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.

There are three main parts to an air conditioner. Two of the parts, the compressor and the condenser are usually found on the outside part of the air conditioner. The third part, the evaporator, is inside the house.

Continued…

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.

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 is following the story of going green in Brooklyn.  According to Ethan Oringel who publishes greenbrooklyn.com blog, the journey to a more energy efficient home begins with an energy audit. Examine your electric and heating bills, list all the ways you use energy, and explore the options you have for using less.
Here are a few for-instances:

•   Change all your incandescent light bulbs for CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) or LEDs (light-emitting diodes.)
• Look for the Energy Star when purchasing new appliances.
• Install Low-E windows which keep heat in during the winter and out in the summer.
• Seal any places in which air can flow between the outside and inside of your home.

Eitan Baron, recently did a green renovation on his apartment in Park Slope says that,

“Proper sealing is worth as much as any solar panel on the market. It’s the parts you don’t see that are the most important.”

Baron believes that he has saved about 60% on his heating bill last winter, in addition to helping improve the world by using less energy.

But if you don’t have the ability to move to this LEED-certified development, then there are lots of things you can do with the place you live now to make it much more energy efficient.  And this is not just a nice idea, but crucial, since about 80 per cent of the greenhouse gasses produced in New York City come from buildings any reduction in these emissions will greatly benefit the environment.

According to Sarah Beatty, the president of Green Depot, a chain of eco-friendly building and home supplies, “The last five years have seen exponential growth in the number of high-quality [green] products that have come to market. For homeowners who want to approach a renovation, there are a ton of choices.”

New York can find solutions to the energy problems of dense urban living. Experiments in urban planning maximizing green space and minimizing waste of precious resources have been tried with great success. Some of the innovations that have been tried include giving incentives to non polluting industries; building industrial areas which reserve land for open green, green space; creating parks with lakes which catch runoff in low-lying places that flood sometimes; having city planners more than politicians influencing urban development.

IDT Energy in partnership with New York are taking the lead in using safe, clean energy generation, intelligent use of resources, responsible use of green energy and cost savings for its population. This will hopefully help New York continue to be a worldwide trendsetter into and throughout the 21st century.