IDT Energy Savings

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.

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.

At IDT Energy we are always looking for ways for our customers to save more: more energy and more money on their utility bills. One great way to realize a lot of savings is by participating in the “New York Great Appliance Swap Out.” the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is making a special effort this Earth Day to encourage New Yorkers to “Buy Green to Save Green.”

This initiative has already provided almost $13.6 million in help to over 125,000 New York residents to reduce their energy expenses. There is now $3.2 million available to New Yorkers who are interested in replacing their old, energy wasting appliances with models which are brand new, energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

The Swap-Out works by giving consumers up to $555 as a rebate towards their purchase of high efficiency refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and dishwashers. Funding is made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA.) All funds will be allocated by the end of the year, and consumers can keep track of how much funding still remains by going to www.NYApplianceSwapOut.com.

“New Yorkers can honor Earth Day well past April 22nd by participating in the Great Appliance Swap Out,” said Francis J. Murray, Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA.

“This program gives consumers the opportunity to replace their old, inefficient appliances with energy-efficient models that will help reduce our carbon footprint, all with the added benefit of a cash rebate. High efficiency appliances conserve energy, lower energy costs, and lessen the impact energy can have on the environment.”

As the weather starts to warm up, it’s important to start thinking about your summer electrical expenses.  A few key actions can help you to save money while staying cool through the summer whether you use IDT Energy or another company.

If you have central air conditioning in the house, keep your thermostat set at 78 degrees.  The statistics on these savings are amazing – for each degree above 78 that you program your thermostat, you can save an additional 6-7% on your monthly cooling costs.  Now that’s savings!

Ceiling fans can make a huge difference in heating and cooling costs.  During hot weather months, a ceiling fan will create a great breeze while circulating air in the house.  It is often enough, without even needing to turn on the air conditioning unit.  Make sure, as well, to close blinds, drapes and shades during the hottest part of the day. This will keep the hot sun from heating the house.

With summer around the corner, it’s important to start thinking about saving energy and costs.  During the warmer weather months, there are a number of ways that you can save energy by making smart purchases and by being creative.  Here are a few suggestions to get you started whether you use IDT Energy or another company.

If you’re buying an air conditioner for the summer months, look for one with the ENERGY star label.  They are the most energy efficient models that you’ll find, enabling you to cool the house for less money.  A new air conditioner can actually reduce your cooling costs by as much as 20% when compared to an older unit.

While most people don’t realize this, the location of the room air conditioner actually makes a difference.  Try to keep your room air conditioner out of the sun.  Room air conditioners work the best when they are kept cool.  Usually, the best place to install one is on the north-facing wall.

These tips should help you to begin your summer electricity preparations.  Keep it cool while saving money!

The largest expense of running a washing machine is heating the water. The majority of time your clothes will be just as clean after washing in cold water as washing in warm or hot water. If you do have a lot of extra dirty clothes on hand, it is more efficient to pre-soak them in warm water and then wash them in cold, saving lots of warm water which is just not necessary to use.

Do you find that your dryer just doesn’t try as quickly as it used to? This is most certainly a problem caused by an over accumulation of lint. Always check the lint trap and clean it after every load you dry. Also check the dryer’s exhaust for lint that could be blocking the efficient exiting of the hot, humid air to the outside. This simple rule can save you lots of energy, time and money.

An even better idea is to hang your clothes to dry when the sun is shining outside. This ancient form of solar energy is free and abundant and will even give your clothes a nice “outdoorsy” smell. Yes it is time consuming, but maybe you would like to get some fresh air and enjoy the warm sunshine, and the great garden smells while at the same time saving quite a bit of energy and money.

Where would we be without our appliances? Can you imagine life without your refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, or even something as simple as a blender or mixer? We definitely take these amazing household helpers for granted, but we should realize that what we save in time and tedium we pay back in dollars. Every time we turn on an appliance, we are paying for its use through our household bill for electric and natural gas. On the other hand, the amount we spend is miniscule if we compare how much it would cost in man-woman/hours to do the same job without the electricity. For instance, doing the laundry could take all day down by the river just to do one load of clothing.

With the use of a washer this same chore takes about an hour of time and a tiny amount of electricity. Even if you take into consideration the cost of the appliance itself, when divided over the life of the appliance, which can be 15 or more years of use, it still comes out quite inexpensive to use today’s time and money saving appliances. So the conclusion is certainly that our modern appliances do free us up with more time to do things we find life-enhancing, at a fraction of the cost.

Nevertheless it is still possible to use our appliances more efficiently and save even more time and money by just following a few basic tips.

Now might be the perfect time to change your storage tank water heater to an energy efficient tank-less style water heater. These water heaters are more efficient than the older style where you have to pre-heat your water and store it in a large water tank, ready to use. According to some natural gas suppliers like IDT Energy tank-less water heaters can be anywhere from 10%-20% more efficient saving that much money on your gas bills by making the switch.

Tank-less water heaters are also space savers, usually only about 2 feet high, 1 ½ feet wide and 9 inches deep. Water is heated almost instantaneously at the moment you turn on the faucet.

Another advantage of the tank-less water heater is that because there is no storage tank there can never be a burst water tank, with the mess and loss of money that goes with it.

If you are in the market for a new water heater, check out the possibility of replacing your old one with a tank-less water heater. It might be a great choice for you and your family.

Sometimes, big savings can come in small packages.  This is the case with the programmable thermostat.  Purchasing a programmable thermostat can drastically decrease your energy consumption and add up to great savings each year.  Here’s how:

When you properly set a programmable thermostat, it makes it easy for you to save money by lowering the temperature while you are asleep or out of the house. This means that you’ll be saving money while not sacrificing your comfort in the home.

The thermostat has pre-programmable settings that automatically turn on, and you can save even more with a programmable thermostat that is Energy Star approved.  This is one of the many suggestions that can help homeowners and renters to save money this winter.  IDT Energy wants every customer to have an easy winter and to save whenever possible.

IDT Energy wants you to save on your energy costs.  Here, you’ll find some incredibly easy tips for saving money on your energy bill. Here is a great one.  Reduce your water heater thermostat from 140 degrees Fahrenheit to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.  You won’t notice a difference whatsoever in your showers or your household water use.  What you will notice, instead, is a savings between 3-5% in energy costs with this simple adjustment.

What you’ll also notice is a slower buildup of minerals and corrosion in the water heater and pipes.  This will help your water heater to last longer and to operate to its maximum capacity.  In addition, you’ll avoid scalding which is possible when the water heater temperature is as high as 140 degrees Fahrenheit.  This win-win change can have a great influence on your energy bill and your safety!