HAPPY 2009!

Sinclair Air Systems wishes you and yours the best possible start to the new year with blessings and good memories to get you started. May 2009 be an excellent year for everyone.

Super Heros Fighting Cold Weather?

So do you remember the old school batman movies or TV shows that were really over acted? like considerably? With the villains that did the "villain" laugh...and the funky costumes and half done special effects? Well. Bryant, one of the leading companies in air conditioning and heating has a portion of their site that is dedicated to "Bryant-man" a super hero that "fights" when the weather is too warm or too cold. There are coloring pages, stories and mini-movies at: http://www.bryant.com/about/bryantman/microsite.html However, easily the best part is this short commercial/movie...?

Bring in the New Year with Some Tax Credits

Energystar provides links and forms to help homeowners recieve benefits from home improvements and installing energy efficient appliances during 2008. This was initially started in 2007, but certain items have been renewed in an effort to help continued efforts to help save energy. Certain states provide additional benefits, but most monetary incentives are provided by the Federal Government in the form of tax credits. Visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits for information about getting rebates for cars, solar systems, wind energy and even some home improvements.

Central Air Conditioners need to be 14 SEER and Furnaces need to be above 95 AFUE (for information about AFUE and other heating or cooling specific terms visit our website: http://www.sinclairair.com/GlossaryPage/Glossary.html#A ) For heating specific information, we also have a separate page on our site to explain all the terminology and options related to choosing a heating source for your home. ( http://www.sinclairair.com/GlossaryPage/HeatingTerms.html)

April is still a long way off, but many experts suggest that if you get organized now, you won't be "down to the wire" during the coming months. Reduce your stress and find necessary paperwork now. Also, if you are considering upgrades to your home or business, check out the rebates offered for energy efficiency. Save money and the environment.

Holiday Wishes!

Happy Holidays! We at Sinclair Air Systems wish you and yours a beautiful holiday season! May your days be filled with happiness and family and lots and lots of good food!

FURNACE information

...Maybe it's just me...actually I am sure it is. I consistently find myself learning more about furnaces than I ever wanted to know...furnaces and air handlers...and any other number of HVAC equiptmental things. Not that it's not interesting, but... The Department of Energy has a section dedicated to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and on their site, they have a number of useful resources. The one I am highlighting today is their section on the upkeep of furnaces and boilers. The original link is: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12530 however, I have also uploaded this onto the resources page on our website: http://www.sinclairair.com/ because I have already lost links on the eere page. Did you know that you can retrofit your existing furnace to 'get' more energy efficiency out of it? I know I usually suggest replacing the whole thing - and units are a lot more efficient now than they were even 5 years ago, but 'retrofitting' might be a great idea for those looking to trim their energy costs without the major payout of replacing the whole system.

"Retrofitting Your Furnace or Boiler Furnaces and boilers can be retrofitted to increase their efficiency. These upgrades improve the safety and efficiency of otherwise sound, older systems. The costs of retrofits should be carefully weighed against the cost of a new boiler or furnace, especially if replacement is likely within a few years or if you wish to switch to a different system for other reasons, such as adding air conditioning (see the section on selecting and replacing heating and cooling systems). If you choose to replace your gas heating system, you'll have the opportunity to install equipment that incorporates the most energy-efficient heating technologies available. Since retrofits are fuel-specific, see the following sections for retrofit information: Gas-Fired Furnaces and Boilers (includes units fired with natural gas and propane) Oil-Fired Furnaces and Boilers Other retrofitting options that can improve a system's energy efficiency include installing programmable thermostats, upgrading duct work in forced-air systems, and adding zone control for hot-water systems, an option discussed in the Heat Distribution Systems section."

They also offer other information about how to choose a new furnace, as well as a chart depicting the possible savings (so you don't have to take my word for it...) that you can check out on the same site. The Department of Energy also provides booklets explaining possible ways to save energy in other areas of the home as well.

Calculate the Costs of Your Furnace

Have you ever wondered (apart from all the different lines on your gas or electric bill) what exactly your furnace is costing you? Energystar.gov offers a way to calculate what your furnace is costing you, what it would cost to upgrade/upkeep and the percentages of possible savings. On this page, click on the "savings calculator" link (pictured in purple type). It is actually an excel spreadsheet that you download. In the spreadsheet are already set up formulas to help you calculate estimates of service prices and installation costs. (Please keep in mind that these are estimates, but still are a pretty good idea of what you can possibly save). I had a furnace and air conditioning system installed in my home this year, and these are my savings calculations: and this is my summary: So, according to the calculations, I will receive the initial costs of upgrading back within 4 years (because of the high savings), but it will save me $79 a month. If you ask me, it was worth it. Find out what you could be saving...

Happy Holidays!

At this most festive time of year, we at Sinclair wish you and yours a very happy holiday season and all the best wishes for the year to come. May you be blessed and surrounded by those you love.

Which Furnace is Right for My Home?

http://www.consumersearch.com/furnaces is a great site giving homeowners various ways to look into the qualities they will need in a furnace. The first "tab" (Top 4 Best Reviewed) provides the "best" rated furnace in 4 categories and then explains what each of the pros and cons are for each unit. This site might be helpful if you are looking to make an upgrade in your furnace. One the second tab (What to Look for) there is a list of questions that a homeowner should ask the contractor before settling on a furnace model. These include things like inquiring about the noise level or the running speed. They also recommend finding a trustworthy company to install the unit as illustrated in the quotation below.

"Experts stress the importance of taking your time to find a good HVAC professional. The best way to start is to ask friends and neighbors for references. Contractors should be licensed and have appropriate insurance, liability and workman's comp paperwork. You will need a permit before work is started, and you should ask your contractor to procure this for you so that the work can be checked by a local government inspector."

The third and final tab on this page (Full Report) gives an expanded version of the suggestions (where more questions may be answered) as well as the sources for the information. If you are looking to upgrade, check out this site.

Pros and Cons of Furnace Types

The site warmair.net breaks down the pros and cons of each type of fuel used to operate furnaces. The comparison between the types of fuel and the costs of a homeowner can be very helpful in deciding which type is right for you. If you are in an area where natural gas can be expensive, it is probably a better idea to go with a different type of fuel.

FUEL OIL

Pros:
• Non-explosive
• Less likely to produce carbon monoxide
• Independent suppliers
• No monthly service fees Cons:
• Must be stored on premises
• Anual burner maintenance recommended
• 85% maximum efficiency
• High temperature exhaust
• Potential ground/water contaminant

NATURAL GAS

Pros:
• Does not need to be stored on premises
• 95% maximum efficiency- This is HUGE! The more efficient, the MORE you will save (in energy & money)
• Low temperature exhaust
• Useful in other household applications (i.e. kitchen stove, clothes drier, etc.)
Cons:
• Potentially explosive
• Produces Carbon monoxide
• Monthly service fees, regardless of usage

ELECTRIC (RESISTIVE)

Pros:
• No combustion or chimney
• No duct or pipe distribution system needed
• Each room individuallycontrolled
• Least expensive design/installation
Cons:
• Inefficient use of electricity
• Larger electrical service required

There are still other options for heating, such as heat pumps (which are similar to air conditioners), geothermal heat pumps and still other ways of using alternate energy forms to heat your home. It is also important for the homeowner to do their part. Just like it is necessary to keep every nook and cranny sealed to keep a home cool, it is just as important to keeping the home warm. If you haven't sealed your doors and windows in a while - if it is going to continue being THIS wet - that might be an excellent idea.

the Holidays Have Come to Sinclair!

It's almost time for the Holidays to get started full swing, so we thought what better way to get into the spirit than to decorate! We added lights and garland to almost every surface...tastefully we hope. The Grinch sings and dances... This picture was taken from the outside yesterday on that rainy day.

My Furnace has More Speeds Than Yours...

So when buying a furnace, there are a couple different choices you will need to make. 1. Gas or Electric. (or occasionally other mediums depending on where you live, or the type of heating offered in your local area.) Some things to consider: A natural gas furnace is usually cheaper than an electric furnace (gas costs less to run) however, an electric furnace does not have a pilot light that can get 'blow' out. Furnaces operate on 'speeds.' Like bikes - (a very LOOSE analogy, please bear with me) If you have a 10 speed bike, it can go 10 speeds theoretically. So, likewise, if you have a single speed furnace - it operates at only one speed. That means that the energy (and fuel-gas) use is constant at one speed regardless of when you turned the furnace on. There are also 'dual stage' furnaces which operate on hmm... two speeds. These are recommended for people who live in parts of the country where it gets colder, or for homeowners who use their furnace often. The operation of a two speed furnace allows energy to be conserved as there are two operating speeds, let's compare them to full speed and half speed depending on the heating needs. Another type of furnace is 'variable speed' which means...the furnace operates on different speeds depending on heating needs (similar to dual speed). In Southern California, most people don't use their furnaces all that often, so a single stage furnace is usually beneficial for our customers as they don't have to pay for the upfront costs of a variable or dual furnace.

Maybe you should look into upgrading...

This year, along with all of the other economic peril to worry about, oil prices (used to heat the home in oil-based furnaces) are also expected to rise. Also, look at: http://greenecon.net/home-heating-concerns/energy_economics.html for more information about how these rising costs could affect you. Newer furnaces are more economical. The government has placed increased efficiency standards on most units and so they use less energy and fuel than in previous years. This can be especially helpful in saving money. Other options to ask about are geo-thermal heat models or the use of other fuels rather than gas or oil.

What do I set my thermostat to in Winter?

Well, rhetorical question: wonder no longer. Technically, you set your thermostat to where you are most comfortable. However, to best save energy (and money) Energy Star recommends at 70 or above (and 78 while you are away or asleep). Energy Star has a wealth of information on their website, but it can be a bit difficult to wade through all of it. Here are their suggestions for the use of your programmable thermostat. (See the original on their website: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=thermostats.pr_thermostats_guidelines)

Proper Use Guidelines for Programmable Thermostats

Through proper use of a programmable thermostat (using the 4 pre-programmed settings) you can save about $180* every year in energy costs.

Rules of Thumb for Proper Use:

Keep the temperature set at its energy savings set-points for long periods of time (at least eight hours), for example, during the day, when no one is at home, and through the night, after bedtime.

1. All thermostats let you temporarily make an area warmer or cooler, without erasing the pre-set programming. This override is cancelled automatically at the next program period. You use more energy (and end up paying more on energy bills) if you consistently “hold” or over-ride the pre-programmed settings.
2. Units typically have 2 types of hold features: (a) hold/permanent/vacation; (b) temporary. Avoid using the hold/permanent/vacation feature to manage day to day temperature settings. “Hold” or “vacation” features are best when you're planning to be away for an extended period. Set this feature at a constant, efficient temperature (i.e. several degrees warmer temperature in summer, several degrees cooler during winter), when going away for the weekend or on vacation. You'll waste energy and money if you leave the “hold” feature at the comfort setting while you're away.
3. Cranking your unit up to 90 degrees or down to 40 degrees, for example, will not heat or cool your house any faster. Most thermostats, including ENERGY STAR qualified units, begin to hear or cool at a set time, to reach setpoint temperatures sometime thereafter. Units with adaptive (smart/intelligent) recovery features are an exception to this rule — Adaptive recovery units are constantly calculating the amount of time required to heat or cool the house, so that it reaches that temperature when the homeowner programmed it. By “examining” the performance of the past few days the thermostat can keep track of the seasons. In this way, your house is always at the comfort levels when occupied, but saving the most energy when unoccupied.
4. Many homes use just one thermostat to control the whole house. If your home has multiple heating or cooling zones, you'll need a programmed setback thermostat for each zone to maximize comfort, convenience and energy savings throughout the house. If your programmable thermostat runs on batteries, don't forget to change the batteries each year. Some units will indicate when batteries must be changed.

*The $180 savings assumes a typical, single-family home with a 10 hour daytime setback of 8° F in winter and setup of 7° F in summer, and an 8 hour nighttime setback of 8° F in winter and a setup of 4° F in summer.

It is very important to utilize your programmable thermostat if you have one. The heating unit works much harder trying to warm a freezing house than it does trying to bring the temperature up a few degrees. Plus, if your furnace is used constantly, it is less likely that it will be on for a prolonged period of time - which costs you more money. If you do not have a programmable thermostat, it might be in your interest to look into getting one. If thermostats are used properly, they can save both time and money - as well as keeping your home SUPER Comfortable!

Air Conditioning as Preservation

Climate control - as far as humidity, as well as temperature - is one of the main reasons for upgrading to a central air and heating system. A unit attached to a thermostat allows for a comfortable home, with a maintained constant temperature and humidity level. In the summer, it's the humidity that makes life unbearable, so being able to take the moisture out of the air is very helpful in an air conditioning system. Air units may also be used to maintain more specific temperatures and humidity levels for a variety of things. For example, light and moisture are the enemies of old paper products (books (first edition copies - Gutenberg Bible), manuscripts (Declaration of Independence), and photos (Spanish American War correspondent documentation photos)...etc.) So a library like the Huntington library close to us needs to work with their air and heating to provide the optimum temperature. At the Huntington, some collections are also kept in the dark. (More information than you ever wanted to know? probably...) So, how does this tie in with my blog post? Well, on the Carrier website, they have a list of places that required special heating or cooling needs - and I found it interesting the differences and spectrum between the examples. They range from cooling at the Alexandria Library in Egypt to National Geographic needing to encase the 'ice maiden.' The Carrier project showcase tells all about these and many other examples: http://www.corp.carrier.com/www/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=54c87afdef677010VgnVCM100000cb890b80RCRD Not that most of us will ever need that much cooling or heating capacity, but it is interesting to see how the technology is changing to meet new needs. Hopefully as research improves, some of these technologies will be applied to our houses too.

Explaining Electricity

Prepare: More than you ever wanted to know about electricity... The department of energy puts out these nifty little brochures that explain electricity or gas, or oil and other things. So, what better to learn about as it starts to get cold and the furnace kicks in...adding to that electricity bill than electricity pricing? Visit: http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/brochure/electricity/electricity.html to see the brochure on electricity. The brochure explains where electricity comes from, the percentages of the total of each source - coal, nuclear, gas etc. And then how much electricity the average home uses, broken down into the various appliances. If you are unsure about what the "grid" is, or how high of a percentage of electricity your refrigerator is eating up, this brochure is a good idea. It's an easy read, with lots of pictures. go forth, and inform...

Inspected?

If you aren't planning on having your heating and air conditioning equipment inspected this year, you might want to consider having a whole house inspection. These inspections aren't just for possible home buyers anymore. If you have lived in your house for awhile, it is a good idea to have your equipment checked out. That way you can avoid costly repairs of things you didn't even know were wrong. This video explains the benefits of having a home inspection as well as possible resources. It's better to be prepared than to be scrambling to fix something.

Warm Your Home for the Holidays

Thanksgiving is almost here - well, tomorrow, and you want your home to be warm and inviting for any guests (or just for yourself) that you are having over. It's part of the whole thing, the "Holiday" feel. Thank goodness that in California, We don't need to worry about heat too much, but it's raining today and a furnace might be a good idea. So, if you haven't run your furnace for awhile, it is a good idea to open all of the windows BEFORE you turn it on. Why? (I know this seems counter intuitive) Because it will probably smell like dust burning. Mmmm. right? yeah, you don't want that smelling up your home - drapes and other fabrics will hold that smell - hence the opening of the windows. The smell should stop after awhile, then you can go around and close the windows. However, if the smell does not go away, or if at any time you see flames - TURN the Furnace OFF! If you have already been using your furnace this year, Excellent! However, here are some things to remember. A furnace needs to be cleaned - at least once a year, and your FILTER should be changed about every 3 months (depending on the usage). Here are some sites that explain how to clean a furnace and some tips and suggestions: http://home.howstuffworks.com/furnace-maintenance1.htm http://www.aaaiaq.com/furnace_tips.html

According to How Stuff Works "Dirt is the biggest enemy of your furnace. It can waste fuel and drastically lower efficiency. Dirt affects all three basic components of your furnace, so cleaning is the most important part of regular maintenance. The three parts of the furnace should be cleaned: the filter system, the blower, and the motor. The furnace filter should be replaced or cleaned at the beginning of the heating season and about once a month during periods of continuous use. To check the filter, take it out and hold it up to the light. If it looks clogged, replace it with a new filter of the same type and size regardless of the length of time it has been used."

Replacing your filter is so important to the running and efficiency of your furnace. Sometimes we get called out for service and the unit is not turning on at all, but when the furnace is replaced it works fine. The other site, AAAIQ gives a list of 8 tips to ensure that your furnace is running properly. Here are there first 3 suggestions:

"1. Set your thermostat at your comfort level and then Forget you have one. It takes less energy to heat air 4-5 degrees than it does to heat air 8-10 degrees. 2. Help your furnace to breath easy and work effectively, clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month. 3. Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes. "

Utilizing your thermostat is very important also. You aren't going to get the savings monetarily or energy-wise if you are turning the thermostat on and off. So many people have higher bills than they need to because they are unsure about using their thermostat. If you need help with your thermostat, there are tutorials and other resources online or you can ask your HVAC company. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

America 'leads' the way in Air Conditioning?

In thinking about the things that America 'leads' in, I wouldn't think that Air Conditioning would be at the top of the list. On the contrary, most air conditioning producers are multi-national corporations with parts produced across the world. So, in coming across this article, I was a big confused, and intrigued enough to read on. Source: Evans, Stephen. (BBC North America business correspondent) "How air-conditioning keeps changing the US" Last Updated: Tuesday, 19 July, 2005, 22:15 GMT 23:15 UK http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4697519.stm Mr. Evans attributes the shift of the US population to the South as a function of air conditioning, which also attracted businesses and makes the south more politically powerful. Interesting argument, I don't know that many political scientists would sign off on that one, but interesting. More interesting (to me - a history major) was his inclusion of when congress added air conditioning and some other historical numbers.

"In the end, the air-conditioners won the day. In 1925, the Rivoli cinema in New York installed a new system at an astronomical cost of $100,000 - it paid for itself in three months. Congress debated the matter in 1928 and decided for coolness rather than fortitude. In 1942, Washington became the fist city where electricity consumption was higher in summer than winter."

So, in summary? Make sure your air conditioner is running at the best it possibly can be, with check-ups and fill-ups, because it's important to have cool air.

About How Much Does That Cost?

Source: the San Diego Gas and Electric Company (http://www.sdge.com/documents/forms/energycosts.pdf) The San Diego Gas & Electric Co. has provided a pdf with approximations to how much it costs to run certain items. They even go in depth room by room to tell you how much it costs to run an iron for an hour or video games for 2 hours. The bottom line of your energy bill might not tell you too much - other than rates are high, but this break-down just might make you a little more conscious of how your energy is being 'spent.' Here is an example of one of their breakdowns focusing on the home office:

Your Filter

We get TONS of questions regarding filters - where to get them, where it fits in, what's it do even to can you come please change mine? So, aside from doing my own video series to explain all of them - I am not good in front of a camera - I do my best to find webpages that are pretty good at explaining things. This one: http://www.iaqsource.com/article.php/how-do-i-find-identify-measure-and-change-my-furnace-filter/?id=21 is EXCELLENT. There are diagrams, explanations, different makes and models and it has step by step instructions.

Of course, you can always contact your local HVAC contractor who installed your unit for information regarding your filter or replacing it. Don't be afraid to ask questions about your equipment. If your contractor isn't willing to take time to educate you about the expensive machine they have just put in your home, it's time to find a new contractor.

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Check out these other resources for finding a filter: http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/furnacefilters.html http://www.furnacefilters.com/ and even www.energystar.gov

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AC Sizing & Why You Should Care

Central Air Conditioners come in a variety of different sizes. These sizes are usually referred to in Tons. Example, I have a 3ton unit. They are also available in half tons, etc. So you could have a 2 and a half ton unit. The Ton comes out of the early days of air conditioning where ice was used for cooling. It refers now, to the amount of cooling capacity a unit has. (Read more at http://www.sinclairair.com/GlossaryPage/Terms.html )

Okay, so how can you tell if your unit is too big for your house? One sign is that the air only kicks on for very short periods of time (this means that it has kicked on and cooled the house enough so that the thermostat registers a cool temperature, but the house may not be evenly cooled - illustrated by the air conditioner turning on again for a very short period of time, repeating the cycle). Another thing that MIGHT suggest too large of an air conditioning unit, is if your AC is overly loud. PLEASE keep in mind that air conditioners like any machine are generally loud, there is a motor and moving parts involved and while ac companies are working to create more quiet models, we are not "there" yet and there should be some (and depending on the age of your unit ALOT of) sound.

If your air conditioning unit does happen to be over sized, that means that it is not working up to its capacity. That means that even if it is an energy star model you're not going to save any money. Also, because it's running almost constantly, you may be even be paying MORE than you need to.

So what do you do? First check out the energy star.gov's PDF explaining sizing and what to do about it. Read up, get your information and then consider seeing a contractor.

The PDF is available at http://www.energystar.gov/ia/new_homes/features/RightSizedAC1-17-01.pdf but also on our resources page: http://www.sinclairair.com/resources/resources.html along with other helpful readings.

Replace Your Furnace?

Source: http://aceee.org/consumerguide/heating.htm#replace According to tips Provided by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

"Decide Whether to Replace Your Existing System If your furnace or boiler is older than 20 years, chances are it is a good investment to replace it with a high-efficiency model with the guidance of a good contractor. Also consider a replacement now if your system is one of the following: Old coal burner that was previously switched over to oil or gas Old gas furnace without electronic ignition. If it has a pilot light, it was probably installed prior to 1992 and has an efficiency of about 65% efficient (the least efficient systems today are 80%) Old gas furnace without vent dampers or an induced draft fan (which limit the flow of heated air up the chimney when the heating system is off). If your furnace or boiler is 10–20 years old, and you are experiencing discomfort or high utility bills, hire a highly-qualified home performance or heating contractor who can help you evaluate your existing system. Often it will be more cost-effective to improve house insulation and air-tightness, repair or insulate duct work, or tune up your system."

It's that time of year where it's getting cool - even in California. Who knows, you might even need to crank on your furnace. Wouldn't it be a shame if it didn't work when you needed it? You're having everyone over for Thanksgiving and...you're home is an ice palace. Way to show the friends and family a good time ;) Just make sure your furnace is up and running before you need to use it - so that you can call out for assistance, OR replace it in time for the holidays.

Diagrams

So yes, I know air conditioning is one of those complicated heat cycle things that scientists try to explain all the time. (usually in the process making it even more complex than it would have been...) Here is a site that has simple diagrams to explain:

• how an air conditioner works
• and then 3 diagrams explaining process

More than you ever wanted to know? Probably. Worth it? I don't know. Math-people like these things.

California's Environmental Upgrades

Source: the Newsletter (Nov. 5, 2008 / #632) from flexyourpower.org (the non-profit) encouraging energy stewardship in California. "New State Energy Plant to Meet LEED Gold Certification" The State Capital is going green. Office buildings in particular can be very hard to heat and cool (because the air usually doesn't move, and there are other 'heat-making' appliances - computers/printers/etc...). This building is going to have solar panels to power the indoor office equipment and a cylinder to release built up heat. They are also utilizing a water cooling mechanism for temperature control. Here is the architect's rendering of what the new building is planned to look like. Source: http://www.nlarch.com/portfolio/gov_dgs_cup.html. Here is the summary of what flex your power had to say about the new building:

"The facility will feature cooling towers to release heat pulled from state buildings as well as a 140-foot-tall, 4.25 million gallon thermal energy storage tank to store chilled water for plant operations during off-peak hours. Incredibly, it is expected to use only 1/10th of the water needed by the existing plant and will also include solar panels to power the office space within it. The project also recycled much of the demolition material from the old central plant and is being designed and constructed by Skanska USA Building Inc., in conjunction with other designers, architects, and subcontractors."

Great Video!

If you are trying to find ways to cut costs for the winter, this video is a great place to start. It is very well done, short and extremely helpful.

Audit Your Home Scout Style

Even the boy scouts are concerned about saving energy! (I found this amusing, I mean I don't know why they wouldn't be, it seems to fit with their overall mission, but ...really? AND on top of that, this 8 page worksheet feels an awful lot like homework)
It is generally a good idea to audit your home, or test how much energy you are both using and possibly wasting. This can be done many different ways. Some people prefer to 'benchmark' or to compare their home energy usage to similarly sized homes near them. Others prefer to call out professionals who do various measurements - occasionally using thermo-detection devices to determine where air is escaping. The scout's audit falls somewhere in between. It is a fairly easy way to do it - print out page 8 (it has a bunch of check boxes) and go down the list.
It requires things that everyone has in their home and gives you a start to finish place to start measuring your energy. The toilet paper thing, I thought was amazingly easy (and cool) who would think to see if toilet paper flaps in the breeze? An interesting approach and worth trying for that if nothing else.
So, go to this link: http://www.usscouts.org/mb/worksheets/Energy.pdf ignore the first 7 pages - that part sounds like a lot of work. Look at page 8. It's a one page audit of your home. Is it rocket science? No. bUt, also the results...not 100% accurate. Take it into consideration though, it's a heck of a lot cheaper than getting Darth Vader and his van of expensive machinery out to 'scan' your home. Plus, why weatherstrip if you don't need to?
And if you have a scout, maybe you can rack up some extra points? It's a pretty cool looking merit badge. Or at the very least you can say that you're prepared.

Is Your AC One Size Fits All?

Everybody runs into this problem...shopping for hats, "one size fits all" and your perfectly planned birthday gift is three sizes too large for the birthday boy...shopping for cars - "the seats are adjustable" but watching my 6'2 father trying to squeeze in can be quite entertaining - for me... (lol, not for him). Every now and then something seems to be one size fits all in some way or another, even in a society as diverse as we have become. EVEN Air Conditioners? Well. In a way, yes. Air Conditioners are pretty much the same across the board - they take humidity out of the air, and blow the warm air taken out of the house across tightly coiled refrigerant to cool it and then pump it back into the house. (If this interests you, there are TONS of pictures, explanations etc. included in the blog just check out: picture explaining air conditioning). So where does this different climate thing factor in? I mean safe to say quite different in southern California than let's say the South where it's humid. So our air conditioners are removing much needed humidity (or non-existent humidity) and the air conditioners down South don't do enough to take care of the humidity. Interesting, but I never would have really thought about it, that is until I came across this page. You can listen to the article or view a slide show at: http://glrc.org/story.php3?story_id=4219. (It only runs about 3 minutes and involves no reading, so why not?) The article focuses on John Proctor an inventor who is working on creating specialized systems of air conditioning for various different environmental areas.

That fact [that all air conditioners are made the same] inspired Proctor – with funding from the state of California – to design AC systems for three different climates – the hot dry west, the soggy southeast, and the more temperate Midwest. So that’s one model for Phoenix, another for Tampa, and a third for St. Louis. He built them in an attic workshop upstairs from his office.

So Air Conditioners are all made the same at the moment, but this might not always be thanks to innovative thinkers like John Proctor. If his new air conditioner could function more efficiently (without wasting energy removing humidity from the air that doesn't need to be removed) than Californians could save more money and energy when running their air. Hopefully, as time passes and energy accountability rises, we will have more inventions similar to this that will provide us an easy way to save money and energy.

History of Halloween?

http://link.history.com/services/link/bcpid1811456971/bclid1842765416/bctid1842866701 This is a video put on by the history channel, it's only like 3 minutes long but well worth it. Check it out!

Indoor Air Quality

The picture shows 10 EASY ways that ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.) suggests to improve the air quality in your home. We are spending up to 65% in our homes and less frequently opening windows. It is important to keep our air quality indoors as clean as possible. How hard is it to move a couple of cleaning supplies? This picture is a bit difficult to read due to size constraints. View it on it's orignial location: http://www.ashrae.org/publications/page/961

Doors and Windows

Some tips and suggestions for life without air conditioning - or this quasi-fall temperatures we're experiencing in southern California.

Sad but True...

Unfortunately there has been an increase in copper-tubing and steel parts stolen from air conditioning units. What can you do to protect yourself?

While copper prices aren't as high this year (compared to the relative spike last year) some of our customers who have had to replace their units due to theft.

For about $25 worth of copper, it can cost you around $3,000 to repair.

In cases where the copper has been stolen, we usually just recommend replacing the unit rather than paying for costly repairs of the old unit. Read more about this problem... The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration News put out this article where an entire rooftop was stolen from a business. Thankfully, most homeowners don't need to worry about this much damage. This story takes place in Oklahoma and shows how little success police are having in tracking down copper thieves. http://www.achrnews.com/Articles/Cover_Story/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000106822 One of the 'problem' locations experiencing high numbers of thefts is Oklahoma. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070504_1_A14_spanc47218 One online newspaper offers some simple solutions you can do at your own home to at least make it more difficult to steal your unit. These are pretty easy to do/find at a hardware store and cheaper than alternatives (of cages etc. that I will discuss below). Worth a try, especially in California if you're interested. Another option for protection is through cages - specially made for your air conditioning unit. There are a couple of companies offering cages (for one in your area contact your hvac contractor). The two mentioned below are just examples. http://www.accage.net/ operates out of Florida and creates a cage with a lock around the unit. If you are looking for a more - barred look try

http://www.mr-locks.com/products/147/Air_Conditioners_Cage_Gates/ Other companies just make a 'cage' out of wire fencing in the hopes that while it is not impossible to steal the copper that thieves will find an easier target.

Wonder How Much You Can Save?

Source: http://www.acdoctor.com/cooling_calculator.php last access 10/27/08. Information regarding resources and how much you can save if you upgrade to a newer model conditioner.

So you are thinking about upgrading to a newer air conditioning or heating system because you keep hearing things about green this and save energy that?

How about seeing actual savings in the form of: 1. Money 2. Trees/Carbon emissions saved and 3. Energy preserved. Their calculator will also tell you how many years it will take for you to recover the initial cost of installation/upgrade. With all of your options (even you kw/h rate) weighed out for you, the decision becomes much easier. Below is an example quote (using rough, estimates instead of actual numbers) for the air conditioning system that was installed in my home this last March. This bottom chart shows what I could recover over the lifetime of the unit. A pretty good way to make a decision if you ask me. Check it out.

2008 Energy Rankings! - dun dan dunnnnn

Source: The ACEEE Energy Report card for 2008. http://www.aceee.org/pubs/e086.htm last accessed 10/23/08 and also as part of the flex your power e-mail newsletter Oct. 22, 2008 / #631. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy is a non-profit that measures efficiency as related to commercial success and makes suggestions, policy recommendations for an ‘energy efficient economy.’ More information about the ACEEE can be found on their webpage at www.acee.org In their own description they say:

“ACEEE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection.”

In 2007, the ACEEE published a report on the energy efficiency of 2006. This year, with their 2008 report, they ranked every state (and the District of Columbia) based on

“The scorecard examines eight state energy efficiency policy areas: (1) utility-sector and public benefits programs and policies; (2) transportation polices; (3) building energy codes; (4) combined heat and power; (5) appliance efficiency standards; (6) Lead by Example in state facilities and fleets; (7) research, development, and deployment; and (8) financial and information incentives.”

On their scale, the maximum points that a state could get was 50. California ranked 1st at 40.5 points. That is still almost 10 points away from efficiency that is using the programs/services that are already in place. While I am happy that we are doing so well, I was still upset to find out that we had quite a large way to go. But alas, I was able to take heart that Wyoming, coming in last with a large ZERO. Are you kidding me? Wow. You never realize how much each state is different. Below is a map, included in their account which gives a color-depicted idea of where each state is at reaching energy efficiency goals. The Top ten for 2008 are:

1. California
2. Oregon
3. Connecticut
4. Vermont
5. New York
6. Washington
7. (tie) Massachusetts, Minnesota
8. 0
9. Wisconsin
10. New Jersey

”Outside of the top ten, there has been significant movement up the ladder since last year’s scorecard. Idaho was the “most improved” state, having moved up twelve spots compared to last year’s scorecard. Other states that climbed the rankings are Florida, which moved up ten spots, and Maryland and Ohio, which each ascended eight spots in the rankings, putting all of these states in the second tier in our scorecard and giving them the title of “most improved” states.”

Top Ten AC from ASHRAE

OK, so you just got central air conditioning and heating and you want to know what 10 things should I know about this contraption? Or...you've had air conditioning for years and you've never thought about it. Here's your answer. ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) handles this issue in 10 short sections on their web page http://www.ashrae.org/education/page/1455#3.

1. How AC works

   The first section shows how air conditioning works, with a small colored drawing to describe how the air flow works and the various parts. this is a topic I've gone over in the blog quite a bit, so if you're interested...click the archives on our page under "How air conditioning works."

2. What is a TON of cooling?

   Heating and cooling is usually measured in tons of output. These 'tons' also need to be 'sized' specifically to your home to ensure proper room temperature.

   "A ton of cooling is now defined as delivering 12,000 BTU/hour of cooling. BTU is short for British Thermal Unit "

   One BTU is about the amount of energy provided by a kitchen match. If you would like more information about definitions and sizing or even cooling specific terms please visit our glossary page at http://www.sinclairair.com/GlossaryPage/Glossary.html#B

3. What can go wrong

   This is a popular question, and as it turns out, there are many things that can go wrong with a unit.

   "They are sized to meet a certain “load” on the house. They are designed to have certain amount of refrigerant, known as the “charge”. They are designed to have a certain amount of air flow across the coils. When any of these things changes, the system will have problems. If you produce more heat indoors either from having more people or appliances or because of changes in the house, the air conditioning may not be able to keep up.

   As such, it is important to make sure your unit has the proper amount of refrigerant, is cleaned regularly, and that you change the filter often. If you practice good maintenance, your unit should work for a long time.

4. What filters do

   Filters are necessary because they keep the unit clean and also catch particles and prevent them from getting into the air in your home. This two-fold defense will keep your unit and your family healthy.

5. Maintain the System

   Like your car, or anything else, regular maintenance will make a huge difference in the life of your system. Your unit should be looked at about once a year, more if you use it all the time.

6. Ducts matter

   Ducts are the paths in which cold air gets into your rooms. These ducts need also to be cleaned and maintained. If they get loose, (or chewed through - it happens) you are loosing a lot of cold air to your attic. If your ducts have been in your house for a long time, it's probably a good idea to check them - if they are accessible, or have them checked out. You don't want to pay to heat the outside.

7. Increase your efficiency

   This is also a topic that I cover often in the blog, click "save energy" or "energy efficiency" to learn more.

8. Lighten your load

   This is also pretty common sense and I've written about this before too. If you have every appliance in the house on - appliances that get 'hot' (like the TV, computer and duh the oven or stove) your ac is going to work WAY over time. Turn some of that stuff off - and especially if it's 100 degrees outside, you really don't need the lights on.

9. Ventilate

   Make sure the air is flowing in your house - ceiling fans help or even just slightly cracking a back window can draw air through if your home doesn't have an open floor plan. However, DO NOT - I repeat - DO NOT only turn the fan on - that doesn't help ANYTHING at all and I can't even describe to you how many times we get service calls for an AC that isn't turned on because the homeowner is ONLY running the fan. The fan is not supposed to cool the house - only move air, and it wastes energy. So, the best thing to do is turn your thermostat on, leave the fan and ac on auto and let the energy star thermostat save you money and keep you comfy.

10. Humidity

    This is another reason not to use the fan by itself. The fan does NOT remove humidity in the air and it's the humidity that makes things unbearable. Now air conditioners do their part to keep the indoor humidity levels low, but only when used properly. If you live in an especially humid area, talk to your contractor about special humidity options.

So that's it. AC 101 in ten easy steps. And now you can impress your friends at parties...or on game shows? You know what a TON of air is.

More facts...

Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/consumptionbriefs/recs/aircond_use.html Facts from the 2007 Energy Use survey There is nothing I love more than useless facts - like those snapple lids? Best thing ever. Yay! Okay, so truthfully, I guess I could love a couple things more, but here goes: Useless air conditioning "facts" from a survey.

• Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of all American households had air-conditioners. 47 percent of all households had central air-conditioning systems and 25 percent had window/wall air-conditioners. 1 percent had both central and window/wall air-conditioners.

• In 1997, households in the South spent the most for air conditioning, an average of $201, while households in the Midwest spent the least, an average of $81. In the South, 57 percent of all households had electric air conditioners and used them all summer, compared to only 11 percent of the households in the Northeast and West.

They also direct the public to their website for more statistics and information. http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/consumption/index.html

High Energy Bills?

SCE can help. If you live in the southern California Area and are paying your huge chunk of electricity payments to Southern California Edison (www.sce.com) they have some tips to save some green. So their site "Top 10 Energy Guzzlers" http://www.sce.com/CustomerService/HighBillHelper/energyguzzler.htm under their "High Bill Helpers" section has an interactive picture of 10 appliances in your house that can be causing that high energy bill. 1 of the 10 (actually #9) is the central air conditioner. Edison averages about .17 per kilowatt hour and they used a 3 Ton unit for example. They guess that if you have an inefficient model, you can pay $80.46 running it for 4 hours a day. If however, you have a higher SEER you can save money without having to turn the thermostat up to 82. (things to remember) 1. The current government standard in SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratings) is 13. A seer of 13 is saving you 30% over a 10 seer (a unit maybe 5-7 years old). 2. If you pay $100 for your energy bill and upgrade to a 13 SEER, you will be saving 38% and now paying $62 for that same bill (according to residential.carrier.com's calculator). 3. The agreed upon temperature for optimal savings and optimal comfort is 78 degrees and higher when you're away from home. 4. Your thermostat isn't saving you any money if you are using it as a manual model (turning it on and off when you want to). Okay, check out the suggestions, many of them are common sense, some of them are weird (like get flat bottomed pans to avoid using too much electrical stove time - who sells rounded pots? and how do they stand up?....weird). But worth a look anyhow. They also have more tips on how to lower your energy bill under their High Bill Helpers section.

Statistical Maps

So, it's Friday and I don't have a lot of time to update, but I thought something really quick and interesting would help me get through the weekend? haha.

Seriously, these pictures are pretty interesting. The first shows how much per state (in a range) each state in the United States pays for electricity costs (something to consider when running an air conditioning or heating unit). Please keep in mind that this is from 1993 and now the current government standard for SEER is 13, so people who have upgraded are actually paying for 30% less cooling than they would if they had a 10 SEER. Confusing...I know, I will tackle that Monday maybe - if you're concerned email me. The second, picture is a representation of how people thought the summer of 2008 was going to turn out. Having completed it, I thought that we would go over it and see if it was generally correct. Those sciency people hate being wrong.

Air Expo?

Did you catch the video-head expo on G-4 a while back? What about Mac's new unveiling of their single piece technology? Regardless, I am sure you are familiar with the use of a huge expo in industries to unveil all of the new products for the year. The Air Conditioning & Heating Industry has their expo in Chicago in January of 2009. Source: http://www.ahrexpo.com/ This year (last year too) the expo is focusing on green and sustainable techniques that can be implemented in Air Conditioning design. According to their press release,

As the largest and most comprehensive HVACR exposition, the AHR EXPO attracts tens of thousands of attendees from all facets of the industry, including contractors, engineers, dealers, distributors, wholesalers, OEMs, architects and builders, industrial plant operators, facility owners and managers, agents and reps.

Why is this good for homeowners or others looking to replace or add a system to their home? As the HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning - the R gets added for Refrigeration) industry gets better at making products environmentally friendly you will pay less on your air conditioning bill. Specifically unique to the American industry, the companies are looking to keep the costs low for the actual buyer (like in Europe they can use more expensive units because the higher energy costs over there allow for a savings - which wouldn't translate in the US). This expo is also helpful to HVAC contractors/buyers...etc. because it brings together people in the industry from all over the world. That means that as different countries work to better their own energy needs/production, this information and technology can be shared. Air Conditioning and Heating is also regulated (heavily in California) by governmental agencies that are looking to save the environment or have energy customers pay a certain price. As such, the HVAC community needs to be kept abreast of these bills/laws and make changes to the products accordingly. Interesting. The papers/exhibitions that come out of it are helpful, but for Sinclair the trip to Chicago is not. We will be sitting this one out online.

Our Showroom

Have you ever been to our showroom? We are located at 721 E. San Bernardino Rd. in Covina California. That's in between Grand and Barranca and just below Cypress. We are right next to the Capri Deli. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, you can stop in and see various units of different brands around the showroom. Some of them are open so we can explain what the different parts are. This is also a good idea to help you understand the size of the unit before it is installed. The Condenser, depending on the tons can be quite large, and it's good to be able to see how much backyard you can lose. We also just had some new sign-age put up and if I may say it looks pretty spiffy, so I thought I'd share some of those pictures with you as well. It can be kind-of interesting to see all of the units in one place. They come in many different shapes and sizes. Plus, we're pretty cool - and would love it if you stopped by and said 'hi.'

Everything You Wanted To Know

Ever wanted a concise, all-inclusive, easy-to-read, everything you should know about choosing, installing etc. anything about an air conditioning system? Check out: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/aircond/aircond.htm Here they describe what a good contractor should do, how to choose a system 'right' for your individual needs and what other options or concerns one should be aware of.

DIY Air Conditioner Maintenance

Source: http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-maintain-an-air-conditioner.htm The first couple of paragraphs explain the different parts of an air conditioner and where they are located. It is essential that the homeowner understands these things before trying to make any changes to their unit. Also, many air conditioning companies will clean your unit - or at least recommend someone professional who can. Also, it is important to note that all suggestions should be followed at the homeowners own risk and following manufactures instructions (that come in the owner's manual of the unit). Next according to howstuffworks.com they explain how to clean your evaporator. They suggest doing this about every year and checking the condensation pan in especially humid weather. The evaporator is located in the furnace or air-handler, this is also called the 'coil.'This should be cleaned very carefully, without bending or in any other way moving the pipes. The outside condenser should be cleared of any grass or leaves that may have decided to grow near it (this may prevent air flow). It is also important to check to see that the unit is still level by using (guess what?) a level. I wouldn't recommend doing any more of this yourself...DO NOT HOSE THE CONDENSER DOWN! bad, very bad things will happen. Sometimes (and I know this is difficult to tell some handy homeowners (my father included)) it is simply better (and cheaper) to have a professional do the 'dirty' work for you.

Tips from the ACEEE!

Source: http://aceee.org/consumerguide/cooling.htm The ACEEE or American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (Imagine embroidering that on your lapel...)provides a consumer guide to improving air conditioner efficiency, whether that's simply 'cool'-proofing your home, or starting with a brand new system they have suggestions for you. The part of their page that I am going to highlight with this post is the 3rd step or selecting a new system. They don't give calculations on what brand names are particularly better than others, but rather approach the issue as what types of things one should look for. The ACEEE looks at Air conditioners/heat pumps, evaporative coolers, room air conditioners and even duct-less mini-splits. (I only posted information about central ac/heat pumps here, but please check their website for more information.) Here's what they had to say about central air conditioning/heat pumps:

Central AC and Heat Pumps
Central air conditioners and air source heat pumps are both widely used in the U.S. and are the best option for maintaining comfort in areas that experience high humidity. Heat pumps are much more efficient than central air conditioners and can be used very effectively both for heating and cooling in southeastern states. Both central AC and air source heat pumps are rated according to seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). This is the cooling output divided by the power input for a hypothetical average U.S. climate. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the air conditioner. To get the best performance and highest efficiency possible from your new system, consider the following:

• ACEEE recommends SEER of at least 14.5 In all climates, ACEEE recommends consumers purchase new cooling equipment at the ENERGY STAR level. If you live in a very hot-humid climate, consider the advanced efficiency levels as defined by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). Your utility may offer incentives for equipment at these levels. Air conditioners and heat pumps meeting these performance criteria can be found by running a search in the ARI/CEE HVAC Directory.
• ACEEE recommends EER of at least 11.6 This ensures the unit is efficient throughout the year and when it is needed most (on the hottest days). If you live in a hot-dry climate, ACEEE recommends a high SEER (15) but a high EER is less important: 11.5 or 11.6 is adequate. Better yet, consider an evaporative cooler instead.

ACEEE reminds homeowners that with an upgrade, especially to a SEER of 14 or more, there are considerable energy savings that go with it. To fully calculate this number (you will need to know how much your electric company charges kilowatt per hour (or however your electricity is measured)). Energy price calculators can be found a couple different places: Energystar.gov has a calculator, many of the brand names (carrier, bryant, etc.) have calculators on their websites, and your electricity company may even have a calculator of their own (probably a more accurate count of your own electrical charges). Another important thing to remember is to make sure your indoor and outdoor units match - because if they don't the life of the 'younger' unit will be very short and the units will not be running at the appropriate SEER. This is important because if the condenser and the furnace don't match, you will not save money or energy and the units will not work like they are supposed to. The ACEEE has many other helpful homeowner tips, media links and other sources of information. Other sources for finding an air conditioner are posted on the website: http://www.consumersearch.com/www/house_and_home/air-conditioner-reviews/reviews.html

Under Floor AC

Source: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/ufad_tf.pdf "Alternative Air Conditioning Technologies: Underfloor Air Distribution (UFAD). in Technology Focus: A New Technical Publication According to the department of Energy last access 10/9/08. Is your mega-office building one of those ones that is either constantly growing icicles or sending no air whatsoever your direction? The little cubical - thank the Germans. They adopted that style of floor-planning and eventually it spread to the United States. However, with that new style of seating configurations, they also came up with a new and different way to do air conditioning and heating more conducive to individuals in an office setting. Due to "economic downturns" the United States didn't follow. The offices utilize air flow that comes from underneath a raised floor. This allows the heat from the electrical equipment (computers etc) to be better neutralized. It also allows for an individual worker to have more control over their cubical environment. While this isn't recommended for homes - for obvious reasons...it is a better idea for the heating and cooling of large shared spaces like office buildings. Check out the article though, it was very easy to read and interesting.

the Technical Stuff...

Source: Jaffe, Adam B., Newell, Richard G. and Stavins, Robert N.,Energy-Efficient Technologies and Climate Change Policies: Issues and Evidence(December 1999). Climate Issues Working Paper No. 19; KSG Working Paper. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=198829 or DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.10.2139/ssrn.198829 So with all this talk about governmental energy policies, and energy star(R) products and 'green'-ness and what not, everything has gotten a bit confusing. Now all biases aside, balancing the question of energy conservation and energy output will provide us all a better future...the balance however....now that's a problem. I wanted to get a better idea of what's going on with the energy situation and what I think would be best for the future so that I can factor that understanding into voting one way or another. So, at the present time, many of our energy organizations are public-private. Some examples are Energy Star, Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing. This means that there are private individuals actually 'owning' and operating the 'company' with government over site and regulation, sometimes funding dependant upon the way the partnership/organization was created. (By no means is this a comprehensive discussion, but an explanation in the most basic of terms). There are a couple of questions we can ask about energy efficiency: 1. can the market handle the extra expense in making energy efficient products - should it? 2. is energy efficiency a viable mechanism for change? and then 3. how do we best enact this legislation? governmental control? volunteerism? tax credits? the list goes on and on. The Jaffe paper brings up the idea of the "energy gap" this is the 'gap' between the highest technological energy efficient products available and those being used in households across the US. Because of this gap, opponents argue that there will be no environmental benefits and so the time and energy producing these products is wasted. The proponents argue that this is because of 'barriers' in the market (i would also add a lack of understanding or perhaps an attitudinal barrier especially with older generations)(p.6). Whichever you agree more with, it has to be concluded that it is some combination of the two. Subsequent pages discuss various variables that are also barriers or possible barriers to the market, such as price of production, availability etc. Then, the article discusses the ways that new technology ideas get 'diffused' into our daily life and the different factors there as well. On page 14 the possible solutions begin. These are all interesting. Basically it comes down to the government's policy and priorities on energy efficiency. Do they want to save money or provide clean energy this dichotomy determines the path of regulation. They also argue that there are market clues that can be taken into consideration to determine how best to add energy efficient products to the market so they will do best. It is perhaps not an answer to the questions above, but a manner in how one should go about answering them. It's a pretty good read.

R22 v. 410A

The Refrigerant in your central air conditioning unit is usually R-22 or Puron (410A). Due to the Montreal Protocol, R-22 is in the process of being phased out. Puron, is considerably more environmentally friendly, and air conditioning and other energy companies are coming up with more environmentally friendly ways to cool our cities every year. The EPA, has a lot of resources on their webpage and even animations to help explain what the problem is. One of the reasons we are switching to Puron is to help decrease the size of the holes in the Ozone. The Epa's animation below shows the probable improvements.

My Air Conditioner (Condenser) is UGLY!

Do you think that your home could use a little extra external decor? Do you think that ugly metal thing on the side of the house that the gardeners destroy could use some sprucing up? I mean it's an air condtioner...but IF you would like to make it 'more beautiful' here are some webpages to check out. The first comes from the online version of New York Design Magazine titled "Hide This Ugly Thing" http://nymag.com/homedesign/features/48311/ Here they feature creative ways to hide window air conditioning units - I didn't realize that it was such a problem, but I guess it looks pretty cool with the extras they've added. My favorite is the reminder to use fabric that is "meshlike" and "lets air through"...seriously? They have to remind you of that? However, central air conditioning companies have taken that idea like 12 steps further. If you want your gorgeous house to have a beautiful condenser (the outside unit of an air conditioning system) you can now have that arranged. York, even offers on their website a format where you can choose the color of the outside of your house and try different colors on your condenser to see which one looks the best. http://www.yorkupg.com/homeowners/index.asp They even offer college team covers! So, if you are in the market for a 'pretty' air conditioner...you NOW know where to look.

I Bet You Didn't Know...

Okay, I admit. I am partial to websites kid-related. Fun colors, not too wordy, generally with some kind of animation and easy to get to information. :) Forgiving me that, check out the department of energy's run down on the history (on top of that I'm a history buff? lol) from their kid's page - it has succinct information that I sure had no idea about. While all of the time lines of energy they offer are somewhat interesting, I thought the geothermal one was worth sharing. Why? Because geothermal energy can be a very efficient way to heat (or cool) a house and it never gets mentioned. Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/history/timelines/geothermal.html It's also interesting because California is 'all over' this thing, and I never would have thought. For example, the first commercial plant was opened in California in 1980. There are also other interesting facts (but some useless) like that they use geothermal energy to dry out onions (the kind that lazy people like me cook with). Weird? With energy in the gas sector getting ever more expensive, it is good to know that however undeveloped there are alternatives out there.

NEWS

What a time to be watching the news. There is much debate going on! Nation-wide, not just in California, so it was easy to miss the new energy plan on the table. Source: Flex Your Power's monthly email update. More information about Flex Your Power at www.fypower.com Policy California Approves Long-Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently adopted California’s first Long Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan, creating a single roadmap to achieve maximum energy savings across all major sectors in California from 2009 to 2020. The plan, which we first wrote about in draft form last year (e-Newswire, 10/03/07), is the state’s first integrated framework of goals and strategies for saving energy in government, the utilities and the private sector, making energy efficiency its highest priority in meeting California’s energy needs. The plan was developed by a consensus, stakeholder-driven process with over 500 participating individuals and organizations across the country through more than 40 public meetings and workshops. The plan emphasizes four so-called “Big Bold” strategies: All new residential construction in California will be zero net energy by 2020; All new commercial construction in California will be zero net energy by 2030; The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry will be reshaped to ensure optimal equipment performance; All eligible low-income homes will be energy efficient by 2020 In a statement, Commissioner John Bohn said, “Squeezing greater efficiency out of our current uses of electric power is our best and least costly source of additional supplies, allowing California to grow and prosper. These efforts have a very large payoff for all of us.” Read more from the CPUC: Full Plan (PDF, 1.3 MB), Press Release (PDF, 41 KB), FAQs (PDF, 92 KB) and One-Pager (PDF, 137 KB) Related: “ CPUC Releases Updated Energy Action Plan Focused on Climate Change” (e-Newswire, 3/5/08) Related: “ CPUC Proposal Would Require ‘Zero Net Energy’ Buildings, Urges Utilities to Develop Unified Statewide Efficiency Plan” (e-Newswire, 10/03/07) Read more about upgrading your home and upgrading your facility Posted by Stacey Meinzen on 10/01/08. Email story Filed under: Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Agricultural, Policy

It's October...Apparently no one told the weather...

It's fall...officially, and now October - the time of pumpkins, leaves and horns of plenty. In California, also time for a bathing suit? We are experiencing a wave of heat before the weather turns fall like, and while we are a good 20 degrees over normal we're not shattering any records. According to the weather page on USA TODAY.com Covina's high for today is 98 degrees, with a humidity of 20%. According to the heat index that 20% humidity puts us in the "extreme caution" (yellow) category. While this may not seem like anything to get too alarmed about, the temperature does have a huge impact on older people, young children and animals. Like, it might not be the smartest idea one has ever had to take their dog out walking with them to pick up their child from school. In this heat, the dog and the child aren't going to do well. Just something to keep in mind...

Trouble with your Programmable Thermostat?

Many of us have trouble setting that thermostat, or getting it to do what we want. This you tube video does a pretty good job of explaining what the various buttons and switches do on your basic thermostat. If you need help programming your thermostat, it is always a good idea to read the manual or even to ask the company that installed your air!

Consumer Report's Take on AC

So, I get bored pretty easily and so, while browsing the web - when things move - it makes me happy. This is a flash-animated site with tips to save energy and money on cooling bills. Nothing I haven't said before, BUT there is an animation with little blue, green and red arrows that blink. Pretty cool if you ask me. They break up their cooling tips into three sections: 1. Work with the weather 2. Keep up maintenance and 3. Keep the heat down. All very good suggestions! Things to keep in mind when you're firing up your unit, especially if you want to make it last.