The Ultimate Energy Efficient Holiday Gift Guide
‘Tis the season for gift giving. Before you shop, check out some of these ideas for energy saving developments. They not only cut your carbon footprint but, promote saving money doing everyday tasks. From LED bulbs to tech savvy devices, there’s an energy efficient present for every recipient. Or you might just keep these gadgets for yourself. Don’t forget to use eco-friendly or reusable gift wrap to really amp up your clean energy lifestyle.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.nrdc.org/experts/emily-deanne/ultimate-energy-efficient-holiday-gift-guide
http://www.energymaxout.com/14-cool-eco-friendly-and-energy-saving-gadgets-gifts/
https://www.volunteerenergy.com/6-energy-saving-christmas-gifts/
10 ways to cut utility bills and conserve energy during the hot summer
Summer 2019 brought us the hottest month ever recorded and higher than average temperatures are predicted through September. With the way July played out, we want to remind you of some tips to lower your energy bills and help the environment.
Regulating thermostats and keeping your home comfortable means ensuring doors and windows are tightly sealed. Use a ceiling fan while in occupied rooms and together they will keep you cool while reducing annual costs.
Cool down the house by using less electricity and heated water. Unplugging devices when not in use and limiting appliances that generate heat really makes a difference. Try colder meals or grilling out instead of using the oven. Use cooler water for laundry and take lukewarm showers. These aren’t just for lowering your bills and helping the earth- there are health benefits to these concepts for you as well.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/13/10-ways-to-cut-utility-bills-and-conserve-energy-during-the-hot-summer/
Zero Energy Ready Homes
With renewable energy increasing across the world, Zero Energy Ready Homes are the new trend. About 50% more energy efficient than a typical home; these houses have LED lights, efficient HVAC systems, and lower air infiltration. Although the purchase costs are slightly higher, the money saved in the long run make these homes of the future well worth the investment.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/zero-energy-ready-home;
https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/First-Zero-Energy-Ready-Homes-built-in-Cedar-Rapids-511391462.html
Illinois utility bill and energy assistance
It’s been a long cold winter which can certainly strain any budget.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a hardship where they may not be paying their energy bills, there is assistance available.
The Illinois utility bill and energy assistance fund is available through the State of Illinois at
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/illinois_utility_and_energy_bi.html
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/illinois_utility_and_energy_bi.html
Realgy’s response to misleading information
A sales agent not acting in the best interest of the customer is not acting in the best interest of the company they work for. This is one of our approaches to a misrepresentation of Realgy’s services and values:
PriceWatch™ for Winter 2018 – 2019
Realgy’s PriceWatchTM service continuously monitors the natural gas market to bring you the best fixed rates when it can reduce costs over a recommended time period.
Last winter was 15% warmer than a Normal winter. Previous winters have included the words “Polar Vortex”… This year’s forecast was for a warmer winter. However, it has been colder than predicted. Last winter, Realgy’s PriceWatchTM recommendation saved customers 13.7 %.
Since September, natural gas prices have increased nearly 40%; from $3.00 to over $4.00 (wholesale prices).
Realgy Energy Services, your natural gas supplier is NOT recommending that you lock in this winter’s price for natural gas. Our fixed price would be above the utility. The reason is due to this price spike. The forecasted weather was for a warmer winter, but it has been colder; that in conjunction with low storage amounts has resulted in the unexpected increase. Realgy will continue to monitor natural gas prices and will provide a fixed price when we can provide savings.
If you have ANY Questions, please contact our Customer Care Team at support@realgy.com.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Make A Flu Shot Your Halloween Tradition
For everything there is a season…
Halloween, in addition to costumes and candy should include a flu shot.
As the following article explains, it will maximize its effectiveness just as flu season peaks… being unprotected at peak flu season; now that’s scary!
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/make-a-flu-shot-your-halloween-tradition/
How To Stop Telemarketing Calls
Your phone rings and it’s a number you don’t recognize. Do you answer it or let it go to voicemail? For those that are plagued by telemarketing calls, there are ways to cut down the constant influx of unsolicited ringing. Make sure to sign up for the National Do Not Call (DNC) registry at https://www.donotcall.gov/. It can take some time for this list to update and you might receive calls during that period. If you happen to answer one of those unwanted calls, ask to be put on their business DNC list and that company must comply. You can report illegal activity in the instance that you believe the DNC registry has been violated.
Check out the links below for more information on your state’s Utility Regulations:
Illinois Commerce Commission • www.icc.illinois.gov
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission • www.in.gov/iurc
Michigan Public Service Commission • www.michigan.gov/mpsc
Ohio Public Utilities Commission • https://www.puco.ohio.gov/
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
https://www.theenergy.coop/electricity/how-stop-calls-electricity-marketers
Weekly Basis Report
Here is the weekly basis report which is representing the future price change when trading natural gas, the quoted price is the difference between the Henry Hub price and a specific location’s price – called the basis price. A basis position is one that has exposure to two different locations: the Henry Hub and separate location’s price.
Here are some basic understanding on how to measure natural gas:
A BTU is the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a pint of water (which weighs exactly 16 ounces) by one degree Fahrenheit.
Since BTUs are measurements of energy consumption, they can be converted directly to kilowatt-hours (3412 BTUs = 1 kWh) or joules (1 BTU = 1,055.06 joules).
MBTU stands for one million BTUs, which can also be expressed as one decatherm (10 therms). MBTU is occasionally used as a standard unit of measurement for natural gas, and provides a convenient basis for comparing the energy content of various grades of natural gas and other fuels.
One cubic foot of natural gas produces approximately 1,000 BTUs, so 1,000 cu.ft. of gas are comparable to 1 MBTU.
MBTU is occasionally expressed as MMBTU, which is intended to represent a thousand thousand BTUs
Communications take effort, does yours?
6 Common Communication Mistakes that You May be Making by Ann Meacham
Communication can make or break our world. Bad communication leads to broken relationships: with the people who work for you, with you, your clients or customers, your family, your at-large community.
6 Common Communication Mistakes that you might be making:
1. Not using “we” language.
Newsflash: Relationships are not a competition. Or at least they shouldn’t be. When you start to think in terms of “me” and “you”, it’s time re-frame the conversation and think of yourselves as a team. Work to solve a problem, not to be victorious.
2. Not giving eye contact.
When people are not looking at you when you talk, how does that make you feel? Not good. Right? So try living by the golden rule and give other people the same courtesy that you want to be given.
3. Interrupting.
What does it say to someone when you interrupt them? It says, “What I have to say is more important than what you have to say.” This can be a result of excitement or a desire for power. Either way, it still says, “I’m more important than you.”
4. Making assumptions before you hear the whole message.
You have probably had the thought, “Oh I don’t even have to hear the rest of this – I already know what they’re going to say!” Well, maybe you do, and maybe you don’t. Don’t do that. We don’t like when people make assumptions about what we are saying, so don’t do that to other people either.
5. Not asking probing questions of other people.
Saying things like, “Tell me more about that” or “So how did that make you feel?” lets the other person know that you care about them enough to ask for more information. That’s called a probing question. Ask people to elaborate. It makes them feel good and shows that you’re interested. (Always open-ended questions. Never ask “why.”
6. Needing to “win” an argument.
I repeat… Relationships are not a competition. Admitting that you’re wrong is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of maturity. No one is right all of the time. Don’t think you have to “win.” Acknowledging your mistakes will not give away your power. It shows that you are the better person because you can be honest.
Being a good communicator takes effort. It’s like being a good athlete – you have to practice if you want to be good at your craft!
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include; Guaranteed SavingsTM, MangedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM and Index, Fixed pricing.
Additional information: www.realgyenergyservices.com
Supporting Article: http://blogs.detroitnews.com/politics/2015/08/11/charged-dte-misses-point-choice-works/