Tech can help trim your utility bills, which may be on the rise amid coronavirus shutdown

Now that most of the country is hunkered down at home to quell the spread of COVID-19, chances are you're spending more on electricity and other utilities. After all, more lights are on and for a longer period of time. You may be turning up the heat to stay warm (especially for northern states). Appliances – ovens, stoves, dishwashers, and washers and dryers – are getting more use than ever before. And then there's laptops and desktops constantly on for doing work or attending virtual classes at school, or perhaps binging TV shows or playing video games.