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.

Most of us spend a lot of time in our kitchens, and we use a great deal of our electricity and gas in this location.  During the hot summer months, there are some clever and easy-to-follow ways to reduce your bills while still feeding the family delicious foods.

1. If you’re in the market for a new oven, look for a convection oven.  It will consume a third less energy than a standard oven!  It creates a more evenly distributed cooking experience and requires less cooking time.
2. Only run the dishwasher with a full load to cut down on electricity costs.  Use your range hood while the dishwasher is on to vent excess heat and humidity.
3. While this may sound strange, you should vacuum your refrigerator’s cooling coils every three months.  If you have too much dust building up, it will hamper your refrigerator’s energy efficiency and the life expectancy of the compressor.  Also make sure you don’t have any gaps in the door seal.
4. Don’t stuff your refrigerator or freezer.  Cool air is needed to circulate through the interior of the appliance and you make it work harder and less efficiently when you stuff items into the space.

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.

Spring is in the air and it’s time to start thinking about the coming warm weather. New York is an especially warm place in the summer, with high humidity and many days of unrelenting heat. Here are a few ideas from IDT Energy which will help you stay cool without blowing a fuse, or your bank account.

1.    Consider using ceiling fans whenever possible. Keep your home or apartment cool when you are not home by keeping windows and doors closed and shades drawn. A ceiling fan uses less energy than a light bulb.

2.    Keep your thermostat set about 5° higher for up to 20% savings on air conditioner cooling costs.

3.    Install a programmable thermostat which will turn off your cooling system when you are away, and power it up in honor of your imminent return. You can even control what temperature you want it to be at different times during the day.

4.    Be sure to buy an energy efficient air conditioner. Look for the Energy Star label and use up to 40% less energy.

5.    Do you shower more often in the summer? Most people do. Not to worry, just install low-flow shower heads and enjoy your shower just as much using up to 50% less water.

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.

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the White House has earmarked more than $80 billion for clean energy investments.  These investments include everything from making a smarter grid to move renewable energy from rural places to cities, to low-income home weatherization projects.

In addition, it includes $4.5 billion for federal building green initiatives and to cut the energy bill.  It also includes $600 million in green job training programs.  Another interesting initiative is the $2 billion that has been put aside in competitive grants to help companies to develop the next generation of batteries that will store energy better.