We all know those couples who do everything together, but one plastic surgeon in South Florida reports a dramatic increase in couples who want to get joint procedures!

For most of us, light comes with the flip of a switch, and power for our vast array of devices is readily accessible. We take these things for granted, because we have never been without them. Yet, for at least 1.3 billion people, electricity is a luxury that is difficult to come by.

An article in Forbes magazine reports that the majority of those 1.3 billion people live in rural, under-developed areas, and rely on high-priced kerosene for light. To put this in perspective, people spend as much as 30% of their annual income to burn a dangerous fuel in their houses — one that is responsible for fires that kill millions every year.

Steve Katsaros, engineer and CEO of the green energy company Nokero, has made it his life’s mission to bring affordable and reliable electricity to disadvantaged populations around the world. And he is accomplishing this by using the greatest source of power the Earth has access to: The sun.

Katsaros has developed a revolutionary LED lamp with a built-in solar panel that stores energy in a battery. The lamps are built to last for as many as 500 charging cycles. Designed to look like a recognizable light bulb, these solar-powered LED lights are a safe and inexpensive alternative to traditional kerosene lamps.

In addition to Nokero’s solar lamps, the company sells a solar battery charger called the N222. This product not only provides light, but is also USB compatible and thus capable of charging most cell-phone and battery-powered devices.

It’s clear Nokero is on to something that could have a dramatic impact on the industry. However, in the end, Katsaros says his products are all about improving people’s quality of life. “We’re not just manufacturing something that makes people a little bit happier,” he says. “This is life-changing.”

The advent of winter’s frosty weather often causes a steep spike in those electric or gas bills, if you’re not careful. Here are a few tips on how to offset those costs this season.

1. Unplug your devices. Even when they’re not being used, they can still drain energy. In fact, about 10 percent of your electricity bill could be caused by this “vampire” power drainage.
2. Upgrade your home by installing an electric heat pump or a natural gas water heater. The best part? You can receive a $500 tax credit for these energy-efficient upgrades. But hurry, you only have until the end of year to claim this great incentive.
3. Set your thermostat to a lower temperature when you’re at work or sleeping. Each degree can save you 2 percent on your energy bills.
4. Invest in energy-saving gadgets like an ON switch that alerts you to any lights you may have left on. The Hang On Outlet is a great way to avoid “vampire power” drainage without the danger of loose and unruly cords.

And if all that isn’t enough to change your energy habits, there’s a British company launching a new service that will allow people to compare their energy bills to other homes similar in size and type, while maintaining the confidentiality of the homeowner. The Energy Saving Toolkit was designed to foster better energy-use habits through a little neighborly comparison — sort of like an energy-saving version of ‘Keeping up with the Joneses.’