Most of the time we don’t give it a second look.

With the flip of a switch or turn of a knob we have lights, air conditioning, hot water and most of all creature comforts.

Not many of us alive today know what it was like to live without electricity.

More than a century ago, people used oil to light their homes and ensure a pleasant temperature when the weather was cold outside.

There was no air conditioning to save them from sweltering heat and taking a hot bath involved the time consuming process of heating many containers of water over an open flame.

Electricity and the amenities its wide spread availability bring has left us unappreciative of the work involved not only to bring it to our homes, but to maintain and produce it.

Power companies bring us that utility through a complex system. To power and supply those lines are generation plants, transformers and miles of transmission lines.

Using electricity is relatively cheap, when you take into consideration the work and equipment needed to supply it. But we should take every precaution to reduce our use of it when we can to keep it affordable. By turning off lights in rooms left unoccupied, reducing the temperature on your water heater and adjusting your thermostat when away from home, we all can do our part to reduce our impact on the environment.

Other tips to reduce electricity usage include putting timers on components used rarely, turning off water while brushing your teeth and unplugging items that are rarely used. And most of all, while the weather is still relatively comfortable, open the windows to cool your home. If you employ just some, if not all of these simple tips, your bank account will thank you.