Mary Wambui’s Post

How can I lower my energy bills and what help is there for me?

"The ‘zero bills’ inventor A big part of that is tweaking the electricity system from the inside, which is what Greg Jackson of Octopus does, using software to profit from the peaks and troughs of power. Mr. Stark calls him the Willy Wonka of the energy transition, after the quirky chocolate-factory owner in the famous children’s book. Mr. Jackson’s latest invention is the “zero bills” home. Residents pay nothing for light and heat for five years. And yet, Octopus still makes money. How? The houses usually generate more electricity than they use, storing surplus in batteries. Octopus can sell that energy to the grid when demand and prices are high. (The free electricity doesn’t apply to car-charging, which takes a lot of power.) Fraser Jackson, 71, a zero-bills homeowner in the London suburb of Walthamstow, said he didn’t have a clue how it all added up, except that the math worked for him. Fraser Jackson at his home outside London. “That was a definite draw, the free electricity,” he said. On his roof sit solar panels that generate most of his power. On the patio sits an electric heat pump. In his utility closet sits a battery and a computer that shows him, if he cares to know, whether he’s drawing power from the grid. It helps that the house is built with thick walls and triple-paned windows. “That was a definite draw, the free electricity,” he said. There are only a few dozen zero-bills homes so far. Octopus aims to have 100,000 by 2030 by partnering with builders. Buyers get 10 years of free electricity. “You’ve now got a highly variable system of electricity — wind, solar — replacing the old world,” said Mr. Jackson, the Octopus executive. “But we don’t have a pricing system to reflect this.” He is lobbying to change that. Step one, he says: Let sellers like Octopus offer lower prices to people living near new energy sources." Free Electricity, Anyone? Britain Tries New Tricks to Green Its Grid.

Recently updated guidelines for energy savings offer homeowners and businesses cool (and warm) ways to save energy – and money – with Power Moves rebates. Learn more about #HSPF2 and #SEER2 ratings. Our #PowerMovesBlog has more: https://lnkd.in/gZ5N3Q5u #HomeEnergyEfficiency #BusinessEnergyEfficiency #PowerMovesRebates #TheCooperativeDifference

Keeping #electricity bills affordable is an important issue in households across the country. 🏡💵 What can policymakers do to address electricity affordability? In a new blog post, Bradley Harris breaks down various types of affordability programs and other policies, that can help reduce the cost of electricity. Read the full blog post! ⬇️

Americans across 12 states are tapping into billions in federal Home Energy Rebates to make their homes more energy efficient and reduce their utility bills, thanks to the #InflationReductionAct. With initiatives like New York's $158 million program, households can save up to $14,000 on upgrades like heat pumps and insulation. This national push not only lowers energy costs but also spurs job creation and training in the building sector, making #cleanenergy improvements an affordable reality for many.

Energy costs have risen by 10% for most UK households today. But you have a choice: accept the increase or discover how some are slashing their energy bills by a remarkable 1/3rd. Will you pay more or pay less? Want to know how to reduce your energy costs? Comment LESS below.

More States Poised to Offer Inflation Reduction Act Energy Rebates New York is launching a program offering homeowners up to $14,000 in total rebates for energy-efficiency upgrades to their property. This initiative is part of a broader trend where more states are expected to roll out similar energy rebate programs under the Inflation Reduction Act. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dhWDivjr #EnergyEfficiency #InflationReductionAct #Sustainability #GreenEnergy #HomeUpgrades

The data in this interactive story map underscores why #climateaction without #equity is not enough. As Drawdown Georgia has shown, we must reach #beyondcarbon to make a sustainable difference in the lives of all Georgians.

This data-rich interactive story reveals from many different angles why #equity is an essential lens through with to view the #cleanenergytransition. Low and moderate income households in the Southeast generally and Georgia specifically face a much higher #energycostburden than those living in other parts of the country. From the report: "Energy burden disparities are stark in the South, where energy costs for low-income households can exceed 20% of household income and access to efficient building technologies and quality housing is sharply stratified by race and class. (HUD considers 6% the maximum for an energy bill to be affordable.)" This is why you will see so many aspects of federal climate and energy policy focused explicitly on disadvantaged communities, like the rebates soon to be available under the #InflationReductionAct. In Georgia, those rebate programs to make weatherization, electric heat pumps, water heaters, solar energy, and electric vehicle charging more affordable will be implemented late this year or in early 2025 by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority. It will be critical to help get the word out when that is available. And, in the meantime, we need to see the Georgia Public Service Comm putting a priority on consumer impacts of regulatory decisions they make regarding rate and generation investment plans for Georgia Power. https://lnkd.in/epr3DpyX