IDT Energy World

Certainly, as the summer approaches, there are some key ways to save energy.  Taking a bit of time to follow through on these outdoor energy tips can help you to significantly reduce your electricity bill and to help the environment.  Energy companies like IDT Energy want to help you to save money, and these tips should be a start.

When the clocks change, you’ll have more daylight hours at your disposal.  Make sure to adjust any outdoor lighting timers so that you don’t have them running for more hours than necessary.  This will save you money and will extend the life of your light bulbs.

When considering lighting for your garden and porch, select low-voltage outdoor lighting systems. They are less expensive to buy and to operate and they are simple to install and use.

Your outdoor space doesn’t need to be lit like a landing pad.  Avoid having excessive lighting.  Your illumination only needs to be bright enough for safety and for relaxing.  Consider installing timers, as well, or make sure to only use your patio lights when you are sitting out there.

Today, in New Jersey, you have the ability to select your energy supplier.  Rather than being forced to accept your energy from one source, you can now have the freedom to select your electric and/or natural gas supplier.  This allows you to be in the driver’s seat and to comparison shop for the company that will best suit your needs.

In addition, if you are environmentally conscious, this news means that you’ll have more of a say about the energy supplier that  you use, and you can select to use a supplier that does more to protect the environment.

Choice is always a positive force.  New Jersey is proud to allow its citizens to select IDT Energy, PSE&G or one of the many other suppliers.

IDT Energy is among many other alternative energy providers in the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania area.  Since energy deregulations have happened more choices like IDT Energy are available.

Today, in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, you have the power to choice your energy supplier.   During the last decade, the Public Service Commissions and State Legislatures, along with local utilities, have deregulated the energy market in these areas.  This allows for healthy competition among suppliers and allows consumers more choice.

The way that it works if you select to work with IDT Energy or another company is as follows.  IDT Energy becomes your supplier of electric and natural gas, while the delivery of this energy is still done through the utility company.  IDT Energy works in partnership with the local utility companies.  Historically, all electricity and natural gas were state-regulated and the price was fixed by them with the local utility company supplying both the supply and delivery.

This deregulation ensures that there is competition for your energy business, and therefore that there are more competitive prices.  This allows people in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to have control over the source of their natural gas and electricity.

If you’ve ever noticed an ENERGY STAR label on your electrical products, you might wonder what this means.  ENERGY STAR is a government-backed symbol that lets consumers know that this product is designed to save money and to protect the environment.

The ENERGY STAR label was originally created to help with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants that are caused by electrical equipment that is inefficient. It was also created to help consumers to identify energy-efficient products that will help them to save on their energy bills without sacrificing performance and great features.

Certainly, many companies such as IDT Energy recognize the merits of the ENERGY STAR label and recommend their use to help cut down costs and environmental issues.

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.