4 Easy Tips for Energy Saving This Summer

When people start talking about energy conservation and the environment, most listeners begin to sweat. They can’t imagine putting in the effort to compost their left-overs and they can’t envision living without air conditioning in the summer or cutting back on using any of their major appliances. However, conservation and saving on energy doesn’t have to cramp your lifestyle.  There are quite a few basic things the average  person can do that will have an impact on your energy expenses. It makes no difference whether you already see savings from a Retail Energy Provider like IDT Energy or not. You have the power to stay comfortable in your home and save.

Here are 4 surefire ways to conserve energy without compromising your comfort.

1.  Air-dry your towels: Many people spend a lot of time at the beach and pool in the summer. They tend to use a beach towel for two seconds and then to throw it into the hamper. Consider whether your towels really need to be washed before you dump them into the laundry. Maybe they can be used for the beach again tomorrow and maybe you can just air dry them for now. Beach towels are usually thicker than regular bath towels and they require more energy to dry. Why not skip one or two washings a week and save on that energy bill.

2. Cut the Shower Time: Many people don’t notice how much time they spend taking a shower. Studies have actually shown that the typical teenager can spend as much as 45 minutes in the shower. This is a huge water waste, not to mention a waste of the electricity or natural gas required to run your hot water heater, which costs you money. Suds up, rinse and get out.

3. Turn off your computer: "Sleep" is not the same thing as "off" to the computer. Studies have found that 75% of the energy that the home computer uses happens when the owner thinks it’s off. Make sure you actually turn it off.

4. Get your Water Heater Checked: This is a really simple idea. Have your plumber check your water heater to see if it is set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit versus 120. Most homes only need it set to 120 degrees to function properly. Having it at 140 or hotter is just a waste of heating and money. The U.S. Department of Energy actually estimates by lowering your water heater temperature by just 10 degrees, you could save 3-5% in energy costs.

American Girl Place Pajama Sleepover in Midtown Manhattan

Midtown Manhattan’s Benjamin Hotel is currently offering the exclusive “American Girl Place Pajama Sleepover.”

The package includes accommodations in a deluxe studio guestroom with two beds, or a suite. The room features a personalized welcome note, a gift bag with the American Girl travel bed, pillow and blanket for the doll, as well as milk and cookie turn-down services for both the guest and her dolls. The deal also includes access to a personal shopper at American Girl Place New York, amenities from Winks’ Kidzzz Club, an organic wool toddler pillow, and kid-sized robes.

American Girl dolls were released in 1986 by Pleasant Company. They focus mainly on different periods of American history. The company has been awarded the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award eight times.

 

Spring Show NYC Takes Off at the Park Avenue Armory

The Spring Show NYC is underway and collectors, art enthusiasts and tourists are flocking to the 67^th Street Armory to experience rare and magnificent art. The show features exhibits from dealers from all over the world, showcasing exquisite collections and antiques ranging from 5000 BC to the 19^th century.

In a string of private interviews, Gail Shields-Miller explored the exhibits of three of the most prestigious dealers in the show. She discussed each one in her design blog.

At Carlton Hobbs, “the emphasis is on unique, rare and collectible. Every piece has a special story about it and comes with an impeccable provenance.” She explained that Carlton Hobbs “occupies a rarefied strata in the antiques business, and primarily seeks out furniture and art which belonged originally to royal families and aristocrats or famous architects of that period in history.”

Next, Miller visited the Lillian Nassau exhibit, which features Tiffany Studio pieces such as lamps, windows, glass, desk accessories and pottery.
“You can also find European ceramics,” Miller wrote. “There was a fabulous collection of vases that caught my eye… and metal work by such luminaries as Albert Paley. The list goes on with several pieces of studio furniture from such notable as George Nakashima, Phil Powell, Wendell Castle and Paul Evans.”

Last, Miller met with Hicham Aboutaam of Phoenix AncientArt. The antiquities dealer manages a collection of rare, precious items from 5000 BC to 14 AD.

Miller wrote, “Collecting and selling antiquities is not only a business but is a manner in which the world learns about past civilizations. The particular selection at Phoenix Ancient Art includes objects from civilizations that lived in Europe, the Near East, Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Balkans, Eurasia as well as from the Greek, Roman and Byzantine eras in history.”

Bloomberg Plans Midtown Makeover

Michael Bloomberg has made significant changes to the New York skyline during his terms as mayor, and now he hopes to renovate the face of Midtown East.

Mike Slattery, a vice president of the Real Estate Board of New York, supports the mayor’s plan. Indicating a brown brick building on the corner of 42^nd Street and Madison Avenue, he said:

“These are not the kind of buildings that are desirable today.” He pointed across the street and explained: “This is one of the few buildings that have been built in the last 15 years in the district.”

Said building is glass, and twice as tall as the structure across the street. According to Slattery, the
newer building is environmentally efficient, while the high ceilings and open floor space are more modern and high end. Corporate tenants will accept no less, he explained.

The newer building “competes with Tokyo, Shanghai and London. That’s what’s at stake here: New York’s preeminence as a commercial capital,” he said.

Bloomberg’s intended facelift would add five million square feet of office space and generate $100 million in extra tax revenue per year.

 

Four Ways to Conserve Energy This Summer

While many New Yorkers expect their bills to rise with the temperature, the summer heat can actually be harnessed to minimize spending. Local companies like IDT Energy offer services and tips to help families keep their energy costs at a minimum.

Here are four ways to conserve energy without compromising comfort during the summer months:

·         Be responsible with your air conditioning. For example, turn it off at night and leave the windows open. In the morning, close the shades to preserve the cool air and keep the sun out.

·         Cook outside, when possible. Stoves and ovens generate large amounts of excess heat, forcing your air conditioner to work overtime. Try using the microwave or toaster oven, or cooking on an outdoor barbecue grill.

·         Air-dry your laundry. The sun and hot summer air are free replacements for your dryer, so hang your clothes up to dry if possible. If not, dry your clothes only partially in the dryer, then let them air dry.

·         Maintain your air conditioner filters. Though simple, this is often neglected, resulting in additional running time and extra strain on the system. By regularly replacing the filters, you ensure total efficiency and minimize cooling costs.

 

Easter in Midtown Manhattan

 

For Easter lovers, NYC is a great place to be.  First, there is the Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival that takes place in Midtown Manhattan on Fifth Avenue.  Scheduled to start at 10am, participants walk through the streets clad in their best Easter bonnet and finery.  For those who don’t want to dress up but just want to sneak a peak, St. Patrick’s Cathedral boasts the best view of it all – it’s a great family event.

For kids there the Children’s Museum Manhattan is hosting the Easter Egg Hunt.  Kids can make their own Easter collages and decorate real eggs.  Paper eggs will be hidden throughout the museum for kids to find and then exchange for special prizes.

For foodies, the Manhattan Easter Brunch at the New York City Hotel, is the epitome of luxury and elegance, where guests can choose caviar, chocolate fondue fountain and more.  There really is something for everyone in Midtown Manhattan; so this year, celebrate your Easter there.

Pie Face in Manhattan

While Pie Face has long been successful as a chain in Australia, it now boasts three locations in New York City as well, one of which is in Midtown Manhattan, located at Seventh Avenue between 35^th and 36^th Streets.  This one – along with its traditional fare of meat, veggie and other pies – also offers quiches and breakfast pies.  According to Spiro Bellas, National Coffee Trainer, while their specialty is a meat pie, traditional apple and cherry pies, they offer “all sorts” of other pies too.

In addition to its pies, the franchise has earned a reputation for its coffee program, with the Midtown location featuring a self-serve coffee bar offering different strength coffees along with a full service espresso bar that produces Australian ‘flat whites’ (a shot of espresso with steamed milk and a thin  layer of foam).

The Manhattan branch of Pie Face is the largest in NYC, open 24 hours a day and is the first that has a seating area, with wooden paneling to create a “warm, earthy and natural feel.”  There are no artificial preservatives used in the food either.