easy to do steps that will save energy, save money and time and do something positive for the planet.

What You Can Do Today