IDT Energy Savings

The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the house, with lots of energy saving devices, meaning that they save humans energy. But in order to save you energy the appliances take the energy from the environment.

IDT Energy presents some ways to reduce to a minimum the amount of energy needed to run your kitchen:

1. Fill your dishwasher to capacity before running. Research has shown that a dishwasher used this way can save 37% of the water needed if the dishes were washed by hand. So you can use the dishwasher guilt-free.
2. There is a way to wash dishes using even less water than the dishwasher; fill one sink with soapy water and the adjacent sink with rinse water, and do not let the water run out of the faucet. Then you will use a whopping 50% of the water used by the dishwasher.
3. Use your microwave to defrost or warm up small amounts of food instead of the stove. This can save up to 50% of the energy that the stove would use. The microwave also heats up the kitchen less, a plus in the summer.
4. Close the fridge door right away. Decide what you want from the fridge before you open the door, take it out, and close the door. Test the tightness of the door by closing it on a one dollar bill. If the dollar pulls out easily, then the door is probably not tight enough, and cold air may be leaking out. Get it checked.
5. Old refrigerators are big energy wasters. Consider replacing your old fridge with a new energy efficient model. Look for the Energy Star.

Watch this informative and clear video for some simple ideas on what you can do now to begin saving energy at home and at the office.

If anybody tells you that using a dishwasher wastes water and energy, you can assure them that, depending on how you use your dishwasher that is simply not true. There are several things that you actually save by using the dishwasher rather than washing your dishes by hand.

Water

Are you surprised? Don’t be. If you only use your dishwasher when it is completely loaded up, the amount of water used will actually be less than if you washed each of those dishes by hand. One researcher found that the difference comes to 37% less water.

Time

For many people, time is money. Certainly in today’s world of two parents away from home all day at work, the time spendt washing dishes by hand could better be used enjoying the company of family and friends, plus numerous other chores which must be done.  As a time-saving device, the dishwasher rocks.

Electricity

Yes, a dishwasher does use more electricity than washing by hand, but as appliances become more efficient, you might be surprised at how little electricity the dishwasher really needs. After all, most of the electricity, about 80% used by the dishwasher is for heating the water. Whether you hand wash or machine wash, hot water still needs to be made. Also be sure to look for the Energy Star label to ensure you are purchasing the most energy efficient appliance around.

IDT Energy urges consumers to carefully pick appliances best suited to their family’s needs and lifestyles, and be energy smart.

Certainly, every little bit counts when you’re trying to save money.  One easy way to cut corners is to take a look at your energy bill and to try to make some changes. Whether you use IDT Energy or another provider, there is always a way to reduce your bill a bit more and to cut down on your energy costs.

Take lighting for instance.  A typical household dedicates 11% of its energy budget to lighting.  You can reduce these costs by 50-75% with a few key adjustments.

Here are a few ways to make your indoor lighting choices more cost effective:

1. Use fluorescent lamps rather than incandescent bulbs.  They last 6-12 times longer and they are of high quality.
2. Buy ENERGY STAR products whenever you can.  You’ll save as much as $30 in electricity costs over the lifetime of each and every bulb.
3. Install dimmers and timers that help you to save on electric costs by turning lights off when they aren’t in use.  Simmers allow you to lower your light levels, thus saving money.
4. If you plan to remodel, look for recessed downlights, called “cans” that are rated for contact with insulation. They are IC rated.
5. Make sure your home optimizes for natural light. Purchase light curtains, paint rooms with light hues and keep blinds open to let in natural light.

Companies like IDT Energy suggest that you learn a bit more about your appliances, and by doing so- you save both energy and money! Here is an informative video which shows a few changes that you can make in your home in order to lower your electric bill.

Even while doing your laundry, you can learn key ways to save on your energy use.  Believe it or not, 85-90% of the energy that you use while washing the clothes is for heating the water.  If you do cold water washes and rinses, however, you’ll save a tremendous amount of this electricity. Whether you’re using IDT Energy or another energy supplier, you’ll have real savings with these tips.

Use your washing machine after 8pm, when the electricity demand is lower and make sure to only use the water level that you really need for the load you are doing.  Only do the laundry when you have a full load and consider purchasing a smaller machine if you usually find that your laundry loads don’t fill the machine completely.

If you’re in the market for a new machine, look for one that is ENERGY STAR qualified, as it can reduce water use by almost 45% and energy use by about 65%.

Any boss knows that every dollar counts.  The more that you can save money on your energy bill, the more you’ll have for employee benefits, company functioning and more.  When evaluating your company’s energy use, consider switching suppliers to a company like IDT Energy if you live in a state with deregulated energy suppliers.

Do regular tuning of your heating and ventilation systems and regularly replace filters.  Install ceiling fans wherever possible to help with air circulation and temperature regulation.  If you are in the market to purchase new heating and ventilation units, choose ENERGY STAR ones and also use ENERGY STAR light bulbs and other equipment.

Make sure that water heater and supply pipes are insulated and install ceiling and wall insulation.

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!

Certainly, most products want to have the ENERGY STAR label. This label means that they are more efficient, that they will save consumers money, and that they are better for the environment.  The EPA has established specific guidelines that products must meet in order to get the ENERGY STAR label.

These guidelines include key principles.  The product needs to show that it contributes significant energy savings to people throughout the country.  The products need to show that they can deliver great features and performance, and not just increased energy efficiency.  Assuming the product costs a bit more than a less-efficient counterpart, the efficient product needs to be able to show that purchasers will recover their investment with a decrease in their utility bill within a reasonable amount of time.

The energy consumption and performance has to be able to be measured and verified with testing.  Certainly, many companies such as IDT Energy want to save customers money on their bills, and the ENERGY STAR label is one of the many ways to do so.