10 Energy Saving Tips for the Fall

The nights are cool, and the days are warm - Fall is here!  While the leaves change and the trees prepare for cooler temperatures, it's time to prepare your house to keep the heat in and cool air out.

Here are 10 tips to make your house more energy efficient for the winter:

1. Schedule a tune up for your heating system. Not only will this help your furnace run more efficiently, but it may help prevent a break down in the cold winter months. 
2. Replace your furnace filter. Continue to replace it once a month while in use. 
3. Find and seal any air leaks caused by pipes or lines entering your house. 
4. Add caulk or weather stripping to leaky doors and windows. 
5. Check your fireplace damper to ensure it is closed when not in use. 
6. If you never use your fireplace seal the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible. 
7. Add caulking to the fireplace hearth.
8. Take advantage of the heat from the sun - open the drapes during the day to allow the sun to come in and close them at night to keep the warmth in. 
9. Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. 
10. Your water heater can account for 14%-25% of your heating costs. Turn down the setting on your hot water heater to warm - or 120 degrees. 

For more ways to save check out www.IDTEnergy.com

Turning the A/C off - Helping the Environment

Did you know that U.S. uses roughly 185 billion kilowatt-hours of energy each year on home cooling?

186 Billion

That's the most of any nation in the world. Conventional air-conditioners us electronically powered pumps and compressors to push the heat outside. The heat is absorbed with chlorofluorocarbons (a refrigerant) from the room.

This refrigerant, commonly refereed to as Freon, contributes to the ozone depletion - climate change. 

While there are many regulations and policies in place to develop new technology and phase out Freon there has not been a good solution to curb the negative impact the use of air conditioning has on the environment. Read more about it here.  

To have a positive impact on the environment while continue to enjoy the comfort of your A/C, considering switching your electric supply to green. 

Lightbulbs With a rePurpose

We are total energy geeks at IDT Energy. We like all things that have to do with energy, electricity and natural gas. Even light bulbs. Lately we have found some really neat bulbs to light up your room and some unique ways to reuse the old ones.  Here are some of our favorites on Pinterest:

Brain Bulb via

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Mr. Hyde Via

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