IDT Energy Savings

Saving energy is on everyone’s minds these days. One of the more exciting areas where innovation and creativity is helping to save loads of energy is in housing design. The sun is the world’s ultimate source of all the energy which exists on earth. By harnessing the sun’s energy in new and creative ways we can save a lot on our energy bills.

One of the most promising areas with energy saving potential are solar powered homes which are designed by college students for what is known as the “Solar Decathlon.” The U.S. Department of Energy is the sponsor of this very special contest, which assesses the aesthetic appeal as well as the efficient use of the sun’s energy to create an unbeatable combination of beauty and function. Certainly, taking a look at these home designs, which are small but are 100% sun-powered, is a very interesting activity. Follow the link to Solar Decathlon Homes.

IDT Energy understands that in the summer it is possible to spend much more on electricity than at other times of the year. In New York especially there is a great need to run air conditioning units day and night, trying to keep as cool as possible during the humid and hot summers which New york is so famous for. IDT Energy presents here some tips to keeping things cool while still using less electricity.

1.    Come the evening it is often cool enough to turn of the a/c and turn on a fan. Let the cooler air blow on you to cool you down. Try both ceiling fans and floor based fans. They use a fraction of the electricity that air conditioners use, and may be just the thing to keep you comfortable.

2.    Banish hot air. Use exhaust fans in the kitchen to get that extra hot air out of the house. If there is no exhaust fan, just put a floor fan in the kitchen and let it blow while you are cooking. It will help keep the cook cool while blowing the hot air out of the kitchen.

Summertime is here and IDT Energy is making it possible for its customers to stay cool even on the hottest days by supplying the electricity that is needed to power the huge number of air conditioning units which are keeping people cool through-out New York City.

Because of the heat and humidity which characterizes a typical New York city summer, air conditioners have a hard time running efficiently, but here are a few steps people can take to get the best out of their air conditioners.

1.    Don’t meddle with the thermostat.  Set your thermostat to 78 degrees, and don’t be tempted to lower it in order to cool the house down faster. It won’t help. If anything, raise the thermostat a few degrees when you leave the house. Even better, get a programmable thermostat and only have the a/c turn on when you are about to come home.

2.    Draw the curtains during the day so the hot sun’s rays don’t enter the house. Especially if no one is home and there is no need for natural light to see by, closed curtains can help keep your home much cooler.

More tips next time.

Here’s an interesting piece about creating energy efficient neighborhoods and sustainable community spaces.  Certainly, not every neighborhood in America is going to quickly take up the challenge.  At the same time, by starting to think about going green with IDT Energy and Green Energy, or by finding ways to save on your electricity bill, you’ll be starting to do your part.

If you love your blue jeans, you may have even one more reason to love them now!  Learn about the amazing discover that researchers at Cornell University have developed for building an organic molecular-scale framework that could collect solar energy.

Learn more about their research into creating solar paper and its potential for solar energy.

At IDT Energy we are continuing to explore the many ways it is possible to save energy. The usual focus on saving energy and saving things in general, is to be careful and only use what is needed. We are striving for a conscious effort to reduce waste. We do this when we turn the lights out when we leave a room, or shut off the TV when no one is watching it.

Another approach to saving is less at the user level and more at the product level. In other words, are there products we can use which by their very use help us save energy. A good example of this might be a hybrid car, which gets great gas mileage, not because the driver drives differently, but because the product works differently.

Another example of a product which can save energy merely through its use are heat reflective paint additives, or “pre-mixed” heat reflecting paints. When the special ceramic paint additive powder is mixed into regular paint, the combination creates a ‘radiant barrier’ insulating whatever it is painted on, helping to keep whatever is in, in, and whatever is out, out. So in the summer, the cool air that you paid so dearly for when you turn on your air conditioner tends to leak out of the house less, and the hot air and sunshine beating on the house is reflected off the house by this special paint.

It’s never too early to teach your children about energy conservation. This cute and informative video helps kids to understand what ENERGY STAR rated products are, what incandescent light bulbs are and what distinguishes them from compact fluorescent bulbs.

Certainly, there are many ways to work to save money on your electric bill, from switching to IDT Energy or another well priced source to using ENERGY STAR labeled bulbs. Learn more and start saving today!

Here is a very interesting article showing how even Wal-Mart is going green!  According to the blog post, Wal-Mart has taken huge strides lately to use renewable resources –and even to encourage their suppliers to focus on going green.  Read more about their efforts – it just might inspire the rest of us to reduce our carbon footprint!

With the longer days and lighter nights, there are some great ways that you can save on your energy bills during the summer months.  IDT Energy wants you to enjoy your summertime fun – and to save money where you can doing so.  Here are quick tips for energy conservation.

Did you know that gas lawn mowers cause more air pollution and smog than do electric mowers?  Look into purchasing an electric lawn mower and enjoy the quieter experience while saving the environment.  While a gas-powered leaf blower gets the job done in your garden, so does a broom in the driveway and a rake in the yard.  They will save you money and offer your neighbors some added quiet.

Make sure to adjust your thermostat so that you aren’t pumping warm air into the house unnecessarily and adjust your outdoor timers to reflect the longer daylight hours.

Many people in New Jersey are unclear about what the new energy choices mean for them.  If they are currently using the same energy company they’ve always used, PSE&G, do they suddenly have to make a change?  The answer to this question is certainly “no.”  There is no need to change your energy supplier and no obligation to do so.  The benefit of the deregulation in energy companies means that consumers have the right and the choice to select their own energy supplier – but they don’t have an obligation to do so.

You can’t have your energy company changed without your consent. This is called slamming and it’s illegal.  So, as long as you want to continue using your current supplier – you’ll be able to do so.  Should you decide to switch to IDT Energy or to one of the many other choices, you’ll find this process to be simple and straightforward.