Electricity that is commonplace today in our homes and workplaces started at a power plant. There are many ways in which electricity can be produced from these power plants, including fossil fuels, hydroelectric, wind, and solar (photovoltaic).

Electrical discharge takes place when an electric current flows through a material that is normally an insulator.

Grounding allows surplus electricity to be filtered into the Earth, which has a negative charge. Without grounding, there is the possibility that electricity could build up and cause dangerous shock or fire risks. 

Many homes built before 1965 do not have proper grounding systems in place. However, it never hurts to check if you are concerned. Look at your electrical outlets. If you have any two-pronged outlets, these are not grounded. However, now look at your three-pronged outlets. Simply having a three-prong outlet does not mean it is inherently grounded. To test your outlets, use a multimeter. 

Steps to Use a Multimeter: 

1. Turn the multimeter to the highest AC voltage setting
2. Insert the test probes into the top vertical slots 
3. Remove the probes from the slots 
4. Insert the probe into the U-shaped grounding terminal
5. If the multimeter does not give a different reading, the outlet is properly grounded. 
6. You will need to repeat this process for every outlet in your house 

The average American home consumes roughly 10,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year, 

1. Use your dishwasher 
2. Make use of ceiling fans in your home 
3. Use smart bulbs 
4. Minimize use of your oven when it is hot outside