More than 36 million people move every year according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That's 3.5 times the amount of people who visit Disneyland within a year. Moving is time consuming and stressful, but it is also a time of exciting new beginnings. For some, those new beginnings can consist of moving into their first college dorm or college apartment off campus. While Disneyland is probably more exciting than moving, moving into your new residence hall or apartment is an exhilarating and freeing experience. Check out these four tips below on how a smarter grid means smarter moving.

1. Keep it Neat and Organized

One of the best ways to be successful moving in and with your collegiate studies is to be organized and neat. According to research, a cluttered space can lead to stressors in life that can affect how your brain operates. So when the surrounding area is cluttered, your brain is affected. While the smart grid may not be able to help keep your move to the residence hall organized and clean, it can help to keep your air cleaner and less cluttered. A smarter grid will allow the U.S. to rely more on clean, renewable energy—decreasing the emission of greenhouse gases and increase our current efficiency by 9 percent. That’s enough energy to power Las Vegas two times over!

2. Reduce Clutter

Another way to make moving an easier process is to reduce clutter. Sort through your belongings and ask, "Is this really useful?" If the answer is no, then donate items to your local charity or a family friend! When you are working on moving into a new place, packing up your moving van is much easier when you have only the things you really need. While you are reducing the clutter in your home to prepare for the move, transitioning to a reliable smart grid can help reduce congestion on the highways that is caused by the excessive amounts of truck rolls sending technicians out to fix electrical problems. Transitioning to a smarter grid will use improved technology to provide a grid better equipped to handle the electronic demands needed to operate daily.

3. Pinpoint Where You’re Going

There is nothing more stressful on moving day than getting lost and not knowing where you are headed. Check with your campus to see where you should check in to get your keys and other materials to help your college transition. Knowing where you are headed is crucial so you are not stuck in the summer heat with no idea of where your final destination is located. Speaking of hot weather, the smart grid is able to help you during the hot summer by managing and reducing blackouts. This will ensure that you can talk and text without interruption from those pesky blackouts. So even if you are stuck because you forgot to map out how to get to school, you will have your phone to call the campus for specific directions.

4. Know how your billing works

Some of you may be moving into off-campus housing this year. This may be your first time paying bills on your own, buying your own groceries, or even splitting a bill. One of the more common bills you and your roommates may encounter are utility bills. Talk with your electricity provider and make sure you know the ins and outs of how your bills work. Also see if your provider uses Green Button - an easy way for you to securely receive your energy usage information electronically. Green Button will ensure you know exactly how much energy your house is using so you can understand where your costs are coming from.

These tips are great to think about when moving into a college residence hall, or maybe simply moving in general. Understanding how the smart grid benefits you and the world around you is important in order to ensure that energy is reliable and safe for thousands of years to come.

By Taylor Fraser | August 19, 2014