There are many ways to save on utility bills.  But it seems Americans are not putting these into place as efficiently as they could.  Irrespective of which energy service provider you are using – IDT Energy or any of the others – it is advisable to investigate the different ways you can save on your bills.

One way is to dry clothes indoors rather than putting the dryer on for each load of laundry.  In the summer, this can be done by putting the clothes outside, but in the winter – if you are insulating your home properly – then the clothes can dry pretty quickly if they are hung up inside.

These days there are various devices that you can purchase to make drying clothes indoors easier, such as a clothes airer store (which comes with shelves, making it multi-purpose), different washing lines, or a telescopic pole which lets you hang your clothes above the bathtub.

All top service providers in the US – including IDT Energy – want their customers to be satisfied.  Part of customer satisfaction is having lower bills.  To do this, there are some simple tips to follow that everyone can do.  First, make sure you unplug electronic items that are not being used such as computers, cellphone chargers, etc.  Even though the devices themselves may not be plugged in, they are still consuming very tiny bits of electricity and that all adds up and increases your bill.  In such a situation, a timer is a good idea.

Close doors that lead to outside areas such as the utility room, storage room etc.  Often these rooms are very cold because they are closest to the outside so they let out a lot of heat.  Use compact florescent lights as opposed to incandescent ones as these are much more energy-efficient.  As well, use what nature has given us.  If there is sun during the day, keep blinds and curtains open and let solar energy naturally warm your environment.

Ensure all appliances are clean as that way they will run more efficiently. This is also good advice for faucets that may be leaking or anything else that is in need of repair.  Although it may seem that it is pricey to have everything fixed, it is worth it in the long-run and will ultimately help you save on energy bills.

Before signing up with IDT Energy or any of the other energy service providers offered throughout the nation, it is advisable to engage in a full side-by-side comparative study.  Look at the cheapest deals; see which ones – like IDT Energy – offer a no-cancellation fee policy; and remember that they are all usually competing for you to sign up so want to make their package attractive.  As well there are certain websites that give the lowdown on comparative studies between the service providers.

Other Energy Saving Tips

Once you’ve decided which energy service provider is going to give you the best package, take tips on other ways of saving cash on utility bills.  Good home insulation (windows, doors, walls, lofts etc.) is one way of doing it.  Check out the various different insulation materials available for solid walls. Any gaps in the windows should be filled with even the most simplest (and cheapest) of materials. It will make a difference.  As well, check how high your thermostat is; even if you reduce it by a mere 2°C, this could result in a saving of 20 percent in heating bills which translates into real money.

There are many ways to save on utility bills by doing just a few small things that are not difficult to implement.  Ensure you have the best energy service provider and then work out how to save on the bills.

Saving on Energy Bills

It is sometimes challenging to navigate the various different options available from all the different  America’s energy service providers nationwide.  But one thing you should know, is that it is vital you read (and fully comprehend) the small print. A company like IDT Energy for example, makes it clear that it will require no deposits or up-front fees.  As well, should you decide to cancel your business with IDT Energy, you will not be charged a cancellation fee.  Whatever service provider you use, make sure the deal sounds fair to you.

You might also want to look at what different types of arrangements are available from each company.  For example, ask what kind of savings the company is offering?; Are there programs that facilitate the management of your energy bills?; Can the company offer ways to reduce heating costs (especially now we are moving into the colder months), etc.

As well, many large energy service providers throughout the nation have tips on energy conservation.  It is worth learning about these since they are often very easy to implement and could result in a huge saving for your bills.

So read the fine print; check out the various programs being offered and then make a decision on which energy service provider will be most appropriate for your needs, while ensuring your energy bills do not get out of control.

The following video contains many interesting tips on how families can save a lot of money on their utility bills by increasing the efficiency of energy usage around the house.

 

Energy Star Endorsed American Fluorescent Chandelier

The original appliance which required households to be hooked up to an external source of electricity was of course the electric light bulb. We have come a long way since the moment when Thomas A. Edison discovered an efficient way to light our homes. The list of appliances we need electricity for is almost endless, but no matter how many and how useful our other appliances are, there is no question that lighting is one of the most important.

Today there are an enormous number of choices of lighting for our homes, but one element in choosing our household lighting which has become more important as the cost of electricity has increased is the energy efficiency of the light fixture.

Luckily there is Energy Star to take the guess work out of choosing a beautiful lighting fixture which will also save electricity. If the fixture you choose is endorsed by Energy Star, then you can be sure that:

•    The light fixture will use ¼ of the energy of traditional lighting
•    The light lasts between 10,000 and 50,000 hours of regular use; that is between 7 and 22 years! This saves you lots of money on bulb replacements, and time purchasing them.
•    Light is distributed more evenly and efficiently than with ordinary fixtures.
•    The fixture has a warranty longer than the industry standard; that is for three years.

IDT Energy suggests that it pays to look for the Energy Star when choosing household lighting fixtures.

Most people don’t realize that when water is wasted, so is electricity. How so? In most cities the majority of the electricity used is to supply water to its residents and then purifying it after its used.

Another statistic IDT Energy is taking this opportunity to point out is that about three quarters of the household water used by families is in the bathroom. Consider all the baths, showers, teeth-brushing done in the bathroom, not to mention that unless you have a low-flush toilet, every flush sends about five to seven gallons of water into the sewer. What a waste.

Here are a few pointers for saving water in the bathroom:

•    Fix leaky faucets
•    Take shorter showers
•    Take cooler showers
•    Get a low-flush toilet
•    Get a water-saving shower head

IDT Energy wishes you a clean, happy and energy saving bathroom experience.

Programmable Thermostats Save Money

Energy consumers in colder climates have an opportunity to save a lot of energy (and money) when the thermometer begins to plummet.  One of the best  and easiest ways to save is to install a programmable thermostat in your home. This neat appliance allows you to automatically control the amount of energy your home must use to keep its inhabitants comfortable.

Most homes use fuel-fired appliances, such as furnaces, to heat their homes in the winter. Since starting up a fuel-fired appliance uses a large surge in fuel, it is more energy efficient to keep the furnace running at all times at a constant temperature, or to change the temperature gradually.

Programmable thermostats are perfectly suited for such a task. Just set the thermostat for lower temperatures at night when you are snug and warm in bed, and program it to begin to heat your house to a warmer temperature when you awake. After everyone leaves for the day, the temperature can also be lowered, but have the thermostat power up and heat the house just as people return home from work and school.

IDT Energy reminds consumers that using a programmable thermostat can save precious fuel and hard-earned dollars.

Check out this interesting video which explains why sometimes it pays to use natural gas to heat water and run other appliances.

The Department of Energy has been working hard to help consumers save money and the country as a whole to save energy. Since 1987 when the first standards for energy saving of refrigerators were legislated, there have been three subsequent moves to strengthen those initial standards. By the year 2014 refrigerators will on average use only about 20% of the energy they used in the mid-1970s.

The latest DOE efficiency standards are geared to save an additional 25% of the energy that refrigerators use today. These new standards will not only save consumers money, but they will also create jobs, reduce pollution and motivate new ideas, innovations and investments.

“Refrigerator standards have been quietly saving consumers’ money while protecting our environment for more than 35 years,” said David Goldstein, co-director of the energy program at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

“But these new standards are the coolest yet, because they show that innovation can keep driving improvements even after decades of progress. New fridges do an even better job of keeping our food fresh and providing consumer amenity, yet they use only one-fifth the electricity they used to – and that means less pollution from power plants.”