In Response to “Carbon Taxes Make Ireland Even Greener”
Written by Michael Vrtis, President of Realgy Energy Services in response to the New York Times article “Carbon Taxes Make Ireland Even Greener”
Should the potential to emit greenhouse gases and deposit garbage in a landfill cost more than non-air emitting energy production and recycling?
Most states have passed laws to limit or prohibit smoking indoors primarily to protect others from the effects of second-hand smoke. Taxes on cigarettes have also increased as a way to fund prevention and reimburse states for the cost of care for those who develop diseases.
Should energy and waste be different?
Individual consumer choices of cars, appliances, and transportation have a direct impact on the emissions produced. For instance, some cars produce 80% less emissions than others for nearly the same footprint. Encouraging recycling by charging more to throw something away may possibly create some opportunities in the recycling industry. That is; there will be more people thinking about how to actually use what people throw away instead of burying it or burning it.
Whether it’s called carbon tax or not, the idea of accounting for the whole impact of energy and individual purchases (be it human health or environmental,) should be considered. It is already costing everyone something and now the question is: should that cost be shifted to those who produce more emissions and garbage?
Ireland and many states and cities are trying something else.
Check out the New York Times article:“Carbon Taxes Make Ireland Even Greener”
Does your TV use less energy than a 60-watt light bulb?
The Austrian company AMS is introduction new technology that will make it possible for a 42 inch flat screen TV to consume less energy than a 60-watt light bulb. This will exceed the requirements of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Star 6.0 proposed standards, which, when implemented this spring, call for 42-inch TVs to consume just 62.9 watts of power. For any size, the maximum power consumption is 85 watts.
Picture courtesy of Alliance To Save Energy
“One of the biggest power users in consumer electronics today is the flat panel TV. Higher efficiencies are being mandated by countries throughout the world to reduce energy consumption,” AMS spokesman Herbert Truppe said in a statement. “By intelligently connecting AMS sensor-driven lighting technologies to current TV designs, high-quality viewing experiences can be delivered with no increase to the cost of the television, while significantly reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions.”
Read the Whole story at Venturebeat.com
Business Energy Saving Tips
Check out this great infographic from The Hub, which highlights easy ways for businesses to reduce energy bills. Print it out and share with everyone in the office; the more people aware of the energy savings possibilities, the more effective it will be.
Simple changes can significantly reduce business electricity costs.
If you are looking for an even larger reduction in your commercial electricity costs, consider enrolling with Realgy Energy Services as your electricity provider. Our customers have realized cost reductions up to 9.6% as compared to the local utility. Find us online www.realgyenergyservices.com or call 877-300-6747 to speak with an account representative today.
Source:
Utility Exchange Online, Business Energy Saving Tips – An infographic
Space Heater Safety
Space heaters can be a convenient way to temporarily heat a room or a small space, but if used improperly, space heaters can cause nasty burns or worse, create a fire hazard.
According to The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, space heaters are associated with an estimated 25,000 residential fires and nearly 300 deaths each year. More than 6,000 people receive ER care for non-lethal burns resulting from contact with the heating elements or hot surfaces of space heaters.
Here are a few tips to use your space heater safely:
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing, operating, and maintaining your space heater.
- Keep anything that may be flammable at least three feet away from space heaters.
- Place your space heater on a level, hard, non-flammable surface. Do not ever place on rugs or carpets.
- Avoid using extensions cords, but if absolutely necessary, use a heavy-duty cord of 14-gauge wire or larger.
- Never use your space heater near water because of the possibility of shock or electrocution.
- Always turn off your space heater when leaving the room or going to bed.
Source:
energy.gov, Portable Heaters
Why you should toss those old incandescent holiday lights
For most people the holidays mean time-honored traditions. But this year toss out some of those traditions by tossing out those old incandescent lights in favor of newer LEDs which consume less energy and cost even less to operate.
Older strings of incandescent lights can use up to 99% more energy than new LED light strings. In addition, LEDs are much cooler than their traditional incandescent counterparts, reducing the risk of combustion.
A string of new LED lights could last up to 40 seasons and since they are made with epoxy lenses instead of glass as are most traditional incandescent light strings, they are more resilient to damage.
As an extra bonus you can connect up to 25 strings of LED lights together end-to-end and not worry about overloading a wall socket.
If you are still not convinced that it is time to upgrade your holiday lights, check out these figures from energy.gov.
Estimated cost* of electricity to light a six-foot tree for 12 hours a day for 40 days
| Incandescent C-9 lights | $10.00 |
| LED C-9 lights | $0.27 |
| Incandescent Mini-lights | $2.74 |
| LED Mini-lights | $0.82 |
Estimated cost* of buying and operating lights for 10 holiday seasons
| Incandescent C-9 lights | $122.19 |
| LED C-9 lights | $17.99 |
| Incandescent Mini-lights | $55.62 |
| LED Mini-lights | $33.29 |
*Assumes 50 C-9 bulbs and 200 mini-lights per tree, with electricity at $0.119 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) (AEO 2012 Residential Average). Prices of lights based on quoted prices for low volume purchases from major home improvement retailers. All costs have been discounted at an annual rate of 5.6%. Life span assumed to be three seasons (1,500 hours) for non-LED lights.
Source:
Energy.gov, LED Lighting
What should you do during a Winter Storm?
The number one tip from ready.gov on winter weather and how to stay safe is to stay indoors during the storm! However this may not be possible or feasible, so if you must venture out during a winter storm please take these precautions:
Walk carefully on snowy, icy walkways.
Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.
Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms of frostbite are detected, get medical help immediately.
Watch for signs of hypothermia. These include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. If symptoms of hypothermia are detected, get the victim to a warm location, remove wet clothing, warm the center of the body first, and give warm, non-alcoholic beverages if the victim is conscious. Get medical help immediately.
Drive only if it is absolutely necessary. If you must drive, travel in the day—don’t travel alone, keep others informed of your schedule, stay on main roads, and avoid back road shortcuts.
Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent using your stated travel plans.
Source:
ready.gov, Winter Storms & Extreme Cold
In response to “Natural Gas Could Be Bigger Than the Internet, Welch Says”
Written by Michael Vrtis, President of Realgy Energy Services in response to the CNBC article “Natural Gas Could Be Bigger Than the Internet, Welch Says”
I greatly admire Mr. Welch, having worked for him at one time. I read his article with interest and thought his statements invited comment.
Natural gas availability has been plentiful and the availability of more domestic supply calls for long term planning considerations.
U.S. Natural Gas Marketed Production from 1900 to 2012 – courtesy of EIA
In planning for the long term, consider just the following two facts:
The United States already has a more than $2.00 advantage per dekatherm (MCF) over the rest of the world. The US average cost of natural gas is about $4.00 and the remainder of the world is over $6.00.
The amount of gas discovered and presently available has occurred with a method of recovery (hydraulic fracturing or fracking) that has been exempt from most of the Federal environmental regulations. State environmental regulations are not superseded by this Federal action. Thus, states can set their own environmental regulation. The growing state concern is ground water pollution, considering that it takes only 1-2 drops of a petroleum product (frack fluid) to make over 1,000 gals of ground water undrinkable.
So it is not regulation that will prevent natural gas from accelerating the US economy. Instead it is the over inflation of a political issue instead of any economic or environmental issue
Reducing our cost of natural gas has already occurred, reducing it further should not come at the expense of ground water.
Mr. Welch was a great business leader but his comments on regulation of natural gas fracking appear geared more toward political posturing than balancing the economic and environmental concerns that come with recovering natural gas.
Check out the CNBC article: “Natural Gas Could Be Bigger Than the Internet, Welch Says”
Realgy Energy Services Now Offering Natural Gas Services to Residential Illinois Customers
PRESS RELEASE 21 SEPTEMBER 2012 | By: Realgy, LLC
At their customers’ request Realgy Energy Services is now serving Illinois residential natural gas customers.
The president of Realgy, Michael Vrtis has announced that the Illinois Commerce Commission has given authorization to extend service to residential customers in the North Shore, Peoples, and Nicor service territories. Realgy was previously authorized to service only retail commercial natural gas accounts in Illinois.
“Our expansion into the residential natural gas market is the next logical step in Realgy’s plans to expand service to our customers in the Illinois energy market,” said Vrtis. “It’s the perfect complement to extend our existing Illinois electric service. This expansion will give all residential and commercial customers in Illinois a chance to save money on both their natural gas and electricity.”
Realgy Energy Services is an energy marketer serving retail and residential customers in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. They have been serving Illinois customers beginning in 2004; since that time they have had a perfect record (certified A+) with the Better Business Bureau; and have been recognized as an Inc 500 company in 2011 and 2012.
Contact:
Realgy, LLC
Michael Vrtis
675 Oakwood Avenue
West Hartford, CT
860-233-2270
www.realgyenergyservices.com
Realgy Energy Services Now Offering Electricity Services to All Illinois Customers
PRESS RELEASE 21 SEPTEMBER 2012 | By: Realgy, LLC
At their customers’ request Realgy Energy Services is now serving all Illinois electricity markets.
The president of Realgy, Michael Vrtis announced that the Illinois Commerce Commission has given authorization to extend service to residential customers in the Commonwealth Edison service territory. Realgy has also been approved to start serving all customers in the Ameren Illinois, MidAmerican Energy, and Mt. Carmel Public Utility. Realgy was previously authorized to service only retail commercial accounts.
“Our expansion in the ComEd residential electric market as well our entry into the Ameren, MidAmerican Energy, and Mt. Carmel Public Utility markets is the next logical step in Realgy’s plans to expand service to our customers in the Illinois market,” said Vrtis. “It’s the perfect complement to our existing Illinois gas services in the Nicor, Peoples, and North Shore markets. This expansion will give our customers a chance to save money on both their natural gas and electric. In addition, we will be expanding our Solar and Green Energy division, already established in Indiana, into the state of Illinois.”
Realgy Energy Services is an energy marketer serving retail and residential customers in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. They have been serving Illinois customers beginning in 2004; since that time they have had a perfect record (certified A+) with the Better Business Bureau; and have been recognized as an Inc 500 company in 2011 and 2012.
Contact:
Realgy, LLC
Michael Vrtis
675 Oakwood Avenue
West Hartford, CT
860-233-2270
www.realgyenergyservices.com
Realgy Energy Services has been approved to serve Illinois electric and natural gas commercial and residential markets
At the request of our current Electric and Natural Gas customers Realgy has sought and received approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission to expand our services in the Illinois energy markets.
“This is the next logical step in Realgy’s plan to expand in the Illinois energy market and is the perfect complement to our existing gas services in the Nicor, Peoples, and North Shore markets,” stated Michael Vrtis, President of Realgy.
The Realgy Energy Services Illinois electric service area now includes both commercial and residential customers in Commonwealth Edison, Ameren Illinois, MidAmerican Energy and Mt. Carmel Public Utility. Realgy was previously only approved to serve commercial Commonwealth Edison customers.
The Illinois natural gas service area now includes both commercial and residential customers in Nicor, Peoples Gas, and North Shore. Realgy was previously only approved to serve commercial Nicor, Peoples Gas, and North Shore customers.
If you would like to enroll a residential or commercial account in any of these service areas, contact a Realgy Energy Services Energy Broker, at (877)-300 -6747 X 32 and have your bills ready.
For the full press release please visit the Realgy Energy Services Blog Press Release: Realgy Energy Services Now Offering Electricity Services to all Illinois Customers and Press Release: Realgy Energy Services Now Offering Natural Gas Services to all Illinois Customers