IDT Energy Savings

Utility companies across the nation are fighting for your business.  That is why it is so important to read the fine print and ensure you are receiving the best service possible.  For example, IDT Energy prides itself on offering its customers “the power to choose.”  The company does not expect clients to sign contracts (hence giving them freedom to look around at other utility service providers); nor does it charge any cancellation fees (seeing what we offer is top quality, we don’t believe we need to force clients to stay); IDT Energy does not require any up-front fees or deposits; there are no interruptions to begin using our service; there are no special service calls to switch providers, etc.  In addition, IDT Energy is proud that it maintains jobs in America with customer care, sales and administrative teams located in the states we serve.  Building our nation is important to IDT Energy and we provide services to our customers in line with achieving that mission.

Recent estimates from America’s Energy Department have indicated that the “typical” family in America is spending at least $2,000 per annum on its home utility bills.  So, if one wants to make savings in this area, what is the most efficient way of doing so?  Whether you are signed up with IDT Energy or any of the other service providers, it is always good to look into ways to reduce your bills.  Installing compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and getting rid of any incandescent models you may have is a good start.

In addition, new on the market are kits assembled by TechniArt which have an array of different energy-saving lighting devices including desk lamps, night lights and CFLs.

More Good News for Americans

As we started the new year, the Energy Independence and Security Act (2007) came into effect which requires general-purpose light bulbs to be 30 percent more efficient.  This law will begin with 100-watt bulbs and then, by the end of January 2014, 40-watt bulbs will be included in the edict for improved standards.  According to the country’s Energy Department, “the new energy-saving light bulbs could save you about $50 per year when you replace 15 traditional incandescent bulbs in your home.”

Everyone, everywhere needs to do their bit for energy conservation.  And, by following some simple rules, this can be very easy to implement.  With whatever energy service provider you are using – IDT Energy, or any of the other big ones – conserving energy saves big bucks on bills. Now that we are well into the winter months, it is a good idea to really start making some changes.

First, get your home and office a programmable thermostat that can significantly reduce heating costs – in some cases up to 10 percent.  When in the premises, it should be set at 20 C, but when sleeping our out of the house, this can be reduced to 18 C.

A seemingly obvious piece of advice (but one that is all-too-often missed) is to ensure your property is well insulated and protected against drafts.  One easy way of doing this is to put in weatherstrip around doors, attic openings and air conditioning units.  This can lead to a saving on around 30 percent of heating costs.  As well, if the filter in the furnace is replaced every month and serviced professionally annually to ensure maximum running capacity, substantial energy savings will be made.

To save money on energy, if you use it during off-peak (i.e. cheaper) hours you could save money. If you are wondering how to do that without it impacting your life, think about the different times you can run your washer, dryer and dishwasher (it makes no difference to you if it’s on in the middle of the night, except for the financial savings you will enjoy).

Whatever energy service provider you are signed up with, ensure you read the contract carefully and try and get the best deal. IDT Energy allows clients to cancel without a fee for example.  But once you have signed up, you should constantly be on the lookout for ways to make even more savings in other ways.  Today, there are even devices that can help such as a programmable thermostat and a water purifier.

The first device – the thermostat – gives the user a far easier-way of temperature control in their home, saving them hundreds of dollars.  Once the temperature is controlled properly, utility costs get under control.  At a relatively cheap price of $30, it really is a great money-saving device.

The second device – the water purifier – makes pure water a rather inexpensive thing to buy.  These days bottled water from the store can cost even more than gas.  So installing a water filter instead which only costs around $35 – has to be a great money-saving device.  In addition, this is way better than purchasing bottles upon bottles is good for the environment and your convenience.  So be sure to look at other ways of saving on your utility bills.  You would be surprised at just how much you can save by making a few small changes and installing a few small devices.

…Without Breaking the Bank

Over the cold, winter months, it can be challenging to keep electricity bills down. No matter which of the main electricity providers you choose to use – IDT Energy, or other throughout the nation – there are always ways to save energy.  Indeed, there are often helpful articles online too which provide guidance on how to make simple changes in your home environment so that you will save energy (and cash!) without even realizing it.

Therefore, come the end of Fall and the descent into winter, you need not worry about dropping temperatures.  Just take some advice and make easy-to-implement changes. For example, make sure your home furnaces are in perfect working order. As soon as any of your gas appliances are not working at 100 percent capacity, bills are likely to increase.  So preventive measures are well-advised.

For most homes, heating accounts for over 50 percent of winter gas bills.  Thus it is essential these are regularly serviced and inspected.  You will ultimately save money if you spend the money on this useful service.  It is just a matter of efficiency.

IDT Energy invites you to watch this informative video comparing the energy efficiency of a variety of lightbulbs.

We are all trying to save money by saving electricity. This clever device will tell you the efficiency level of the appliance which you plug into it. The Kill A Watt displays in its large LCD screen the consumption, in kilowatt-hour, of the electricity that the appliance is using. By calculating this information for you in the same way that the utility company does, it is easy to see exactly how much it costs to run that appliance.

The tool can also monitor voltage and line frequency, and it can also test if an outlet is in working order. This useful device can help you decide if its time for a new, energy efficient refrigerator, or if the old one is still cost effective.

Nest Smart Thermostat

IDT Energy has been recommending programmable thermostats to consumers as a great, easy way to save on home heating and cooling. Now thermostats are also cool.

Tony Fadell, the designer of the iPod, has gotten into the green technologies marketplace and he has decided that something as simple, and as important as a programmable thermostat can also have an exciting, unique design.  Not only is the thermostat, dubbed Nest “something that draws attention,” as Fadell put it, but its smart too.

Nest is capable of learning the family’s habits, senses when no one is home, and atomically adjusts itself accordingly. Built in Wi-Fi also connect Nest to a home network, through which it can be controlled, including from an iPhone or Android smartphone.

Take saving energy to the latest coolest level with IDT Energy.

Recycling has really caught on in the past few years. Many municipalities collect recyclable materials separately from ordinary trash. There is good logic behind the efforts citizens are making to recycle whenever possible.

For one thing, in many instances it takes less energy to produce new objects from recycled materials then from new materials, thus saving money and resources. When old newspapers are used to print new ones; used aluminum cans are recycled to create new aluminum cans; or old glass jars and bottles are used instead of new glass; then resources are saved, and if less energy is needed to produce the objects, then money is saved, too.

In the particular case of aluminum cans, recycled scrap aluminum needs 95% less energy to make new cans than manufacturing them from bauxite ore, the raw material from which aluminum cans are manufactured.

Since many of our natural resources are limited, it makes sense to use them as conservatively as possible. One ton of recycled paper can save as much as 17 trees, and needs only half as much water to transform into new paper.

The next time you separate out your newspapers for the recycling bin, just remember that you are helping to preserve the earth’s trees, which are the lungs of the earth.
IDT Energy encourages consumers to recycle whenever possible.

There are several great reasons to consider switching from oil to natural gas as a way to heat water and run other appliances:

Natural Gas Efficiently Dries Clothes

•    As oil prices climb, natural gas looks more and more cost-effective as a means to heat water and run other appliances.

•    Oil must be paid for in advance, while natural gas in only paid for after use, and only as much as you use, no more an no less.

•    No oil deliveries needed, the gas is constantly available through the gas line that is permanently attached to your home.

•    Natural gas is plentiful, right here in the United States. About 2/3 of our oil supply comes from outside the country. Analysts believe there is about 100 years’ worth of gas right here at home.

•    Natural gas is the method of choice whether you are heating your home, heating water, cooking, and/or drying clothes.

For all these reasons and more, IDT Energy believes consumers should consider making the switch from oil to natural gas.