Beat the Humidity (On a Budget)

Spring is in the air and summer is almost here. Fun in the sun and outdoor activities are upon us. But with the heat comes the humidity.  Not everyone has air conditioning, or wants to spend the money of electric costs to keep it running. Here are a few tips on how to beat the humidity - on a budget.

1. Skip the drying cycle on the dishwasher. Simply open the door and let it air dry.
2. Wear light colored clothing with thinner fabrics - this will help sweat evaporate quickly, keeping you cooler. 
3. Eating spicy food can help cool you. It contains a chemical called capsaicin, which helps us perspire more readily, and when the sweat evaporates we experience a moment of cool. 
4. Drink water. Not only is it just plain good for you, it helps keep you cool. 
5. Turn off the lights!

Are you an Energy Hog?

Source

Are you an energy hog? Take the IDT Energy test to find out!

1.  How much insulation do you have in your attic?
     a.  6 inches or less
     b.  7-11 inches
     c.  12 inches or more

2.  How often did you change the filters on your furnace last year?
     a.  Not at all
     b.  1-3 times
     b.  4+ times

3.  How many layers of glass do your windows have?
     a.  Single pane with no storm windows
     b.  Single pane with store windows or double pane
     c.  Double pane with reflective coating or gas-filled

4.  At what temperature do you set your thermostat in the winter when you are home and awake?
     a.  73 degrees or more
     b.  70-72 degrees or more
     c.  69 degrees or less

5.  At what temperature do you set your thermostat in the summer when you are home and awake?
     a.  74 degrees or less
     b.  75-77 degrees
     c.  78 degrees or more

6.  How often do you turn your lights off when you leave the room?
     a.  Almost never
     b.  Sometimes
     c.  Always

7.  Do you keep the lids on pots and pans when cooking?
     a.  Almost never
     b.  Sometimes
     c.  Always

8.  How many Energy Star appliances do you have?
     a.  None
     b.  1-2
     c.  3 or more

9.  At what temperature do you wash your clothes?
     a.  Mostly hot water
     b.  Mostly warm water
     c.  Mostly cold water

10.  How much time do you spend in the shower?
     a.  15 minutes or more
     b.  10 minutes
     c.  5 minutes


Now give your self:

• 2 points for each A
• 4 points for each B
• 6 points for each C

Add up all of your points and see how you scored:

45 - 60 points - Awesome! You are officially NOT an energy hog! Keep on keeping on and enjoy your low energy bills.

31 - 44 points - You are making the right moves but there are more steps to kicking the energy hog habit.  Look back on those As and Bs and see where you can improve.

20 - 31 points - Oink! Oink! You are an energy hog! But don't worry there are many easy steps to take to reduce your energy consumption and SAVE on your energy bills.  Go through our quiz and pick out a few simple things you can change.  Plus check out the IDT Energy energy saving tips on our web site.

If you are simply looking for ways to cut your utility bills, IDT Energy is here to help!

The above quiz was adapted from the scavenger hunt on www.EnergyHog.org check it out for more helpful tips.

Hot Water Systems and Energy Savings

Electricity bills are about to go up as the season changes and temperatures drop. One of the biggest domestic energy guzzlers is the electric hot water system.

 According to SwitchWise: “If you have an electric hot water system with a storage tank then you are well on your way to having a shocking power bill. If you are unlucky enough to run your electric hot water on a single (peak) rate tariff then you could be looking at $70-$100 per month for your hot water. If you are fortunate to have an off-peak, hard wired electric hot water system on an off-peak tariff the running cost would be a lot lower, at $25-$40 per month. “To reduce the amount of power your hot water uses look at turning down the thermostat setting. Decreasing your thermostat 5 degrees could reduce your electricity consumption by up to 5 per cent. Around 60C seems to be the minimum level advised by health experts to ensure no bacteria build up in your system.”  

Five Quick Energy Saving Tips: IDT Energy

We all want to save money on our energy bills. Whether you’re using IDT Energy or another company, you’ll want to stay on top of your energy use and minimize your superfluous expenditures as much as possible. Here are five quick ways to stay on track with your energy spending.

1. When you wash dishes and clothes, try to do so with a full load. One full load certainly uses less energy than do two half loads.

2. To save water, make sure to only boil the amount of water that you actually need.

3. Pay attention to your water taps. Fix leaky taps and make sure that your taps are always fully turned off. A tap that is continually dripping even a small amount makes enough hot water to fill half a bath in a week!

4. Pay attention to the light bulbs that you purchase and look for the ENERGY STAR label. Energy efficient light bulbs can save you a great deal of money over the life of the bulb, and they last up to 10 times longer than do ordinary bulbs.

5. Have a home energy check done on your house. Many companies conduct these checks and they will offer you other suggestions for saving on your electricity and gas bills and will provide quick tips for saving in the home.

Dryer Tips from IDT Energy

You’re probably just “do your laundry” without even realizing that this simple activity is just bursting with ways it can be done more energy efficiently. Well, here are some easy things you can start to do immediately, and for free, which will help you save money on your laundry bill.

• Do you always clean the lint filter on the dryer before starting a new load? Do it! Your dryer works much more efficiently when that little lint catcher is clean.

• Does your dryer have a moisture sensor which automatically knows when the clothes inside are dry? If so, then use it. This is another way to let the machine do what it was designed to do at its best. It is estimated that using this setting can save 5% on your electric bill.

• Always dry clothes of similar types together. For instance, light, silky blouses or permanent press shirts should not be dried with towels. Do those bulky, hard to dry towels by themselves. Also denim jeans, and other heavy items should go together, and easy to dry, easily wrinkled garments should also be together.

• Keep the exhaust pipe clean. If it’s stuffed with lint the dryer can’t work at its peak efficiency, and in the worst case it could be a fire hazard.

• What, it’s a sunny, warm day and you’re using your dryer? Tsk, tsk. Line drying is a great way to use solar power without the aid of an expensive appliance. All you need is a rope and some clothespins. Get out there and start hanging those clothes!


IDT Energy is here to help you save money while saving energy.

Energy Effeciency From IDT Energy

Did you know that the IDT Energy web site has a resource center with lots and lots of useful information to help you save energy, and in the process save money, too.

For instance, I came across a really handy page which claims to be “the first web-based do-it-yourself energy audit tool.

All you need to do is enter your zip code into a box on the home page, and then you are transported to another page which shows a bar-graph comparing how much money is spent on energy in an average home in the zip code you selected, compared to the amount spent on energy to run a home which is energy efficient.

The bar-graphs divide the expenses into costs for heating, cooling, water heating, major appliances, lighting and small appliances.

Then you can customize the answers to fit your exact situation by filling in a questionnaire which can help you decide if you should upgrade by giving you how much it will cost and how much you can expect to save.

A pretty neat tool, I think. Go give it a try and see if you could be saving oodles of money on your energy bill.

Winter is Coming: IDT Energy Says Its Time to Get Ready

Here we are watching the days shorten, leaves fall, sun loose some of its warm luster and taking our winter things out of mothballs. IDT Energy is getting ready for winter by sending you some simple but practical and effective ideas to save money and energy while staying toasty warm all winter.

1. If you have a forced-air HVAC heating system then it most likely has a simple filter in the ducts near the furnace. It is important to change this filter every few months to maintain efficient and clean operation. When your furnace is working overtime during the winter this bit of maintenance can become an extremely important to lower your energy bill. The filters are inexpensive and pay for themselves in energy savings in no time.

2. Does your home leak some of the warm air that you spent so much money to heat? Seal up those leaks in your walls and windows, even small ones, with weather-stripping, caulk and other insulating materials, and you will find not only is your house warmer, but your energy bill is also lower.

3. Maybe it’s time for a new furnace? If it’s as old as or older than your teenage children it might save you lots of money to replace it with a new “Energy Star” furnace. The sooner you begin saving on your energy bill, the sooner your new furnace will pay for itself and start saving you lots of money.

4. Ready to change your light bulbs? We use more artificial light in the winter. The more efficient the bulbs you use, the less energy you use and the more money you save. Consider switching to compact fluorescent bulbs for the most efficient artificial lighting solution.

IDT Energy Presents: Stay Warm in Winter Without Busting the Bank

Everyone loves winter in New York, but it can be a challenge to your budget to keep warm all winter. IDT Energy has some easy to implement energy saving ideas to get you and your bank account comfortable through the winter.

1. Because most homes are heated with appliances that are fuel-fired, the greatest cost comes at start-up and shut-down. A programmable thermostat helps you maintain constant temperatures or gradual increase and decrease of temperatures. Set to cooler temperatures at night, and begin heating even before you wake up. You will be warmer during the day and save money too. For the most efficient heating, get a programmable thermostat.

2. Set your thermostat to a lower temperature. You won’t feel the difference of just a few degrees, but you will notice it in your monthly fuel bill, which will be substantially lower. Each degree Fahrenheit that you lower the thermostat you can expect a 3% savings on your energy bill. A comfortable daytime temperature for your thermostat is 68 degrees, and about 5-8 degrees less at night during sleep. When spring comes around again you’ll be glad for the money you saved.

3. Did you know that warm air rises and cold air sinks? You can use this principle to circulate the warm air that is stuck to your ceiling down to ground level, by reversing the direction on your ceiling fans. Most fans have a switch to reverse the direction it spins. In the summer make sure the lower part of the paddle goes first around the fan to draw the air up. In the winter flip the switch to push the warm air down.

More Tips to Save More From IDT Energy

Here are some great tips to help you save some money, while using less of the earth’s limited resources.

• Turn off your computers when not in use for an extended amount of time, like at night when you go to sleep.

• Enable “power management” mode on all computers, and be aware that laptops can use up to 90% less energy than desktops.

• Did you know that about 90% of the energy used in a clothes washer goes to heating the water? Wash in cold water whenever possible.

• Keep your clothes dryer running at its most efficient. Clean the lint filter after each use and purchase a dryer with a moisture sensor which automatically turns off the dryer when the clothes are dry.

• A well insulated house can save lots of energy. Check for leaks, fill in cracks and gaps, and add insulation to save up to 20% on the cost of heating and/or cooling your home.

IDT Energy encourages you to try any or all of these simple tips to start saving now.

Timely Tips from IDT to Help You Save (the Planet)

Just a few small changes in our everyday activities can enormously help our environment. In our never ending campaign to help bring a better world to our customers and others IDT Energy in New York has collected a few easy to do suggestions for making our world a better place to live.

1. Adjust your thermostat. Just a slight increase in temperature in the summer and decrease in the winter, let’s say about two degrees Fahrenheit, can make a big difference. Not only do you save on the cost of electricity but over a year you will have saved lots of energy, too.

2. Adjust the temperature in your fridge. The recommended temperature to store food is 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 5 degrees in the freezer. Keeping the refrigerator’s thermostat set to maintain these temperatures will help lengthen the life of your fridge as well as saving you money and energy.

3. In nice weather let the sun shine in. Turn off lights during the day and use natural light and save. When it’s hot outside you can use curtains and blinds to block out the hot sun and keep your cooling bill down. Switching to CFL bulbs (compact fluorescent light) saves electricity and reduces the amount of heat produced by ordinary incandescent bulbs.

4. Clean more efficiently. Shorter shower can save lots of water. A ten minute shower uses about 50 gallons of water. By just taking five minutes less you can save about 25 gallons of water. Be careful to only use your dishwasher and clothes washer when full to get maximum efficiency of water use. And cold water washes using cold water detergents also saves energy, as does air drying your clothes and dishes whenever possible.

5. Rechargeable batteries can also save you lots of money and they are much more energy efficient.

IDT Energy believes that people helping people help the environment is a worthy goal and we are glad to be here to help you.

IDT Energy Tips for Vacation Savings

I promised you some great tips to save this summer on your electricity bill while you are away on vacation. IDT Energy encourages you to follow some of these ideas and wishes you a great vacation. dont forget to write!

Make sure to turn off your heat pump or air conditioner before you leave, as long as there is nothing in your home that might be damaged by higher than usual temperatures. Just raising the thermostat might not prevent the unit from turning on from time to time.
Put your pool pump on a timer. Otherwise your pump will run 24 hours a day while you are away.
Your water heater is a large draw on the electricity you use. Even while you are away the heater will turn on periodically to maintain the temperature the thermostat is set to. Completely turn off the water heater at the fuse box or breaker panel and you will be able to save lots of electricity. When you come home be sure to turn on the hot water faucet to make sure there is water in the heater before you turn it on.
For shorter trips of just a few days, consider raising the thermostat in your refrigerator. For longer trips of at least four weeks you might want to clean out your refrigerator completely and turn it off. Be sure to prop open the door while your away to prevent mildew from forming inside the turned-off fridge.

Get Ready to Save this Summer

IDT Energy wants you to save money this summer. Vacation time is coming and it’s time to think about how you can save on your electricity bill even while you are away from home. “What?” You must be thinking, of course I use less electricity when I’m not home- I won’t be there using it!” But this is not entirely true. Many appliances stay on, even when you are not at home. And some may work even harder without you there to maintain them properly and insure that they are properly adjusted to suit changing temperatures and other fluctuating conditions. Next time I will post some tips on how to save on your electric bill while you are away.

Rolling Stone Stops Short of Recycled Paper

Rolling Stone Magazine

Rolling Stone magazine will do their green issue on June 28th, but there may a disparity between content and form.

According to the New York Times:

“Rolling Stone will be printed on what it calls ‘carbon neutral paper,’ because it is made through a process that the magazine claims adds no carbon dioxide to the atmosphere… What neither an editor’s note in Rolling Stone nor a press release sent by the magazine mentions, however, is that the new paper has no recycled content.”

IDT Energy asks why not?
“Eric Bates, deputy managing editor of Rolling Stone, said, ‘We think recycled paper is great.’ But, he added, ‘we’re publishing some of the world’s greatest photographers and artists,’ and the print quality on recycled paper does not do them justice. ‘What we’re trying to do is what we can do. We can’t put out the magazine we put out on recycled paper.’ “

Then of course there are quotes from authorities saying there is no difference in quality if one prints on recycled paper. I think that is in the eye of the beholder. Carbon neutral paper works for me.

New Store Front!

We are excited to show our new e-storefont. Check out

http://www.idtenergystore.com -- your e-marketplace for all your energy and product needs.

Let us know what you think --- Write to us here on the blog.