We try to save energy at our house. We are always telling the kids to turn the rocker switches on our lights from on to off, but they often forget. We try and do full loads of laundry and dishes and we recycle.

We the new focus on climate change, the President’s agenda could raise our energy bills despite the efforts we make as a family to conserve energy. The White House wants the US to cut carbon dioxide emissiosn in 2010 by 17 percent from 2005 levels. A goal was also set to cut emissions by 83% by 2050. This will supposedly translate into a cost of about $173 per year for an average family.

However, others have said the increase could be as much as $5 per day in high energy seasons such as winter and summer. This could translate into $150 per month additional costs. Unless the job market turns around soon, this amount could really hurt American families.