IDT Energy World

April 20 was the 20th anniversary of Earth Day Lobby Day. Governor David Paterson, who has been active in promoting and strengthening the standing of New York State as a national leader in environmental protection and initiatives promoting clean energy, addressed New Yorkers on this auspicious occasion.  Among Governor Paterson’s energy accomplishments is the leadership role he has taken in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; his expansion of New York’s clean energy goals, with his “45 by 15” initiative; and promoting the State’s bottle bill, as just a few examples.

In his address Governor Paterson also encouraged New Yorkers and law makers to deal with the growing issue of electronic waste in New York. This past year the Governor proposed legislation to regulate the disposal of toxic chemicals and metals which comprise many popular electronic devices.

“From the day I took office, I have worked to make New York State one of the most environmentally friendly states in the Nation. Not only is this work critical to sustaining a healthy environment, but it is critical to creating jobs and rebuilding our State for the New Economy,” Governor Paterson said. “Forty years ago, we celebrated the first ever Earth Day, and this year I challenge all New Yorkers to do their part in making our State and our Nation healthier and cleaner for a more prosperous future.”

Through IDT Energy’s Green Energy/Buy Green program New Yorkers are able to do a lot towards creating a cleaner environment and saving resources, worthwhile goals to strive towards as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Earth Day.

As the weather begins to get warmer, there are a number of key ways that you can reduce your electricity costs while still keeping the house comfortable and cool. Use these tips to save money this summer – while still enjoying your time indoors.

One great idea is to have an exhaust fan in the kitchen that will blow hot air out of the space while you are cooking. This will add a lot of savings to your cooling costs. Try to take lukewarm showers and baths as well to avoid creating humid air, which holds in more heat.

Look into purchasing a dehumidifier for the home. This can decrease your electricity bill significantly whether you’re with IDT Energy or another company. Make sure, however, that the humidifier that you buy is the right size for your home.

Avoid creating more heat in the kitchen in a number of ways. Use your microwave or countertop appliances for cooking instead of the oven; enjoy grilling outdoors to keep the hot air away from the house as well.

New York State offers its residents a great program designed to help them save money while saving energy and reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses which are released into the environment.

The program is called Home Performance, and together with Energy Star the goal is to help New Yorker’s save as much as 40% of their energy costs during the winter months. The program is sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, (NYSERDA), which hopes to improve the energy efficiency of any style or size homes and save homeowners as much as $600 per year.

The program works by sending out a Building Performance Institute (BPI) Accredited Home Performance contractor who will assess the efficiency of the home by checking and measuring all aspects of its energy use, such as insulation, air infiltration levels, heating/cooling systems, appliances and lighting. The specialists will also check ovens, water heaters, and other devices and equipment to make sure that there are no dangerous leaks of carbon monoxide into the house.

At the completion of the assessment the BPI contractor will describe what improvements can be made, how much those improvements will cost, and what kinds of financial incentives exist and can be made available to homeowners to make those changes. Incentives might include low-interest financing and other means by which the needed improvements can be made without the homeowner incurring and undue burden.

“There’s no better time than now to change the way we use energy in our homes,” says Peter R. Smith, president of NYSERDA. “Energy costs continue to rise and conserving energy is essential. For some New Yorkers, that may mean building an energy-efficient home, making an existing home more efficient, or following simple energy savings tips. No matter what the measure, every bit counts.

IDT Energy is pleased to bring to the attention of energy consumers the variety of ways New Yorkers can take advantage of innovative programs which are available to help save money and protect our environment.

Cooper Union in New York City, one of the most prestigious schools for architecture, engineering and fine arts in the country, has created a building  which is not only making waves due to its unique design, but is saving the school lots of energy, too.
Thom Mayne created this architectural masterpiece which combines imagination, high tech materials and engineering to use up to 40% less energy to maintain comfortable temperatures as buildings of comparable size.

According to Cooper Union’s president Dr. George Campbell,

“We set goals for the architect to make the building inspirational, but we wanted it to be green.”

IDT Energy is interested in what’s new in the world of sustainable and renewable sources for energy, and because of that IDT offers its customers the choice of “buying green.” When IDT Energy customers “buy green” they are helping the environment because a large percentage of the electricity bought comes from renewable and sustainable, green resources.

New York State is working hard towards becoming a hub for clean-technology development, hoping to establish within the next 10 years the use of 25% renewable, green sources for all its electricity production. IDT Energy is participating in this effort, and hopes its customers will also partake in this goal to improve the environment for the future.

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.

IDT Energy in New York was excited to see the famed Lumenhaus of Virginia Tech make a stop in Times Square in New York City as part of its national tour. The solar-powered, net-zero energy, 650 square foot home was a featured part of the United States Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon back in October, 2009 and is off to Madrid, Spain this coming June for the Solar Decathlon Europe. Many hundreds of pedestrians stopped by the house to discover the unique design of this home which uses sliding walls to incorporate the use of natural light to the max. There is a geothermal loop which contributes to heating the home, and double-hit solar panels can produce extra electricity. Just about everything in the house can be controlled by iPhone.

There are millions of little ways to save on your energy costs without even changing your lifestyle. IDT Energy cares about its customers and their savings; to help with this cause, here are some money saving tips you can implement today.

Change the washer from using hot water to cold water, if you can. This will reduce the energy bill, and will still clean the clothing quite well. Sort laundry so that you are drying heavy items together and light items together, thus requiring less drying time when you are only doing lighter materials. Clean the lint filter after each load of laundry, and check the dryer vent occasionally to make sure there are no blockages.

Make sure to use the dyer’s moister sensor. This detects when clothes are actually dry and will automatically switch the dryer off. And, of course, you can hang things out to dry rather than using the dryer at all!

Here, we offer simple and quick ways to save on your energy bill each and every day. IDT Energy wants you to be satisfied with your energy savings. These tips should teach you some quick ways to do so.

Air dry dishes instead of using the heat drying cycle on your dishwasher – or simply wash dishes by hand. Wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible. This reduces water usage and is also better for your clothing. Replace regular bulbs with fluorescent bulbs to light your house. These bulbs use less energy and last longer than regular bulbs. Rather than taking baths, take showers to save on water.

Finally, buy only Energy Star products. They meet strict guidelines that are set by the US Department of Energy and that certainly help you to save.

When you look to purchase major appliances, light bulbs and electrical items today, you’ll usually see some with the Energy Star label. Are these better products? Are they worth purchasing? Here, we explain the Energy Star rating to help you to make an educated decision for yourself.

The Energy Star rating indicates that a product has met strict energy efficiency criteria set by the US Environmental Protection Agency or the US Department of Energy. These products use less energy and save you money on your electricity bill. At the same time, they are good for the environment, as they cause less emission from power plants.

Some examples of Energy Star products and their benefits include:

1. Energy Star TVs use 3 watts or less when switched off, while standard TVs consume almost 6 watts.
2. Refrigerators that are Energy Star are 15% more efficient than what the federal efficiency standards require.
3. Light bulbs with the rating use two-thirds less energy than the standard bulb. They also have to meet additional operating and reliability guidelines.

One easy way to try to save money around the house is through your energy bill. Doing a yearly audit of your energy usage and issues can greatly help you to reduce costs and to fix problems. IDT Energy offers these simple tasks that should be done as part of any self audit.

Each year, make sure to inspect your heating and cooling equipment. Replace filters as needed, and have a professional come in and clean your equipment once a year as well. Check all ductwork for dirt streaks which can indicate air leaks. These should be sealed with a duct mastic.

If your heating and cooling unit is more than 15 years old, you should consider purchasing a new unit that will be much more energy-efficient. A new unit will reduce your energy use. These quick checks and small changes can make a big difference in your energy bill overall.