Now is the time to switch your lights to fluorescent lamps. Whatever utility service provider you are using – IDT Energy or any of the others – it is always worth investigating how to reduce energy and costs. But the question being asked, is why is it that now is the time? Well, since the US Energy Department implemented regulations that will eliminate the future manufacturing of T12 fluorescent lamps after July of this year, Americans are being advised to buy now to ensure they get what they need.

This isn’t the first such regulation. Indeed, a year-and-a-half ago in July 2010, there was a regulation that almost completely eliminated T12 fluorescent magnetic ballasts from the market. So buy now to avoid disappointment in a few months’ time when it will become almost impossible to find these T12 replacement lamps.

It looks like 2012 is going to be a good year for Americans and new ways of saving energy through all energy service providers such as IDT Energy. Many areas are motivated to implement energy saving programs and a lot are considering doing the same. Massachusetts utility programs are currently looking at 2.4 percent savings in 2012. The idea is to introduce ramp-ups in as many states as possible. In addition, the Maryland Public Service Commission has instructed the state’s utilities to look at other possible efficiency programs to fill in what state law is not doing for its ultimate goal of 10 percent savings over the next three years.

There is much work taking place in America right now to help with energy efficiency across the board – individual, companies, government, etc. Although at the moment, there has been a slow down due to the economic issues. Nonetheless, there are still a ton of energy-efficiency products that keep coming on the market and prices are coming down on these too. As long as the matter continues to be a hot topic for all Americans, it is likely the country will reach its goal of increased energy savings over the next few years.

Learn important tips, in under two minutes, for saving money on your energy costs. Whether you’re using IDT Energy or another company, you’ll be amazed how a few quick checks can help you to know if you’re wasting money on your energy bill. Follow Home 101 hosts Curtis and Courtney to find out about these important tips for saving energy.

It can be tough to save on utility bills over the holiday season, when everyone is sitting around in their houses for a long period of time and it is just so convenient to leave on the heat.  But there are ways of reducing it (along with your bills) without feeling deprived.  Whether you have a contract with IDT Energy or another service provider, it is worth investigating ways of cutting costs. And while doing so you will be helping the environment too.  As well, ensure all the lights you intend to put up have a safety seal which means they have been tasted and are safe for usage.  And then unplug all lights before leaving the house.

Fake Christmas Trees need to be checked for flammability; buy a safe one.  Do not use electric decorations on artificial trees that have anything metallic attached to them. Rather, use colored spotlights close to the tree to achieve the same effect. Make sure there are no extension cords near the tree stand.

Outdoor Decorations

All lights outside should be plugged into Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters that can be found in any hardware store.  Better to be safe than sorry.  Keep this Christmas Merry…and safe by following these easy tips.

Although boilers and furnaces are the most common method by which people in the US heat their homes, there are times when having a portable space heater might be a more economic method of heating.

Although it is generally true that space heaters are not efficient ways of heating, under certain circumstances using a space heater can save money and energy.

•    If the main heating system is inadequate
•    Central heating is to expensive to install
•    When you only want to heat one room or small space and not an entire floor or house
•    Increase the temperature of one room without having to increase the temp of the entire house for people who are extra sensitive to cold, such as the elderly or small children

IDT Energy explores ways to save consumers energy and therefore save money.

With the sluggish economy still troubling many people in the US, IDT Energy would like to take this opportunity to mention several ways consumers can cut back on their usage of natural gas at home.

•    Keep your gas powered furnace working at its optimum efficiency by either cleaning or replacing the filters once a month. You can also make sure your furnace is working at its peak capacity by keeping it clean and lubricated and correctly adjusted. Making sure your furnace is working its best can help you save up to 5% of your gas bill.

•    Lower the water temperature on your water-heater’s thermostat. The normal setting or 120 degrees Fahrenheit is sufficient for almost all uses. (Check the temperature that your dishwasher requires, sometimes dishwashers must be set to higher water temperatures to work properly.) Lowering the temperature on the thermostat can reduce your costs by 7-11%.

•    It might be expensive now, but in the long run replacing your old gas appliances with the newest, most energy efficient appliances will save you lots of money on your energy bill.

Are you ready to make some changes which can seriously reduce your energy bill each month?

IDT Energy can suggest a few improvements you can make to your home which will save you money in the long-run while saving precious resources, too.

1.    If you insulate your ceilings and walls you can save about 20 to 20 percent on your cost to heat your home. Insulation can also help save CO2 emissions, as much as 140 to 2100 pounds of CO2 annually. Homes found in colder climates could benefit from super-insulation.

Save Energy with Double Glazed Windows

2.    Install modern, heat saving windows. You can save more than 2 tons of CO2 emissions each year by changing all your regular windows to argon-filled, double-glazed windows.

3.    Beautify your home and save money too by planting shade trees near your house. If you live in a warm climate, paint your house a light color, and in a colder climate, paint your home in a dark color. Both of these measures help keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

IDT Energy is constantly on the look-out for money savings suggestions for consumers of energy.

August 29, 2011 marks the date when Genie Energy, a newly formed subsidiary of IDT Energy, filed both an initial registration document as well as an information statement to the offices of the Security and Exchange Commission. Both statements are available to the public at the website of the SEC.

The registration documents were filed as a prelude to the anticipated announcement to the stockholders of IDT Energy that a “wholly-owned” spin-off of IDT Energy, known as Genie Energy, is soon to be created.

Genie will hold IDT Energy’s assets, which consist of:

•    IDT Energy, which is as ESCO which resells power in the form of electricity and natural gas to residential consumers and businesses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

•    Genie Oil and Gas of which Genie will hold a 99.3% interest. That interest is composed of (a) American Shale Corporation, which manages and holds a 50% interest in American Shale Oil, LLC, which is an oil shale initiative located in Colorado; and (b) Israel Energy Initiatives, an oil shale company located in Israel.

The CEO of Genie, Claude Pupkin said,

“We believe that, as a separate entity, we will be better able to execute on our development plans for both our IDT Energy retail supply business and our unconventional energy projects.”

The Genie spin-off is expected to be tax-free to IDT and to its stockholders.

As winter begins to approach, it’s important to think ahead so that you’ll save money when heating your home. There are some very simple ways to save on the fall and winter energy costs, whether you use IDT Energy or another energy supplier.

First, keep those shades and curtains open during the day to utilize the sun’s energy as much as possible. But, make sure to close them at night to retain the heat.  Reduce any air leads that you have, and cut as much as 10% off of your monthly energy bill.  The most common place that you’ll find air leaks include floors, walls, ceilings, ducts, fireplaces, doors, fans, windows and such.

Walk around the house and make sure that your radiators and heating vents aren’t blocked by any furniture or drapes.  Keep the radiators, registers and baseboard heaters free of dirt and dust as well. And close those vents and doors in rooms you aren’t using.

One of the great things about the summer is being able to cool off in your own outdoor pool.  Everyone loves to go for a swim as things start to heat up.  But – as with a lot of life’s great things – it can be incredible costly to do this.  So IDT Energy has come up with some tips to help you save money while having a fabulous afternoon splash-around activity.  First of all, make sure you are efficiently using the swimming pool filters: the cleaner they are, the better they will work and this will save you money. Perhaps in a case in which the pool is available for a whole complex – it has a specific time that the pool and cleaning sweep is being operated.  If possible, shorten this time frame.  While it may initially appear to be an additional expense, in the long-term it is worth replacing pool pumps and motors with newer (and more efficient) ones.

Using a swimming pool for cooling off during long, hot, summer afternoons is a great idea.  But as IDT Energy has pointed out, it doesn’t take too much effort to make sure you are using it efficiently, and thus not spending too much money just by not being efficient enough.