Whenever we consider make purchases, let’s say for a new refrigerator, music center, or washing machine, we carefully compare products, prices, service, how well the product meets our needs, and other aspects. Today we are lucky that because of deregulation in New York consumers can make the same evaluation before choosing their energy provider of natural gas and electricity.
At IDT Energy there exist several options available for its customers to choose from so that the service that they choose is perfectly suited to their individual needs. Included in this decision can be whether or not you want your electricity to come from resources which are renewable and sustainable, which we call “buying green” at IDT Energy.
It is important to understand that your utility bill is composed of two separate parts, one for delivery and the other part for supply. In the case of electricity the two components are about equal, or 50% each of the entire bill. For natural gas more of the cost comes from supply, about 75%, with the remaining 25% going towards the delivery fee.
Until deregulation the state government regulated the price of natural gas and electricity, and the utility company was responsible for both components, supply and delivery. Today the two parts are separate and consumers have been empowered to seek out the best deals they can find on supply.
The local utility will continue to deliver your power and gas, read the meter, and provide service for problems that sometimes arise. The utility is where you turn to deal with emergencies, too. Your bill will also continue to come from the utility, with the price of both the supply and delivery itemized for your convenience.
Just like you would research the best deals, best service and best quality for anything you might purchase, now you can apply your same high standards to purchase your power for your home, and IDT Energy urges you to consider its 20 years of experience supplying thousands of satisfied customers with electricity and natural gas.
19
Nov
Posted in IDT Energy, Natural Gas by admin |
Gas stove tops are very popular, but are they more energy efficient than electric stove top burners? IDT Energy is going to explore this little discussed issue with you.
Because of the fact that, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, approximately 4.5% of all household energy use is spent on cooking, Energy Star, the government’s way of measuring energy use of home appliances, does not rate or give a standard for cooking stove tops. 4.5% is just not considered enough usage to mandate stricter standards of efficiency, at least not at the moment.
Even so, are there any advantages, energy wise, of using gas over electricity for cooking? Well, it turns out that yes, there is. Gas burners are instantly hot, whereas electric burners take time to heat up and cool down. Cooks prefer gas because it is easier to control the intensity of the flame. Old fashioned gas stoves had pilot lights that were always on, wasting precious fuel, but now, with electric igniters up to 40% less gas is being used.
Abiogenic formation of natural gas happens very deep within the earth’s crust. Here there are found carbon molecules and gases rich in hydrogen molecules. These gases slowly rise towards the earth’s surface, and as they rise they can interact with underground minerals. This interaction can result in the formation of a variety of compounds which are found in the atmosphere, like nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon and water. Given enough pressure as the gases move towards the earth’s surface it is likely that methane deposits will form, similar to thermogenic methane.
In our exploration of the genesis of natural gas we have already seen the process of thermogenic formation which requires extreme temperatures to transform plants and animals into fossil fuels.
Another process, which could help us in today’s world produce methane as a renewable resource is called the biogenic production of methane. In this process methane is produced by the breakdown of organic matter by means of microorganisms which are found on the surface of the earth in which oxygen is not found. These microorganisms are so common that they are found in the intestines of most animals, including humans.
Presently methane formed this way is almost entirely lost to the atmosphere. Sometimes, however the methane can be trapped underground and then harvested and used as natural gas. This happens at landfills, where relatively large amounts of methane are produced when the materials in the landfill decompose with the help of the microorganisms found there.
IDT Energy hopes that this new understanding of what natural gas is and where it comes from will increase your appreciation of the wonder of natural gas.
There are three major ways we know of in which natural gas is formed. The first and most famous way is called thermogenic formation of methane. This process happens when organic matter, such as dead plants or animals become compressed under the earth. The living matter is slowly transformed over millions of years through high temperatures which exist below the surface of the earth, and extreme pressures caused by the accumulation of materials on top of the organic matter over time. The carbon bonds are broken down by the high temperature and pressure. The higher the temperature and pressure, the more natural gas is created. Therefore it is usually found that the deeper the oil deposit is found underground, the more methane (natural gas) is found there. Some extremely deep deposits are pure methane. Coal, on the other hand, found closer to the earth’s surface, and usually a smaller amount of methane is associated with the coal deposit.
We hear so much about “fossil fuels” these days, but what is meant by this expression? Fossil fuels are formed during millions and/or hundreds of millions of years, through extreme heat and temperature exerted on organic materials (living things) such as plants and animals. Fossil fuels range in form from extremely volatile, such as gases like methane, through liquids such as petroleum, up to totally non-volatile materials like anthracite coal.
