Certainly, the more soundly built your home is, and the better your windows are, the less energy you will lose in unnecessary ways.  If you are in the market for new windows, here are some suggestions that should help you with your purchase.  Whether you get your energy from IDT Energy or from another source, these tips can save you money in the long run.

When you look for new windows, shop for ENERGY STAR qualified models.  Look into purchasing “Low-E” (low emissivity) glass and argon-glass between the panes.  These materials work brilliantly to reflect furnace heat right back into the home and to let sunlight in while filtering out ultraviolet rays.

Look for windows that have an energy rating of -11 or better if you’re looking for windows that open and +2 or better for fixed windows. Similarly, the U-value of the windows tells you a great deal about their insulation.  If you live in a cold climate, find a U-value of .35 or below.

Finally, rather than looking for sliding windows, find casement-style windows since they offer better air filtration and durability.

In recent exciting energy news, the Department of Energy has just awarded $92 million for groundbreaking energy research projects.  These awards will accelerate innovation in clean energy technologies, increase America’s competitiveness and create new jobs.  The funding will help 43 cutting-edge research projects to improve how the U.S. uses and produces energy.  Learn more about these projects and the money that they have just been awarded.

As we focus more and more on green energy and renewable energy sources, it’s certainly interesting to read about wave and tidal technology and the energy source they may be able to provide.  Analyses from Frost & Sullivan have found that ocean technology, including wave and tidal technology, are more reliable and predictable than are other types of renewable energies such as wind and solar.

As Technical Insights Research Association Chin Wai Loon explains, “It is projected that commercialization of wave and tidal energy will take place in the next 5-10 years as the technology evolves and production costs decline. Wave and tidal energy are expected to be deployed on a commercial scale due to its large promising resource and high market potential; it is crucial for technology developers to push through into the commercialization phase.”

This short blog posts offers a great glimpse into the issue of home solar power systems.  The author asserts that,  “Just as many people think of a deck today as almost a standard feature on a home, it is my assertion that in the coming years home solar panel systems will be viewed the same way. There are several reasons why I believe this to be true.”

He then goes on to explain why he believes this to be true.  It offers interesting insights and food for thought for home owners.

Certainly, you can look into saving energy by selecting a new energy supplier.  This is true if you live in areas that have become deregulated like New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Here, we list five other ideas to quickly and easily help you to save on your home energy costs.

1. Turn down that thermostat.  Reducing your room temperature by as little as 1 degree Celsius can cut your heating bills by as much as 10%. If you have a programmer, make sure to only set your heating and hot water to come on when you need them to be one, rather than having them on all the time.

2. Keep your water cylinder thermostat to 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit or less.

3. Purchase curtains, if you don’t have them already, and close them in the evening to keep heat from escaping through the windows.  Check for draughts around your windows and doors and get them sealed.

4. Get in the habit of turning off the lights when you exit a room. This can really make a difference over the long term.

5. Appliances take up electricity, even when you aren’t using them.  Turn off computers, mobile phones and other appliances when they aren’t in use, rather than leaving them on standby.

Everyone wants to save money, and when we conserve resources and use them in the most efficient possible way, we not only save money, but we protect our environment. IDT Energy has a few easy, smart suggestions for ways to save on the energy that you use around your house.

1.    Consider linking your electrical outlets to wall switches. Many electronic devices such as cell phone chargers, televisions and computers continue to use electricity even when they are not turned on or in stand-by mode. This is called “phantom power” which uses a small amount of power, but over time can begin to add up. It is estimated that phantom power might actually compose up to 10% of an average electric bill. One way to really turn off these devices so that they are not drawing any power is to link them to the wall switch, and turn them off at the wall. You can achieve the same goal by plugging these devices into power strips with switches that you turn off when not in use.

2.    Install a programmable thermostat. For about $50 you can save upwards of $150 per year by having your heating and cooling systems turn on only when you are at home. The thermostat will also lower the power output when the heating/cooling system is not needed as much, such as when you are asleep, automatically.

3.    Switch to CFLs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use around 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, and can last up to 10 times longer. This converts to an estimated $30 saved in the cost of electricity over the lifetime of the bulb. Go visit the IDT Energy Store for a nice selection of CFLs for your home and office.

Originally scheduled to last from February 12, 2010 until February 21st, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority decided to extend the “Great Appliance Swap Out” program until the funding runs out. The program was endowed with $17 million in order to give rebates to consumers who purchase energy-efficient appliances including refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and dishwashers. So far the NYSERDA has distributed up to $555 rebate per purchase amounting to over $7.7 million in rebates so far. New Yorkers can continue benefiting from this unique program until all the funding is gone.

One great way to save money this year is to lower your water heating costs.  IDT Energy wants customers to benefit from energy savings.  For each 10 degrees that you reduce the water temperature,  you can have savings of between 3-5% in energy costs.

Many people think that their water heater thermostat needs to be set to 140 degree Fahrenheit.  This temperature actually poses a potential safety issue, since water at this temperature can be scalding.  When you reduce your water temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, you will save money without even noticing the difference in the water temperature.  Now, if you have a dishwasher with a booster heater, you may need the water temperature to remain within the 130 degree Fahrenheit range for the best cleaning.