Realgy is getting ready for our next Facebook promotion and we are asking for your help!
This holiday season Realgy Energy Services will be donating $1 to a charity for every “like” we receive on our Facebook page Facebook.com/RealgyEnergyServices starting November 2012 and running through the end of December 2012.
But first we need to decide which charity we will be donating to. We would appreciate your help in picking a deserving charity in the Michigan, Indiana or Illinois area.
At present we are considering:
- The Food Bank of Northern Indiana
- March of Dimes
- Action for Healthy Kids
- Forgotten Harvest
- Gleaners Community Food Bank
Add your suggestions to our list and vote for the winner through October 25, 2012
Link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MLZBH6B
We will announce the winning charity on the Realgy Energy Services Facebook page on October 29, 2012.
No matter which charity wins we know it will be going to a good cause!
Thank you for your help!
The Realgy Energy Services Team
Link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MLZBH6B
Are you ready for the cold weather?
Now is the time to start winterizing your home. Here are a few tips brought to you by Realgy Energy Services to help you prepare for the colder weather and increase your energy efficiency.
Just like your air conditioner, your furnace should also get an annual check-up from a certified HVAC technician before the heating season. Keeping your furnace and ducts clean, lubricated and properly adjusted will reduce energy use and save you money.
At the very least, make sure to clean or replace the air filter on your furnace before starting it for the first time and check it every month. A dirty filter will restrict airflow and increase energy use and even possibly lead to premature failure of the unit.
While you are checking on your furnace, don’t overlook the hot water heater; if it is warm to the touch, it needs more insulation. Consider installing a water heater blanket or jacket insulation around the tank which will help prevent heat loss; be sure to leave the air intake vent uncovered. You should also insulate hot water pipes to further reduce heat loss.
Insulating your hot water heater and pipes will decrease your energy consumption and increase your savings; as a bonus this will even allow you to turn down the water temperature to around 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you have a fireplace always keep the damper closed when not in use to prevent heat loss. Ensure the chimney is clean and soot free; you should also cover the top of the chimney with a protective cap or screen to keep out unwanted debris and small animals.
Take the time now to seal cracks and crevices around windows and doors using caulk or weather-stripping. If you have old windows and are not planning on replacing them before the cold weather, consider using a shrink plastic kit to keep hot air in and cold air out.
Use these simple tips to get your home ready for the winter chill and increase your energy savings.
Sources:
EnergySavers.org, Stay Warm, Save Money
U.S. Department of Energy; Energy Efficiency and Renewable energy, Thermostats and Control Systems
Energy Star, Winter Energy Savers
PriceWatch™ and Natural Gas Storage Season
It is that time of the year when Realgy Energy Services starts to send out our PriceWatch™ emails; look for it in your email anytime from October to November. Supplies of natural gas in storage begin to be applied to your monthly natural gas usage starting November 1st.
PriceWatch™ monitors the natural gas market to pin-point the most advantageous time for our natural gas customers to lock in a rate for the winter heating months.
Realgy will only send out a PriceWatch™ email if we can lock our customers in at a rate that will save them money. If you would like more information on PriceWatch™, please visit our blog post What is PriceWatch™?
Natural Gas Storage is the service of purchasing a percentage of your annual gas usage during the summer months and storing it. This stored gas is then delivered to you during the winter months. That is why we call it “winter gas at summer prices.”
Realgy offers this storage program whenever we can. If your utility allows Realgy to offer a storage program, it will be listed in our Service Plan table on our website realgyenergyservices.com.
For more information on the Natural Gas Storage program please visit our blog posts: Natural Gas Storage Season is Here and So What Exactly is Natural Gas Storage
If you have any further questions please feel free to contact a Realgy Energy Services Customer Service Representative by phone (877)-300-6747, by email support@realgy.com, by fax (860)-233 -3884, or by mail 675 Oakwood Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06110.
Realgy has Exceeded the Agreements of the Small Businesses Express Program Eight Months Early
PRESS RELEASE 12 september 2012 | By: Realgy, LLC
Back in May 2012 Gov. Malloy announced Realgy Energy Services as one of five Connecticut small businesses that had qualified for assistance through the state’s Small Business Express Program (EXP).
Today the President of Realgy Energy Services Michael Vrtis has announced that the West Hartford Company successfully exceeded the requirements eight months early. “Realgy has exceeded the agreements of the Small Business Express Program,” said Vrtis, “We have hired nine new employees as of August 2012 which far exceeds the original seven outlined in the agreement.”
Excerpt from the May 2012 CT Press Release “[Realgy] will retain 13 employees, and hire 7 new positions in the areas of customer service, energy brokerage, and information technology” http://www.ct.gov/ecd/lib/ecd/press_releases/2012/small_businesses_express_program_is_helping_ct_companies.pdf
A grant of $59,500 was awarded to Realgy as part of the Small Business Express Program, combined with company funds of $309,800, to invest in employee training, computer equipment and software, marketing and contractual services.
Realgy Energy Services was founded in 1999 by individuals who worked for many years with large utilities, energy service companies and energy marketers. Within these organizations they saw the limitations of the systems and software. Today Realgy Energy Services is a retail energy marketer and wholesale energy provider in three deregulated states Michigan, Indiana and Illinois with plans to expand. Realgy has had a perfect record (certified A+) with the Better Business Bureau; since 2003 and has been recognized as an Inc 500 | 5000 company in 2011 and 2012
Contact: Realgy, LLC Michael Vrtis 675 Oakwood Avenue West Hartford, CT 860-233-2270 www.realgyenergyservices.comRealgy Energy Services is now a BP Preferred Energy Supplier
PRESS RELEASE 1 September 2012 | By: Realgy, LLC
British Petroleum (BP) will be the primary supply of Realgy Energy Services natural gas and electricity.
The president of Realgy, Michael Vrtis and the VP of Operations Doug Gugino, have announced that Realgy Energy Services has become a BP preferred supplier. This means that BP will become Realgy’s primary supplier of natural gas and electricity allowing Realgy to expand their pricing offers for existing and new customers. Entry into new markets will also be accelerated to better serve customers.
“Doug and I are very pleased to announce that Realgy has become a preferred supplier with BP,” said Vrtis “Becoming a preferred supplier to BP allows Realgy to join a very limited group. This offer was only made possible due to the work laid down in establishing Realgy, and will only be maintained by the decisions we make every day in providing service for our customers.”
BP is an international company with many subsidiaries, Realgy works closely with BP North America and BP Canada. BP is one of the world’s leading international oil and gas companies, providing fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, retail services and petrochemical products for everyday items.
Realgy, LLC DBA Realgy Energy Services was founded in 1999 by individuals who worked for many years with large utilities, energy service companies and energy marketers. Within these organizations they saw the limitations of the systems and software. Today Realgy Energy Services is an energy supplier in three deregulated states Michigan, Indiana and Illinois with plans to expand.
Contact: Realgy, LLC Michael Vrtis 675 Oakwood Avenue West Hartford, CT 860-233-2270 www.realgyenergyservices.com
Three ComEd smart Meters have caught fire
The Illinois Utility Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) announced Thursday that three of their new digital smart meters overheated causing fires in customer’s homes. The fires damaged metering equipment and the “immediate area around the meter,” ComEd said, adding that tests showed the smart meter design was not the cause of the problem.
“The cause was related to fitting and connection issues with an older-model socket that had a poor connection at the point where the customer’s wires and ComEd’s wires meet,” ComEd said in a statement.
Smart meters allow for communication between utility and meter. They can record and send temperature data, and alert the utility when outages occur.
Smart meters were installed by ComEd in 130,000 homes in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood and 10 western suburbs as part of a pilot program approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission in 2009.
To Learn more about smart meters check out the ComEd website
Find the whole story here
Sources:
Chicago Sun-Times, Comed says three smart meters have caught fire
Inc. Magazine has Unveiled Its Annual Exclusive List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies – The Inc.500|5000
PRESS RELEASE August 28, 2012 | By: Realgy, LLC
Realgy Energy Services Ranks No. 180 on the 2012 Inc. 500|5000
Inc. magazine has ranked Realgy Energy Services No. 180 on its sixth annual Inc. 500|5000, an exclusive ranking of the fastest growing private companies. This list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy – American’s independent entrepreneurs. Realgy joins Yelp, yogurt maker Chobani, Giftcards.com, KIND and famed hat maker Tilly’s, among other prominent brands featured on this year’s list.
“I am honored to see Realgy featured on the Inc. 500|5000 list for the second year.” says Michael Vrtis, President, “I would like to thank our vendors for allowing us to focus on our customers, the state of Connecticut for promoting small businesses and our employees for helping us to provide excellence in energy marketing.”
In a stagnant economic environment, median growth rate of 2012 Inc. 500|5000 companies remains an impressive 97 percent. Over the past three years Realgy has grown 1,919%, and is ranked 11th out of 103 companies in the energy industry. The companies on this year’s list report having created over 400,000 jobs in the past three years, and aggregate revenue among the honorees reached $299 billion. By comparison Realgy has created eight full time positions in Connecticut in the last six months, and had revenue of $32.3 Million in 2011.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/5000.
“Now, more than ever, we depend on Inc. 500/5000 companies to spur innovation, provide jobs, and drive the economy forward. Growth companies, not large corporations, are where the action is,” says Inc. Editor Eric Schurenberg.
Realgy, LLC DBA Realgy Energy Services was founded in 1999 by individuals who worked for many years with large utilities, energy service companies and energy marketers. Within these organizations they saw the limitations of the systems and software. Today Realgy Energy Services is an energy supplier in three deregulated states Michigan, Indiana and Illinois with plans to expand.
Contact: Realgy, LLC Michael Vrtis 675 Oakwood Avenue West Hartford, CT 860-233-2270 www.realgyenergyservices.comThe power has already gone out a few times this summer, were you prepared?
Here are 10 power outage tips from Realgy Energy Services to help you prepare for the next time the lights go out.
1. If you lose power, report the outage to your local utility
Many utility’s now have mobile apps that you can use to report your outage.
2. Stay away from downed power lines and call 911 to report them
Always assume electric lines are live and treat them with caution and respect. Even low-voltage electric lines and cords can be hazardous if damaged or improperly handled.
3. Set your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings before the storm hits
Be sure to return the settings to their normal position as soon as electricity has been restored.
Use Ice to keep your perishable food cold
4. Get extra ice to help maintain the temperatures in your freezer and refrigerator during the outage
Use plastic bags filled with ice (or water, if you have enough time to freeze it) in the freezer. Use block ice, if possible, in the refrigerator. And should the ice melt, you can drink the water.
5. Set aside water
Sanitize and fill spare containers with water for drinking. Fill your bathtub with water for use in the toilet. A bucket of water poured in the toilet bowl is all that’s needed for flushing.
6. Be prepared to cook outside
It is possible that your stove will not work, so you may wish to use your backyard grill for cooking. Do not use your grill indoors, without proper ventilation it can be deadly.
7. Stock up on batteries and easy-to-prepare food
Don’t forget flashlights (one for each person in your family), batteries and a manual can opener.
8. Unplug sensitive equipment
Voltage irregularities can occur for any number of reasons during or after a storm, especially if there has been damage on or near your home. Unplug any sensitive electrical devices such as your television, DVD Player, stereo, microwave, computer, iPod, answering machine, and garage door opener to name just a few.
9. Fill your car’s gas tank
It is important to fill your tank before a storm, since gas stations may not be operating during an outage.
Example of a “Lights out” kit
10. Prepare a “lights out” kit
Your kit should contain a flashlight, battery-operated radio, fresh water, prescription medicine, prepared foods and any other items you may need when the lights go out. It’s also a good idea to have some extra cash on hand and to fully charge your mobile phone.
Before the power goes out again make sure you are prepared!
Sources:
American Red Cross, Power Outage Checklist
FDA, Power Outages: Key Tips for Consumers About Food Safety
Solar cells you can see through
A team of researchers at UCLA have developed a new transparent solar cell that has the ability to generate electricity while still allowing a view of the outside.
This new kind of polymer solar cell (PSC) produces an electrical current by absorbing infrared light and not visible light, which makes the cells nearly 70% transparent to the human eye.
Visibly Transparent Polymer Solar Cells Produced by Solution Processing courtesy of UCLA
“Our new PSCs are made from plastic-like materials and are lightweight and flexible,” said study leader Yang Yang, a UCLA professor of materials science and engineering. “More importantly, they can be produced in high volume at low cost.”
The transparent conductor, another breakthrough, is made of silver nanowire and titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which replaces the opaque metal electrodes used in the past. This composite electrode also allows the solar cells to be fabricated economically by solution processing. With this combination, 4% power-conversion efficiency for solution-processed and visibly transparent polymer solar cells has been achieved.
“We are excited by this new invention on transparent solar cells, which applied our recent advances in transparent conducting windows (also published in ACS Nano) to fabricate these devices,” said Paul S.Weiss, CNSI director and Fred Kavli Chair in NanoSystems Sciences.
Source
UCLA Newsroom, UCLA researchers create highly transparent solar cells for windows that generate electricity
Pedaling to generate electricity and a shorter Prison Sentence
There is a new program that allows inmates at a prison in Minas Gerais, Brazil to reduce their sentences by generating electric power to help illuminate the town at night.
Courtesy of Santa Rita Do Sapucai Prison
Inmates charge a battery that is used to power street lamps along the town’s riverside promenade by pedaling stationary bikes. Three eight-hour pedaling shifts will reduce their sentence by one day.
This is an interesting concept; I wonder how it would work in American Prisons. Instead of using the generated electricity to power street lamps they could use it to power the prisons and reduce electricity costs.
Find the whole story here
Sources:
NBC News, Inmates at Brazil prison pedal for electricity – and their freedom