10 Thanksgiving Energy Efficient Tips

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After spending money on the Turkey and all of side dishes, who isn't looking to save a few dollars before the holiday season? Here are 10 energy saving tips for cooking your Thanksgiving meal:

1. Use an ice chest or cooler for drinks if you're hosting a large group to cut down on wasting electricity when the refrigerator door is open.
2. Use LED lighting if you're decorating with holiday lights already. It's more energy efficient
3. Turn down your house thermostat! You’ll likely be pumping plenty of extra heat out of the kitchen to make up for the difference.
4. The sides: choose sides that you can cook with the turkey in the oven simultaneously so you don’t have to add extra time to the oven’s use.
5. Don’t worry about pre-heating the oven, it’s not necessary for a long, slow cook like a turkey.
6. Use ceramic or glass pans, you can turn down your oven by up to 25 degrees and your food will still cook just as quickly.
7. Check to see if your oven has a convection feature; it will cook more quickly and it is more energy efficient.
8. Cook on a gas grill instead of the oven. They are clean burning and energy efficient. 
9. Let your leftovers cool before you store them, so your refrigerator doesn't have to work as hard to cool the items. 
10. Cook more efficiently by using lids. When cooking with pots and pans, make sure to use lids whenever possible to retain heat. Doing so will allow you to save energy by cooking on lower heat settings over shorter cooking times.

NY's IDT Energy Enters Natural Gas Vehicle Industry

Originally posted on Gowanus Lounge

IDT Energy, one of the largest energy providers in the New York region, recently launched Evergreen Fleet Services as part of its plans to enter the Natural Gas Vehicle industry. The new program will work alongside Clean Vehicle Solutions, LLC to provide a toolkit for fleet owners, operators and managers to reduce operating costs and emissions for fleet owners.

IDT CEO Geoffrey Rochwarger said:

“I am excited to announce IDT Energy’s entry into the Natural Gas Vehicle industry. Evergreen Fleet Services, through our partnership with CVS, will leverage IDT Energy’s natural gas commodity expertise and in-market experience in the retail sector to help provide world class CNG-based solutions for fleet owners in the Northeast. We initially intend to take full advantage of IDT Energy’s regional base of operations, network for supply of the commodity and other relationships and infrastructure, and then gradually expand our geographic footprint and scope of offerings.”

IDT’s Evergreen Fleet Services joins CVS, a full service, end-to-end CNG solutions provider with a range of services, including consulting, finance, production, maintenance and training.

CEO of CVS Dean Sloane said:

“The Evergreen Fleet Services partnership brings significant value to our business. IDT Energy’s natural gas commodity procurement and related industry expertise will help to further grow our business, bringing new customers and adding value to our offerings.”

Rochwarger added “Natural gas provides powerful benefits compared to traditional liquid transportation fuels. Switching to natural gas can reduce fleet fuel costs by approximately 28% compared to diesel and 35% compared to unleaded gasoline at today’s prices, while significantly reducing greenhouse emissions. Evergreen Fleet Services will help fleet owners, operators and managers to capitalize on the extraordinary advantages of CNG.”

DIY Energy Audit: Light Switched & Outlets

You remember to turn off lights every time you leave a room. Good job! But are you letting warm air escape through the outlets and light switches?

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A professional energy audit is helpful, but expensive.  Our multi-part series on how to perform your own energy audit will save you money on the audit and on your monthly energy bills.

Your thin metal or plastic plate doesn't stop much in terms of air loss. Without insulation, these outlets are merely big holes in the wall.

How to identify a leaky light: Remove the plate from the wall. Cover the opening with a single ply of tissue and affix it to the wall with painters tape - just at the top. If the tissue billows - you have a leak.

How to correct a leak: A precut foam gaskets is only about 10 cents from a home stores. Just place the gasket over the opening and cover with the plate.

The leakage caused by light switches and outlets accounts for about 2% of your heating and cooling bill.  With that savings but the IDT Energy savings you could save up to 12% on your annual energy expenses.

Check out the other posts in our DIY Energy Audit seris: Drafty Window, Fireplace Energy Sucker, Cold Water Heater  and Leaky Ductwork  for more helpful tips. Plus go to the IDT Energy Facebook page for energy saving tips and tricks.

DIY Energy Audit: Leaky Ductwork

Do you have money blowing out of your ductwork? If your ductwork isn't properly sealed heat could not be getting to the intended location in your house leaving you cold and turning up the heat.

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A professional energy audit is helpful, but expensive.  Our multi-part series on how to perform your own energy audit will save you money on the audit and on your monthly energy bills.

Heat generated from your furnace or bolier must travel through the ductwork through your house and to various rooms in your house. If air is escaping in the ductwork in your basement it will never reach the intended destination of say, your bedroom. Overtime the adhesive tape that seals the joints of the ductwork becomes less effective as it dries out or is pulled away. 

How to identify leaky ductwork: While the furnace or AC is on shine a flashlight on the ducts - especially where they connect to the registers. Where you see dust on the ducts that has been blown away, that's a sign of a leak. 

How to correct a leak: Use HVAC tape to seal or re-seal joints between sections. Patch any small holes or misalignment's with a water based mastic sealant and mesh tape.

By reducing the air leakage by 15% you can save 3 to 10% of your heating bill. That, plus the savings with IDT Energy you can really save some money on your annual energy expenses. 

Check out the other posts in our DIY Energy Audit seris: Drafty Window, Fireplace Energy Sucker,  and Cold Water Heater  for more helpful tips. Plus go to the IDT Energy Facebook page for energy saving tips and tricks.

DIY Energy Audit: Cold Water Heater

Does your water heater belong in an antique shop or museum? It's old but still functions - why replace it! But how much energy are you loosing but holding on? 

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A professional energy audit is helpful, but expensive.  Our multi-part series on how to perform your own energy audit will save you money on the audit and on your monthly energy bills.

An old water heater may still be pumping out warm water and if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  But is it costing you more money every month than it needs to be? Water heaters more than 10 years old are usually lined with fiberglass insulation and tend to be less effective vs the  foam used today. If the water heater is cold, it's working harder to keep your water warm. 

How to identify an old water heater: Check the manufacturer's date. There should be a sticker or metal plate on the unit that will tell you exactly how old it is. Next, touch it. If you can feel the warmth from inside the tank, there is not enough insulation. 

How to correct: Put a coat on it! Wrap the tank in a precut blanket with an insulating value of at least an R-8. Take it a step further and fit foam sleeves or insulating tape around the pipes. Hot water looses some warmth as it travels through the lines and cold water pipes cause condensation which leads to mold and mildew in your basement. 

Adding a blanket to your water heater can save up to 9% on water heating costs alone. That plus saving up to 10% on your annual energy costs with IDT Energy really adds up!

Check out the other posts in our DIY Energy Audit seris: Drafty Window and Fireplace Energy Sucker for more helpful tips. Plus go to the IDT Energy Facebook page for energy saving tips and tricks.

DIY Energy Audit: Fireplace Energy Sucker

You love cozy-ing up by the fire on a cold winter night. But do you love the cold chill you get every time you get near the fireplace?

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A professional energy audit is helpful, but expensive.  Our multi-part series on how to perform your own energy audit will save you money on the audit and on your monthly energy bills.

A damaged fireplace damper can suck up 10 to 20% of warmed air if the damper is not functioning properly.  The damper is what stops warm air from escaping up the chimney flue. A rusted, stuck or improperly sized damper could be costing you money.

How to identify a damaged damper: With a closed damper hold a candle flame in the fireplace. If the flame of the candle begins flickering or goes out, air is going up the chimney.

How to correct: A chimney sweep. Hiring a chimney sweep is the only way to correct it and have a functioning fireplace. In addition to identifying a way to correct the damper issue, they will clean and lubricate the chimney.  In the off season, you can plug the problem and seal the flue with a balloon-like plug. Simply deflate it when you are ready to use again. 

Correcting a damaged damper can save you up to $500 in  your annual energy expenses. That, plus enrolling with IDT Energy can really cut down on your annual energy expenses.

For more energy saving tips check out the other post in this seris of DIY Energy Audits, Drafty Windows and the IDT Energy Facebook page. 

DIY Energy Audit: Drafty Windows

A cool breeze coming through the windows in the summer is refreshing. But a cool breeze coming through your window in the winter? No thank you!

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A professional energy audit is helpful, but expensive.  Our multi-part series on how to perform your own energy audit will save you money on the audit and on your monthly energy bills.

If you have leaky windows, not only will the cool air come in, but the warm air will escape.  This can account for 10 to 25% of your heating bill.

How to identify the source of a draft: On a windy, blustery day close all of the windows, doors and chimney flues (if you have a fire place).  With a lite stick of incense, move it around the windows and doors. Look for air the disrupts the smoke coming from the incense stick. If it flutters or changes direction - you know, you have a leak.

How to correct a leak:

1. Check the window from the outside of the house. Pay special attention to the casing where the window meets the house's siding. 
2. Scrape off any dried or cracking calking and apply fresh calk.
3. On the inside of the house, add new weather stripping. 

Each window that you weather proof can shave $20 off your annual energy expenses. 10 windows - $200! That combined with the savings from IDT Energy can really add up!

Stay tuned for our next DIY Energy Audit and watch for more tips on Facebook. 

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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