IDT Energy World

Approximately 56% of the energy used in the home goes towards heating and cooling systems. Companies like IDT Energy would advise that you try these simple tips to lower your monthly costs. First, try using fans during the hot summer months to create a breeze within your home.

If certain rooms are more crowded or hot, try adding a ceiling fan to go with your air conditioning, as it will allow you to raise the thermostat by at least 4 degrees with no discomfort. In general, it is recommended to install a programmable thermostat which can adjust the temperature according to your schedule.

Energy companies like IDT Energy will agree that most people are unaware of the fact that their lighting unnecessarily increases their energy costs. First, the majority of houses use incandescent light bulbs, which use up to 75% more than fluorescent ones, and have a much shorter life span as well. Secondly, it is important to get into the habit of turning lights off while leaving a room.

Using area lighting is another affective way to save energy. Instead of installing extra-bright bulbs to light up entire rooms, consider using smaller, energy conserving bulbs in lamps and nightlights to shed light on the desired area. During the day, keep the shades open and take advantage of the free, natural light from outside. If you use nightlights in hallways or children’s rooms during the night, be sure to turn them off and unplug them during the daylight hours.

Many people look at the big picture when it comes to energy conservation, but they don’t always realize the big differences that small changes can make.  Certainly, switching energy providers and using a company like IDT Energy can save you money.  Here are some interesting tips about saving energy with your freezer.

1. Keep your freezer at -18 degrees Celsius.  For each degree that you go lower than this, the freezer uses 2% more electricity.
2. Keep that freezer stocked!  A full freezer actually operates more efficiently than does an empty one.
3. Make sure that the door is sealed tightly and securely.
4. Keep a space of 5cm around your freezer on all sides so that the heat can circulate away from the compressor and condensing coil.
5. If you’re in the market for a new freezer, shop for one that is ENERGY STAR qualified or for a smaller chest freezer.

Finally, make sure to do proper maintenance on your freezer. This means that it needs annual cleaning and defrosting.  If, prior to the annual cleaning, you see that ice is building up on the inside of the unit to more than ¼ inch, you should also defrost it at that time.

Many electric companies, such as IDT Energy, recommend conserving energy. This is not only good for the environment- by doing so you can lower your electricity bill.

For example, many people run their dishwasher multiple times every day. It would be better to wait until the end of the day, and run it only once. If you need to reuse specific dishes throughout the day, wash those by hand. Electricity demand is less after 8 o’clock pm, so run the dishwasher then. Another good way to conserve energy is to use the air-dry setting, or, even better, leave the door open and let the dishes dry naturally. If you run the wash after 8 pm, the dishes can be left to dry this way overnight. It is also unnecessary to rinse dishes off in the sink before putting them in the washer. Cleaning the drains and filters on a regular basis, however, is highly recommended, as it will improve the performance of the dishwasher, and make it last longer.

If you are purchasing a new dishwasher, look for one that has the short-cycle, or econowash qualities.

Certainly, there are many ways to start to save on your energy bills.  One way is to look for a new energy supplier like IDT Energy if you live in a deregulated state.  Another idea is to evaluate your energy usage in the home and to cut down in key areas.  Home improvements can also help you to save on your energy bil.

Weatherstripping, for instance, helps to seal air leaks around movable joints.  In order to know how much weatherstripping you’ll need, you need to add the perimeters of all the windows and doors to be weatherstripped and then add 5-10% to accommodate any waste.  Before applying the weatherstripping in the home make sure to detect air leads and to assess your ventilation needs for your indoor air quality.

Before beginning to weatherstrip, you need to carefully evaluate the location.  When you use weatherstripping on a door bottom or threshold, for instance, the weatherstripping could drag on carpet or erode from foot traffic.  If you’re doing weatherstripping on a window, you need to think about the sliding of panes and which way they slide.  Choose the right product for each specific location.

In recent news for IDT Corporation, they are increasing the size of their board from five to six members and welcoming W. Wesley-Perry as their sixth board member.

Perry is the Mayor of Midland, Texas, where he was elected in November of 2007. He is the president of the Milagros Foundation, a board member of the Abel-Hanger Foundation and a director of the River Foundation.  He has served, for the past year, as the chairman of Genie Energy Corporation, comprised of IDT’s interests in IDT Energy, American Shale Oil, LLC (AMSO) and Israel Energy Initiatives (IEI).

If you live in a state like New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania, where you can select your electricity supplier, you have many choices.  Companies like IDT Energy offer you great savings and great opportunities.  It is important to understand, when deciding on an energy company, exactly what their price entails.

The quoted energy rates from a given company may exclude certain components that could actually cause a higher final cost.  For instance, the energy rates may exclude rate components like line losses, ancillary services, congestion, capacity and grow receipts taxes. When you look at the rates on paper, it may appear that one company offers their rate for less, when really their quote doesn’t include all of the necessary component.

As a buyer, you need to be aware of all of the available product types and to make sure that you evaluate energy quotes with an accurate analysis.  Read contracts carefully and ask questions about the price components.  Make sure to ask your supplier, broker or consultant to show you the pricing section of the contract and to explain which components are included or excluded.

Second only to home heating, water heaters use the most energy in the house.  You can actually make quite a few small changes to save with your IDT Energy bill or your energy bill from another company and maximize your savings.

Make sure to insulate your hot water pipes and to wrap your electric water heater with a blanket (made for this purpose).  This blanket helps to reduce heat loss and to save you money.  Make sure that all faucets work well and are not leaking and install aerators on the kitchen faucets.

While you may enjoy soaking in a hot bath, this activity uses about 75 liters of hot water.  Taking a shower that has an efficient showerhead actually uses only half of this amount.

Certainly, we’ve all seen amazing developments over the decades with air conditioning.  While air conditioners used to be only for the lucky few, today they are ubiquitous. With technology in all different types of appliances advancing rapidly, it is no wonder that the same improvements will be used in air conditioning technology.

In April, 2009 the United States Mission to the United Nations in Geneva introduced to the world its latest “MagLev” chiller, a 225-ton air conditioner of the future.  The “MagLev” which stands for magnetic levitation, solves the problem of the wearing out of the compressor component of a standard air conditioner due to the generation of heat and the wearing out of the ball bearings that support the spinning drive shaft of the compressor.  By the time you need to replace the compressor the air conditioner burns double the energy to create the same amount of cooling.
The “MagLev” uses a magnetic field instead of ball bearings. The drive shaft of the compressor is suspended in air with magnets while it spins at about 40,000 revolutions/minute. This clever design completely illuminates friction, allowing the compressor to work 30% more efficiently, creates less heat, and works at maximum efficiency throughout its life.

IDT Energy New York continues the explanation of how your air conditioner keeps you and your family really cool.

The coolant arrives at the compressor as a cool, low pressure gas. As its name implies, the compressor squeezes the gas, which raises its temperature.  The fluid then leaves the compressor as a hot, high pressure gas which flows into the condenser. The fins of the condenser act like a radiator in a car and help the heat disperse faster. Then the coolant leaves the condenser as a much cooler liquid now under high pressure. This liquid goes into the last part of the air conditioner, the evaporator, through a narrow hole. When it comes out the other side the pressure drops and the liquid begins to evaporate back into a gas.

While the liquid changes to a gas, evaporation, heat is remove from the air around it. The fins of the evaporator are there to enhance this process. Inside the evaporator a fan helps to further distribute the cool air created by this process throughout the house.
IDT Energy hopes that having a better understanding of your air conditioner will help you use it more efficiently and with more appreciation for the work it does to keep us comfortable in the hot, humid New York summertime.