Slashing Hidden Costs from Your Electricity Bill

There are many hidden costs in your electricity bill that you may not even realize. By paying special attention to these areas in the home, you may be able to reduce your bill significantly over the course of the summer – and certainly over the course of the year. Energy companies like IDT Energy want to help you to save, and here are a few suggestions to do so.

Your refrigerator may actually be causing you extra costs. Make sure that everyone in the family knows to open the refrigerator doors only briefly and not to leave them open unnecessarily. Follow the manufacturer’s directions about the “cold” control and vacuum your refrigerator coils periodically to remove dust.

If your refrigerator isn’t frost-free, make sure to defrost it periodically. Also, plugging your refrigerator into an electronic induction motor control like the Power Planner, which is available in most home improvement centers, can help to reduce the amount of power the refrigerator’s motor uses.

Summer Savings Suggestions with IDT Energy

With the summer upon us, it’s time to start thinking about saving money on your electricity bill. If you live in a state, like NY, NJ or Pennsylvania, where electricity has been deregulated, then you should look into changing your energy supplier. You may find that some companies, like IDT Energy, offer surprisingly low rates.

There are many other quick and easy ways to lower your costs this summer, in ways that you probably won’t even feel in your day to day life. Have your air system run on fan instead of on air conditioner. Flip your thermostat to “Fan Only” to recycle air through the house. Make sure that you replace and clean your heating and cooling system’s air filters to improve their efficiency.

Small changes of this sort can make a large difference in your overall electricity bill over the course of time.

Saving Electricity in the Kitchen: IDT Energy

Most of us spend a great deal of time in the kitchen. A good portion of our electrical expenditure is done in this part of the home, and it’s important to learn key ways to save on your electrical bill in this area. Whether you use IDT Energy or another distributor, knowing how to save energy in the kitchen can make a big difference in your bill.

When you are cooking, turn on your range hood so that waste heat will go out of the home. Consider what you cook during the summer months and cut down on the amount that you use electrical appliances. Serve cold salads, deli slices and other items that don’t need to be cooked in a hot oven or stove top.

Make sure your oven door is tightly closed when in use and use the oven light to check on the progress of your items rather than opening and closing the oven door. Be sure to use a timer or a meat thermometer when cooking to save energy. Overcooked meals don’t taste particularly good, and uses extra electricity unnecessarily.

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.

Electric Choice As Explained by IDT Energy

Residence of Pennsylvania are some of the first in the country to have electric choice. What exactly does this mean? In 1996, Governor Tom Ridge signed a bill into law which game Pennsylvanians the right to select their own electricity supplier. It allows citizens to select the electric generation supplier, or EGS who will supply the home with electricity.

The electric company that you use now will continue to provide the transmission and distribution of your electric service. What the choice allows, however, is for you to select the company, such as IDT Energy, Citizens Electric Company and others who will supply the electricity. This choice means that you can shop around and compare electricity prices.

When shopping for an energy supplier such as IDT Energy, you can evaluate the services and prices they offer, the use of renewable energy sources, the budget-billing plans they can offer and more.

IDT Energy Part of Genie Energy

As of August, 2009, IDT Corporation organized its energy supply and oil share interests together into a new division, called Genie Energy. With Wes Perry, an oil and gas entrepreneur as Genie’s Chairman of the Board, this sector is comprised of IDT Energy, American Shale Oil, LLC (AMSO), and Israel.

As Mr. Perry said, “Genie Energy is developing the technologies America and Israel want to make rapid progress toward energy independence, while IDT Energy is poised for continued growth in the consumer market.”

Geoffrey Rochwarger, who launched IDT Energy for IDT in 2004, will begin to serve as Genie Energy’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

IDT Energy Salutes Earth Day 2010

It is the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day, which took place on April 22, 1970. Earth Day was originally organized by an environmental activist and United States Senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson. Earth Day was originally envisioned as an “environmental teach-in” in which many millions of people would demonstrate in support of environmental protection and awareness.

The first Earth Day had over 20 million participants worldwide. Now, 40 years later, more than 500 million people and 175 governments worldwide acknowledge and celebrate Earth Day each year.

Senator Nelson originally picked April 22 for Earth Day because he was looking for a date when colleges were still in session; no major religious holidays taking place; good weather for outdoor participation; and no final exams to interfere with student’s ability to participate.

One great way to celebrate Earth Day is to consider the possibility of “Going Green” with IDT Energy. IDT Energy offers its customers the option of choosing ‘green’ energy sources which produce cleaner air, less dependency on foreign sources for oil, creates more job opportunities at home, and increases the use of renewable energy resources. Whatever you decide, IDT Energy wishes you a healthy, clean Earth Day.

Natural Gas Usage Safety Tips from IDT Energy

IDT Energy, in addition to supplying consumers with electricity also supplies natural gas. Here are a few useful safety tips when getting the most out of your natural gas.

1. Always install gas appliances in well ventilated areas, and be sure the area remains well ventilated.

2. Keep flammable products such as sprays or oils based items far from gas appliances.

3. Never leave pots cooking on your gas stove top unattended.

4. When lighting your oven check for a gas smell before lighting the match.

5. When using your oven’s grill, leave the door slightly open.

6. If you suspect a gas leak, turn off the gas valve, call your local utility for help, open all your windows and doors, do not light matches or switch on or off any light switches or any other type of switches.

More Easy and Fast Tips to Save Around the House

Bathroom
Toilet: Use the half-flush feature to save a lot of water with each use.

Instant Water Heater: Turn it on only right before use, and don’t forget to turn it off when you are done.

Sink: Use a tumbler to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth, or for shaving.

Backyard/Service Porch
Plants: Water plants with the water you already used to wash your vegetables.

Backyard Tap: Keep it turned off when not in use, and be sure it is tight to prevent drips or leakage.

Washing Machine: A machine using 300 watts consumes about 6.86¢ of electricity per hour of use. Run machine for fully loaded runs whenever possible.

Quick Money Saving Tips Around the House

In the Living Room
Fan: A 75 watt fan costs about 1.72¢ per hour of use. Turn if off when you are not in the room.

Television: Your TV consumes about 4.57¢ each hour that it is on. Remember to close down when not watching.

Lamps: Each 40watt lamp uses 0.91¢ every hour. Try the new energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs or halogen bulbs to save energy and money.

Bedroom
Spit Unit Air Conditioner: A 750 watt unit costs about 17.15¢ to use every hour. Keeping the filters clean and turning off when not in use can save a lot of energy.

Kitchen
Refrigerator: A refrigerator with a nominal rating of 200 watts uses electricity at a rate of 4.57¢ per hour. Choose a new fridge carefully so that you get the right size for your family. Check all the gaskets and hinges for leakage, and keep the thermostat set to the right temperature.

Stove top: Boil water or cook food whenever possible with the lid on top of the pot. Water boils faster and food cooks more efficiently with the lid on. Once food has boiled keep on simmer to use minimum amount of energy to cook food.

Sink: Save water by washing veggies and fruit in a sink filled with water instead of continuously running the water.

Countertop: Let frozen foods defrost on the countertop instead of using warm water or the microwave.