Saving Energy in the Winter Can be Easier, and Cheaper, Than You Think

New York in Winter:Photo by  GK tramrunner

Of course you would like to save energy and money this winter, but the budget for installing new energy efficient windows or insulating the attic, is just not there. Don’t worry. Here are some free and easy ways to save on your energy bill this winter. Perhaps with the money you save heating your home this winter you can afford the more expensive energy savings ideas for next winter.

1. Let the sun heat your house. When the sun is shining, even during the winter, those powerful rays can warm the inside of your home. Give it a try. Don’t forget to close the drapes when the sun goes down to keep all that nice warm air inside where it belongs.

2. A little smart room design can help save energy. Place the furniture closer to interior walls. Family members will feel much warmer if they are not sitting adjacent to outer walls or drafty windows.

3. Fireplaces can be a real waste of energy. When in use much of the warmed air just goes right up and out the chimney. When not in use be sure to keep the damper completely shut. Before closing the damper make 100 percent certain there are no smoldering embers left. If you do decide to stop using your fireplace entirely, block off the chimney with a bit of rigid insulation which fits tightly into the space. Dampers simply do not completely shut off air leakage.

4. Check around the house for places you can save energy. Are the lights on in empty rooms? Is your spare fridge in the basement not really needed? Then unplug it. After they do their job turn off kitchen and bathroom ventilation fans.

5. Speed up shower time.  Heating water for showers accounts for about 67 percent of your water heating bill. Reducing the amount of water you use in the shower can be a huge money saver.

6. Use appliances in a more efficient way. Don’t run the dishwasher until it’s full. Don’t do a load of wash unless it’s also full. Most laundry can be successfully washed in cold water. Only use the hot water cycle when absolutely necessary. Always take out the lint when loading up the dryer. Use the automatic setting to shut off the dryer when it senses the clothes are dry.

Ten Amazing Things to Make Using Duct Tape

Duct tape is one of the most useful and versatile household items commonly found in home-hardware closets. Here are some great ideas to turn duct tape into some clever creations guaranteed to last.

• 1.      Hammock- Using several colors of duct tape and two wooden dowels, make your own colorful hammock.

• 2.      Duct Tape Typhoon Pants- Stay dry this rainy season with homemade waterproof pants.

• 3.      Kayak- In case you were wondering just how waterproof duct tape really is, here is a kayak made with the tape and PVC pipe to keep you afloat.

• 4.      Tool box- Be the first on your block (or in your city, state, maybe even country) with a tool tote made from what is usually found INSIDE the box.

• 5.      Batman Mask- Sorry its already too late for this Halloween, but you can create a wonderful Batman mask and be ready for next year.

Pinching Your Pennies? Make a Battery Out of Them!

So this type of project might not give you free energy, power up your TV or light up your house, it may give some extra juice to a calculator or LED.  Plus, its a fun way to teach your children about energy.

Supplies:

• 10 Pennies (1983 or older)
• Paper towels, cardboard or other absorbent material
• Lemon juice (salt or vinegar works too)
• Sand paper
• Aluminum foil
• LED

How To:

1. Sand down one side the pennies to remove the copper outer core and reveal the inner zinc.
2. Cut the paper towels to be the same size and shape of the pennies.
3. Soak the paper towel in the lemon juice and blot dry so liquid is not dripping. 
4. On top of the aluminum foil layer the pennies and pieces of paper towels like a sandwich.  It should be in this order: Copper side down, paper towel, copper side down, paper towel... The cooper side will be the positive and the zinc or sanded side will be the negative. 
5. Wrap your new battery cell in electrical tape. Make sure it is air tight to prevent the paper towels from drying to quickly. 
6. Connect an LED light bulb (around 6 volts) to the pennies. 
7. Light it up! It should stay lite for about 2 weeks. Add more pennies and it should stay lite longer.

Want some history on batteries to go along with? Check this out!

6 Unusual DIY Lamps

The weather has cooled off and and it might be time to move your DIY skills inside.  As energy nerds, we like projects that involve energy and lamps were right up our alley.  Plus we like saving money, so DIY projects are kinda our thing.  We found 6 cool and unusual lamps that you can create at home. Would you take on a project like this? Or have you already?

Auto Part Lamp 

This lamp is made from a car air filter and other auto parts. 

Find it here!

 Combo Lamp

Plug in or charge up with this lamp. It's both and outlet and a lamp!

Find it here!

Lego Lamp

If you have a little boy or girl that loves to build with legos this lamp is a fun activity to do together!

Find it here!

Teacup Lamp

Have some old china you aren't quite sure what to do with? Or a dainty room that needs some light?

Find it here!

Toy Lamp

The below picture has it with different action figurines and toy soldiers, but we thought it would also be cute with trucks & cars or ponies!

Find it here!

Colander Chandelier

 Looking for some rustic charm in the kitchen? Something useful and decorative? We think you could even take of the kitchen utensils if you have an over crowded dinner party. 

Find it here!

Favorite Fall Crock Pot Recipes

Fall is a great time to break out the crock pot. We have pinned some of our favorite recipes but check out our top 5 foods below!

1. Buffalo Chicken Wing Soup

One word - Yum! Buffalo Chicken Wing dip is a staple at many football parties, but have you tried the soup version? If not you are in for a delight. There are a number of different versions so we pinned a few on our Energy Efficient Foodie board. But the key ingredients are Franks Red Hot Sauce, chicken, mozzarella cheese and milk. We also really enjoy this in a bread bowl!

2. Candied Sweet Potatoes

This is great for Thanksgiving, easing up some of that precious oven space. It's sweet and yummy, plus who doesn't like marshmallows in their dinner?  Plus with around 3 main ingredients and a few kitchen staples, it doesn't require a huge chuck of your budget.

3. Chili - Chicken Style

Fall and chili almost go together. Ground meat and tomatoes all stewed together with some great spices and maybe beans... our tummies are doing grumbling. But least we forget traditional chili's favorite sibling - White Chicken Chili. A bit different take, but oh so satisfying.

4. Hot Apple Cider

It's apple season. Apple pies, apple crisp, apple sauce and one yummy beverage - apple cider. Your crockpot isn't just for food, but beverages too! Sure you can just heat up some apple cider and call it a day, but if you want to add a little extra yum to it, try it in a crockpot. Apple cider + cinnamon + whole cloves = amazing.

5.  Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Yet another shout out to our Buffalo foodie customers, but we couldn't pass up this pasta recipe with our favorite hot sauce. We haven't tried it ourselves yet, but it just looks to good not to! Check it out.

Happy Friday!

10 Energy Saving Tips for 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

Fall Tailgating Tips - Energy Nerd Style

Football season is in full swing! Are you planning on tailgating with your favorite team this year? Here are some tips to put your tailgate yards head of your neighbors - energy nerd style:

• Freeze water bottles instead of dumping ice into your cooler. It will keep things cold, plus it's a refreshing beverage after it melts!

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• Amplify the sound. Forgot the speakers? Use a toilet paper roll and two cups

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• Use your cooler to cook the corn on the cob in larger quantities

  

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• Turn your cooler into a food warmer. Keep your food warm for hours!
• How to: 
• Wrap 4 bricks (the kind used to build walls) with aluminum foil. 
• Heat the bricks in a 350° oven for an hour. 
• Using potholders, carefully place them on pieces of cardboard in the bottom of a cooler. 
• Cover with more cardboard and use cloth towels for stability. Pans of food, straight from the oven will stay hot for hours.

The NYC Energy Marketing Conference Honors IDT Energy, Inc. with its Industry Leadership and Integrity Award

We are proud to announce that our CEO has accepted the "Industry Leadership and Integrity Award presented by the NYC Energy Marketing Conference.

"Most CEO’s of REPs saw the crisis of 2014 as dangerous and catastrophic. Yet the CEO of IDT Energy saw it as an opportunity: a chance to separate his company from the industry, to grow as a business, to improve the customer offerings, to show his integrity and to lead by example,” said Jack Doueck, EMC Founder. “IDT voluntarily suffered economically, but they did the right things, the painful things, and in so doing, they overcame and grew from the adversity and became a better, stronger, and more responsive business.” 

Read more about the award and how honor IDT Energy received.

Air Leaks: Checking and Sealing

Fall is here! And it's time to start prepping your house for the colder weather. Did you know that even if you  have insulated your walls and updated your window there could still be small leaks sucking out the heat and costing you money? Small spaces, like your light sockets and outlets, could lack insulation and be the source.

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How to check for energy loss: Turn off the furnace and any fans, also shut the doors and windows in your house. Light an incense stick and hold it near the outlets and light switches. Any movement? There's a leak!

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How to correct a leak: At a home improvement store, like Home Depot, they have foam electrical outlet and wall covering insulation. By removing your outlet or wall plate, placing the insulation over the outlet and reattaching the plate, you can prevent these leaks. Not an expensive task, this minimally time consuming change could make your house a little cozier this winter!

Have questions on your energy bill? Contact an IDT Energy Customer Service Rep today!

Energy Efficient Remodeling: Part 2 - Bathroom

Bathrooms can be one of the smallest rooms in your house, however, they can also be one of the most expensive (next to a kitchen!). So it's important to make it work hard for you and save you money on energy!

The IDT Energy geeks have identified four areas that you can make improvements to and save on energy.

1. Windows
2. Faucets
3. Walls/Floors
4. Lighting

The windows provide light and ventilation for a bathroom. However, if it is not energy efficient it might provide to much ventilation - a draft! A new, updated window can both make the room cozier and more aesthetically pleasing. By installing a window with the Energy Star insignia, it will help prevent the room from becoming too hot or too cold. 

One of the largest energy wasters in a bathroom are the faucets; 50-75% of your water usage is in the bathroom. Leave the sink or shower faucets running and gallons of water, and $$, can disappear down the drain. By installing Energy Star rated faucets, you can reduce the flow of water and limit the amount of wasted water. Additionally, by upgrading your toilet to a dual flush, it can use a fraction of the water every time you flush.

Increasing the energy efficiency of the walls and floors of the bathroom may be a larger renovation, but can make a vast difference in the overall energy efficiency of the room. People are most sensitive to temperatures in the bathroom and proper insulation helps maintain the correct temperature - preventing additional adjustments to the whole house thermometer.   If you are removing walls, one of the most important steps is to increase the insulation if it is below a R19 ( R30 for ceilings) value. Also, by insulating your pipes with in the wall, you can prevent heat loss in water, reducing the energy your water heater uses. While your walls are open, this is a good time to check and seal any leaks in the framing. 

Lighting in bathrooms is important - especially if you are applying makeup! There are a number of ways to increase the energy efficiency with the lighting. A couple simple changes you can make: clean the window(s) - a clean window lets in more light; and change the light bulbs - update to energy efficient light bulbs. A large renovation can increase the lighting overall in your room, depending on where your bathroom is located in the house, add a skylight or for smaller spaces, a solar tube. Either of these options will bring in daylight, decreasing your need for artificial lighting. 

Of course you can always check our Pinterest for more energy efficient tips and ideas. 

In the Kitchen: Energy Efficient Appliances

As a follow up to our last post, here are some more ideas to get the most out of your kitchen appliances, energy-wise.

Here are a few simple tips from IDT Energy to help you get started making your kitchen as energy efficient as possible:

• Measure the space you have set aside for your new appliance. Then measure the appliance to make sure it will fit and that there is enough space to open doors or lid, and that there is enough room for proper ventilation.

• It is not enough to only consider the price of the appliance. Check how much the appliance costs to run, and be sure to purchase the most energy efficient that you can.

• Check with the sales person if there are any special offers such as cash rebates, low-interest loans or other incentives to purchase a more energy efficient model.

• Be sure to read the Energy Guide, the black and yellow sticker that the FTC requires be placed on all new appliances, (with the exception of kitchen ranges, microwave ovens and dryers.) Reading this guide helps consumers to compare the different models and make the most informed choices about the energy they will be using and the money they will be spending when they bring the new appliance into their home.

Becoming an informed consumer will help you save money and save energy.

IDT Energy Rewards FAQs

IDT Energy is proud to announce that our reward program is now live! Have questions? Here are a few FAQs to answer questions you may have about the program. Not finding an answer to your question? Leave a comment and we'll do our best to answer them for you - and add them to our FAQ list.

Who can earn Rewards?
Active IDT Energy customers that have registered for the rewards program.

How do I register for the IDT Energy® Rewards program?
It's easy! Just go to www.IDTEnergyRewards.com and have your utility bill handy. Select your utility and enter your account or POD ID #. Verify your basic information is correct, or make any necessary corrections (these corrections will not effect your IDT Energy or utility account, just your rewards information). And we will deposit 1,000 points just for registering.

How do I earn rewards?
After you register your account, we will give you 1,000 points. Then, earn more points every month based on your energy usage. We will also award you points when you hit certain benchmarks, like you 1 year anniversary with IDT Energy (who doesn't like anniversary presents?!).

How many points do I need until I can redeem something?
There are rewards for as low as 1,250 points.  The Rewards catalog has THOUSANDS of items to choose from, so as you earn more you will have a LOT of options.

Do I need a special code to sign up?
No specials codes needed. Just go to www.IDTEnergyRewards.com and have your utility information handy to register your accounts.

I have multiple accounts with IDT Energy, can I earn Rewards on all of them?Absolutely! You can earn rewards on both natural gas and electricity, if you receive your energy supply from IDT Energy. If you have multiple houses, you can earn rewards for each of them as well.

Will all of my points go into one pool if I have multiple accounts with IDT Energy? 
Once you register your first account, any accounts that are connected in our system will be registered. If you do not see all of your accounts, please select "Add/Link Accounts" and follow the steps.

I just signed up with IDT Energy, I am trying to register with Rewards and it is not allowing me to register for rewards - why?
If you just enrolled with IDT Energy we do not have your account information processed and in our system yet. Please check back at a later date. If you have any questions regarding your enrollment, please contact customer service at 877-887-6866.

I am not an active IDT Energy customer, how do I enroll?

Go to www.IDTEnergy.com or call 1-888-474-2339 to enroll your utility account.

Happy Independence Day America! 

TBT: Electric Insulators Re-Purposed

Glass insulators were first produced in the 1850's for use with telegraph lines. Technology developed and insulators were needed for more things like telephone lines, electric power lines, etc. Now, they are often collectors items. Here are a few neat examples of how people have re-purposed them. For more ideas, check out the IDT Energy Pinterest. 

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DIY Air Conditioner - Cool Your House with 5 Items

It's summer. It's hot. And your house doesn't have Air Conditioning. The fan just isn't cutting it anymore and you just want to cool down. It's time to make your own air conditioner and CHEAP!

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Materials List:

• 5 gallon Bucket
• Styrofoam bucket liner (You can purchase this from a store like Home Depot)
• PVC pipe - 3 pieces of 1.5" pipe 
• Small Fan
• Ice

How To:

1. Cut three circular holes in the 5 gallon bucket the size of the PVC pipe. We recommend using 2 1/4" hole saw.
2. Insert the liner into the bucket.
3. Use a 2 1/8" hole saw to cut holes in the liner where you previously cut holes in the bucket
4. Insert the PVC pipe into the holes
5. Cut a hole in both the lid of the buck and the liner slightly smaller than the fan.
6. Place ice in the bucket, place fan on top, and enjoy the cool air!

For the ice we recommend  freezing two 1 gallon jugs of water. Each jug should last 5-6 hours. Once one jug melts, re-freeze, and replace the "Air Conditioner" with the alternate.

If you would like a visual, check out this video: Homemade Air Conditioner

We have also pinned a few other ideas on how to make your own Air Conditioner, check out IDT Energy on Pinterest!

Rainy Day Summer Projects

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Is the rain ruining your planned summer projects? Need something to keep the kids busy inside? IDT Energy has put together some fun projects!

Rain in a Jar

What better way to explain what is happening outside, then make it happen inside.

Supplies: Glass Jar, Hot Water, Plate, Ice Cubes and a Towel (clean up any accidental messes)
Time: 15 min

1. Heat the water until it's almost boiling - pour it into the glass jar.
2. Quick! Cover the jar with the plate.
3. Place the ice cubes on the plate.
4. Watch what happens!

The warm air from the hot water rises and mixes with the cool air created by the ice cubes. This causes condensation and then rain!

Crayon Rainbow

You're waiting for the rain to clear and the sun to come out, and a rainbow to appear. Make your own rainbow with crayons!

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Supplies: Newspaper, canvas, hot glue gun (and glue stick), heat gun and lots of crayons. 

Time: 1 hour

1. Lay the newspaper down to protect your craft space
2. Sort out the crayons by color (likely avoiding greys, browns, and black)
3. Line up the colors by shade next to the canvas. The crayons should fill the length of the canvas.
4. Hot glue the crayons to the canvas, point down. Glue a small amount at a time. 
5. Once all of the crayons are affixed, lean the canvas up against a support (with the newspaper underneath)
6. Hold the heat gun about 12 inches from the canvas as the crayons begin to melt.
7. Use the heat gun, as needed, to follow the melted crayon down the canvas to provide continuous lines. Work one section at a time. 
8. After all of the crayons have melted, pick up the canvas and scrape off the bottom where there is excess crayon. 
9. Hope a real rainbow comes out soon!

Check out more fun, energy related projects on IDT Energy's Pinterest. 

5 Tips to Keep Your Body Cool in the Hot Summer

It's hot out. You want to keep cool, but you don't want to crank on/up the Air Conditioning. There is no pool in sight, but you need to cool down.

Here are 5 energy efficient tips to cooling down in the hot summer:

1. Use cool water on  your pulse points (like your wrists). This can help bring your core temperature down as much as 3 degrees!
2. Your body sweats to cool your down as the water vapor evaporates. Take advantage of your perspiration - stand in front of a cool breeze or a fan and cool down faster. 
3. Go downstairs. It's simple - heat rises. If your home has a lower level or a basement the air will be less dense the further from the roof line.
4. Mint refreshes the skin and leaves a cooling sensation. Use peppermint lotion or peppermint soap, but avoid your face and eyes.
5. Take off your shoes and hat while indoors! Most of the body's heat is released through the palms of your hands, the scalp and the soles of the feet. If you have shoes or a hat on, there is no way for the heat to escape!

Check out IDT Energy for more ways to earn rewards and get cash back.

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!

Summer Energy Efficient Tips

Right now is a perfect time to save on energy! The heat is off and the AC hasn't been turned on yet.

It's also a great time to start preparing for the summer - keeping your energy bills low by conserving energy.

Here are IDT Energy's top 5 energy efficiency tips to get ready for the summer:

1. Change the filters once a month.  Don't make your A/C work harder than it has to. Pushing air through a dirty filter takes more energy; plus, who doesn't want clean air!
2. Install a programmable thermostat.  You have heard this one time and time again. So why are you waiting? Your couch and favorite lazy chair don't need to stay cool while you are busy at work. And who has time to remember to adjust the temp when you are running out of the house barely remembering to put shoes on! Set the thermostat to automatically adjust.
3. Clean the condensation lines.  Keeping this clean of sludge and debris is important to maintain the efficiency of the AC unit.
4. Check that the condenser (unit outside) is level.  If the cement pad that the condenser sits on outside is not level the machine has to work harder.  That means you have to work harder to pay those energy bills!
5. Clean the condenser.  While you are outside making sure that the condenser is level, make sure it's free of any debris. Debris blocks air flow, making the unit work harder.

Looking for more energy saving tips? Check out IDT Energy's Facebook and IDT Energy's Pinterest.

IDT Energy Introduces SmartBudget

Over the past few months IDT Energy gave back close to $4 million dollars to customers faced with the Polar Vortex price spikes. In addition, we are introducing a new program to help better protect consumers from energy market volatility. The IDT Energy® SmartBudget promotion will lock your electricity supply rate for the next twelve months with no termination fees. This is especially important for utility customers in PA who will see significant rate increases on June 1 for electricity supplied by their utility.

For more information see the article in Yahoo! Finance and stay tuned to this blog and IDT Energy's Facebook!