Happy Earth Day!

Via

April 22 is a day on our calendar that has been set to raise awareness about the health and well-being of our Mother Nature and the efforts to protect it. Today, millions of people all over the world are leading and participating in Earth Day events to commemorate what is considered to be the birth of the modern environmental movement. We are pleased to offer a choice of green electricity supply as an option that is100% matched with renewable energy certificates and renewable energy attributes, generated from sources like running water, wind, solar and biomass. By enrolling in an electricity plan like this, you can do a small part in reducing the carbon foot print. Plus, renewable electricity is purchased from domestic resources here in the United States. For more information or to enroll your electricity meter, please visit www.idtenergy.com/green-energy.

For more fun Earth Day images and activities, check out IDT Energy's Pinterest!

Lemontricity - Electricity by Lemons

Did you know that even a lemon can generate electricity? Lemontricity! So next time your electricity is out, look towards your fruits and vegetable - like a potato!

Lemons are an acidic fruit. It can dissolve metals and make ions, which in turn add (or give off) electrons. Lemons act as the facilitator for copper and zinc to create electricity. Zine becomes negative as it dissolves inside the lemon to make ions while copper becomes positive. The copper then collects the positive, hydrogen ions. These are all key factors in how electricity is generated.

Here are the steps to make your own Lemon Power:

Materials:

• Copper wire (18 gauge) 
• Wire clippers
• 2-inch strip of zinc/lemon (or metal paper clip straightened)
• Course sand paper
• Lemon(s)
• LED light bulb

Steps:

1. Use a 2 inch strip of copper wire and strip the insulation off
2. Smooth any rough spots on the ends of both pieces of wire with the sand paper
3. Roll the lemon on a table as to loosen the insides without breaking the skin of the lemon
4. Push the copper and zinc into the lemon as close as you can without them touching
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for each lemon
6. Connect the lemons together positive to negative (zinc to copper) with the copper wire.
7. Connect the LED light bulb to the two electrodes with copper wire.
8. Connect the wire that sticks out of the light bulb on the flat side to the zinc from the lemons.
9. Connect the wire that sticks out of the light bulb on the round side to the copper from the lemons.

The more lemons you connect the stronger current the lemons will produce. But note: Lemons are not the next alternative energy. You won't save money on your electric bill by using lemons - they don't produce much!

IDT Energy Now Offers Renewable (Green) in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Maryland

With energy deregulation comes choice and responsibility for our environment. In addition to who supplies your home’s electric, you can choose the type of supply you buy as well.  Renewable Energy is the way to go if you are concerned about your environment. IDT Energy is now able to serve its customers electricity generated from “renewable” sources. “Renewable”, also often referred to as Green energy is generated from sources such as running water, wind, solar or biomass. IDT Energy customers in Pennsylvania can rest assured that when they choose a renewable energy supply option, 100% of their electricity usage is matched with renewable energy certificates or renewable energy attributes. For just a few cents more per kilowatt hour than standard electricity, you can gain security in knowing that your dollars are helping the environment, our economy and national security. When you choose an IDT Energy renewable electric service you will be contributing to cleaner, healthier air, reduced dependency on foreign oil and nuclear power, and growth of more domestic job opportunities. Visit www.idtenergy.com/2free or call us at 888-474-2339 for more information and a special service offer. IDT Energy CEO, Geoff Rochwarger commented, “IDT Energy has more to offer than a suite of rebate programs and competitive rates on electric and natural gas supply. We live and work in the markets we serve. Conservation and protection of the environment is important to all of us. Now, IDTEnergy customers can choose not only who supplies energy to their homes, but the type of energy supplied as well

With all of the rain coming down in the Northeast, it looks like Niagara Falls is right outside the window’s at IDT Energy.  Wouldn't it be great if someone harnessed all of this energy and transformed  it into electric supply?  Oh wait – someone has! In fact, if you live in NYS you can choose to have 100% of your electricity supplied from IDT Energy’s hydro power.

How does hydro power work?

Water power is generated from the energy of falling water and harnessed for usefully purposes. It can be derived from waterfalls and rivers.

Of course you could also be harvesting all of this water for your garden!

Energy Generated by Green Slime

Growing in your fish tanks and slimming up the rocks at the beach lies your next energy source.  It's green, it's mean, it's algae! (No, the energy geeks have not lost their mind.)

An apartment building in Hamburg, Germany has developed a net-zero energy structure - derived from the building's 'siding.'  Taking three years and $3.4 million euros to build, it was designed for the International Building Exposition (IBA).

Alternative Energy - Algae via

From the IBA's website:

"The sides of the building that face the sun have a second outer shell that is set into the facade itself. Microalgae – tiny plants, most no larger than bacteria – are produced within this shell. They enable the house to supply its own energy. The only thing that the algae have to do is simply to grow. They are continuously supplied with liquid nutrients and carbon dioxide via a separate water circuit running through the facade  With the aid of sunlight, the algae can photosynthesis and grow."

Net-Zero Energy Via

So what do you think? Time to cover your home in algae and start farming your own energy?

No? Not ready for that? IDT Energy offers electricity from green energy sources if you think that might be a better option! 

Check out the IDT Energy Facebook and IDT Energy Pinterest for more crazy energy ideas!

10 Green Websites You Should Be Reading

Lighter Footstep has compiled a list of relative newbies to the green blogging space and highlighted blogs they felt worthy of mention (full article here).

What I like about this article: it focuses on up-and comers, not the heavy hitters.

What I don’t like about this article: the IDT Energy Blog is not on it! A glaring omission, in my opinion.

Here is the list, with my two cents inserted where necessary:

1. Daily Fuel Economy Tip: Tips that help you increase your gas mileage and save money at the pump.

2. Eco-Chick: “The blogteam at Eco-chick includes a model who has a degree in entomology, an alternative health freak who’s used herself as a guinea pig, a science nerd, a news junkie and a Barcelona-based expat; the site is run and hosted by an anarchist webmaster.” Intriguing, if a bit tricky to navigate.

3. Ecorazzi: According to Lighter Footsteps, it’s “People magazine for the Green set — without all the wasted trees.” Fun way to combine love of gossip with civic responsibility.

4. Frugal for Life All about the money – clearly still finding its way.

5. Green Options Kind of overwhelming, but seems like it is all there.

6. Jetson Green – For green building.

7. Maria Energia Love the title. Covers a business angle.

8. No Impact Man Too gimmicky. Begging to be made into reality show.

9. The Sietch Blog: solid content.

10. Vegetarian Meal Plans Works if that’s your thing…

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.