Time to Replace AC?

It's always difficult to know when it's time to repair your air conditioning, or just replace it. Here are some helpful tips that might help in the decision making process.

Sources: "When Is It Time To Replace" Energy Star http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_checklist_consumers

"Determining If You Should Replace or Repair Your Air Conditioner" Air Conditioning Helper http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_checklist_consumers

TIPS:

Please note: all suggestions are made in a specifically general sense and are not meant to be understood as prescriptions. Please contact us (www.sinclairair.com) to provide information about your specific situation for advice regarding your personal air conditioning system and whether repairs or replacement would be best for you.

Age Matters

If your unit is 5 or under, we usually recommend repairs. If your unit is 7 years or older we recommend replacing. Energy Star recommends that you replace your unit if it is older than 10 years old.

Why?

• Well, age matters for a couple different reasons. When your unit becomes older, it becomes less efficient. Just like the longer you drive your car, the more frequent service calls become. Older units just need to be used more carefully than a brand new unit. Maintenance is also very important for older units. While a newer unit may be able to 'get away' with running a dirty filter, that same dirty filter may cause the older unit to break down. PLEASE NOTE: It is VERY important (READ: VERY IMPORTANT) to change/clean your filters regularly (no less than every 3 months and more in the summer/winter depending on use).
• Age also affects the technology of the unit. If a newer, more efficient, environmentally friendly refrigerant is running in the newer units, it's a good idea to upgrade. This lessens your carbon footprint AS well as saving you money on your energy bills.

Repair Bills Piling Up

It is important to keep your unit properly maintained. That means keeping it clean, keeping dirt/plants/etc. debris away from the outdoor unit and having a contractor come out once a year to check it. However, if you are having frequent "break downs" or periods where your air system is not working, it's time to consider replacing the unit.

Let's say a repair bill is going to cost $500 - a whole new unit (change out with existing duct work etc.) can run a couple thousand dollars. At $500, you're almost already there, and there isn't any assurances that after you replace that certain part that something else won't break.

Humidity/Dust Problems

If your home is not getting cool enough, or there is a dust problem, this could be related to the age of your air conditioning unit.

A large part of the air conditioner's job is to remove moisture from the air. Humidity is what makes you feel warm, if the humidity level in your home is controlled, you will feel more comfortable. If you have noticed lately that you have to keep pumping the air conditioner to a lower temperature and you're still not feeling comfortable, it's probably time for a new unit.

Dust is also a problem indicating that your ducts may need to be resealed or replaced. If you have particles from the attic or crawl space, your unit is not running at top efficiency. If particles are being drawn in, that means cooled air is leaking into the attic (or non-livable spaces in your house) - that's basically like paying to cool the outside.

Your Heating System is Noisy

If your unit makes banging sounds or the air is loud, there could be a problem with the indoor unit, or the duct work. Either way, technology in air conditioning has come to the point where the 'hum' of the units should be softer than conversation. This is meant to help keep your home comfortable and also prevent the disturbance of the neighbors every time your unit kicks on. So, if your unit is louder than conversation, it is time to consider replacing it.

If your home is experiencing any of the above 'symptoms' it is at the very least a good idea to start looking into replacement options. There is a considerable amount of terminology involved with the purchase of an air system and it's good to know what the contractor is trying to sell you. If you don't understand something ASK questions! Think about your decision, don't rush into this investment.

Tax Credit FAQ

Source: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index http://www.ahrinet.org/Content/FederalTaxCredits_896.aspx

While the 2009-2010 Tax Credit ($1,500) is pretty appetizing, it can be confusing wading through all of the qualification steps. So at Sinclair Air, we thought that we would post some answers to commonly asked questions to help alleviate some stress.

What units qualify?

• Qualified furnaces have an AFUE (or air fuel utilization efficiency) of 95%. AFUE is expressed as a percentage because it shows how much of the energy used to heat the unit is actually expressed as heat and what the exhaust is. So with a 95% furnace, 95% of the energy is expressed as heat for your home. Only 5% is exhaust. The qualified units also have fans that use no more than 2% of the total energy. The SEER for air conditioners (Seasonal energy efficiency ratio) is at 16 or above.
• All of the manufacturers re-examined their units in July, so make sure that your unit qualifies before signing your contract.

Do both my air conditioning unit and furnace need to qualify?

• No. Only one unit may qualify. Or Both units. If it is only one though, your contract needs to be split reflecting the costs of each unit. Because the cost of only the qualifying unit will be applied in the tax credit.

Is the cost of installation included?

• For air conditioning and heating, our portion of the tax credit does include installation costs.

How can I collect the tax credit?

• Tax payers need to fill out IRS form 5695 (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf). For your records, it is also a great idea to keep a copy of your contract, and the manufacturer's certificate for the equipment (to prove that the units do in fact qualify).

How long is the tax credit applicable?

• The tax credit is available until December 31, 2010. If units are placed into service between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010, the tax credit is available.

How does a tax credit work?

• The tax credit is applied not to your income, but to the total at the end. So if you come out owing $100 (FOR EXAMPLE, HYPOTHETICALLY) the tax credit would bring that balance to 0.
• The tax credit is still available to anyone who upgraded energy appliances in 2007.
• The tax credit can be banked. So, for example, say in 2009 you upgrade your windows and in 2010 you upgrade your air conditioning. Both of these upgrades would qualify assuming that you had not met the $1,500 cap.
I hope that this has answered some of your questions. If you have more specific questions about qualifying units or other information, please email me at amandaatsinclairairdotcom, or visit our website: www.sinclairair.com.

Air Conditioning!

Air Conditioning is one of the summer staples. However, to stay comfortable, it's fairly easy to spend money. Help to avoid the pinching of your wallet by employing some easy tips to make your home more energy efficient. Source: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/air_conditioners.html "Energy Savers Tips: Air Conditioning." Last Access 7/29/09.

Air Conditioners Buying a bigger room air-conditioning unit won't necessarily make you feel more comfortable during the hot summer months. In fact, a room air conditioner that's too big for the area it is supposed to cool will perform less efficiently and less effectively than a smaller, properly sized unit. Sizing is equally important for central air-conditioning systems, which need to be sized by professionals. If you have a central air system in your home, set the fan to shut off at the same time as the cooling unit (compressor). In other words, don't use the system's central fan to provide circulation, but instead use circulating fans in individual rooms. Cooling Tips

Whole house fans have experts on the fence a bit. While it is a good idea to pull cool air from the outside into the home, it is not a good idea while the air conditioner is on (because that would draw warmer air and cause the unit to run less efficiently.) S0 while it may be a good idea for some houses and some climates, it's a bit much for Southern California and it's quite loud.
• Whole-house fans help cool your home by pulling cool air through the house and exhausting warm air through the attic.
• Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
• Avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense.
• Consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing your power use.
• Avoid placing lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
• Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units but not to block the airflow. Place your room air conditioner on the north side of the house. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.

(red comments added by Sinclair Air) Long-Term Savings Tips If your air conditioner is old, consider purchasing a new, energy-efficient model. You could save up to 50% on your utility bill for cooling. Look for the ENERGY STAR and Energy Guide labels. The shopping guide in the back of this booklet will help you find the right size unit for your needs. Consider installing a whole-house fan or evaporate cooler if appropriate for your climate. Check out www.energysavers.gov for more information on efficient cooling.

Hopefully these tips will help you SAVE on your energy bills!

Keep Your Attic Cool

One of the easiest ways for your home to get really hot is to let air from the outside get into your home. Why would you let hot, summer air into your nice, cool, air conditioned home? Well it's not always on purpose...or things that you would automatically think of. Things to be aware of: * If you keep your garage door open - you are letting your home get hotter than it needs to be. Most garages, especially those built a while ago are not properly "sealed." Depending on the age, some of them might not even be insulated. This is a problem, because of course it's going to be very hot in the garage and once you let that heat in, it's adding to the heat inside your home - making your house harder to cool off. * Your attic can be very hot. That hot air can make your home considerably warmer. How can we solve this? One way is to make sure that there is air moving through the attic. (If air is stagnant it in effect bakes and becomes hotter, if air is moving it doesn't get AS hot - it's still important to have insulation though.) Source: http://www.askthebuilder.com/B236_Ventilation_-_Keeping_Home_Attic_Cool_Naturally.shtml

"If you air condition your home, the last thing you want is air conditioned air finding its way into your attic and out the vents! This is why powered attic ventilation can be harmful to your pocketbook."

Your unit has to work much harder to cool a home that has been baking in the sun all day. It is much easier to keep your home cool if it stays that way. The longer your unit is on, the more money it is going to cost on your energy bills. If you can keep the air on for shorter periods of time, you will save money. Better yet, if you can use the programmable thermostat, you can save up to $180 a year.

Summer Savings!

Source: Department of Energy Summer Tips 2009: http://www.energy.gov/news/1652.htm Last access 7/27/09. There are many different ways for you to keep your home cool and comfortable this summer without breaking the bank. The Energy Tips provided by the Department of Energy are broken up into several categories to help homeowners find what is right for them. They provide low cost tips, weatherization tips and general shade tips to name a few content areas. Below are a couple of their tips-

Keep Your Cool and Save Money Too: Summer Energy-Saving Tips from the Department of Energy Save 10 to 50 Percent on Utility Bills This Summer While Staying Cool WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Save money and keep your cool this summer by saving energy. As part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) continuing outreach and education efforts, here are some easy, energy saving tips that are also available in a free guide for consumers. By following a few easy, common sense guidelines, properly maintaining or upgrading your air conditioner, adding insulation and taking other easy energy-saving measures, you can cut your energy bills by 10 to 50 percent. “Almost 45 percent of a homeowner’s utility bill goes for heating and cooling,” said Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman. “By taking a few simple steps, American families can make their homes more energy efficient and can save a significant amount of money, too.” Your individual savings will depend on how energy-efficient your home is now, the type of home you have, and the area of the country where you live. Use Air Conditioning and Fans Wisely * Open windows and use portable or ceiling fans instead of operating your air conditioner. * Use a fan with your window air conditioner to spread the cool air through your home. * Use a programmable thermostat with your air conditioner to adjust the setting warmer at night or when no one is home. * Don't place lamps or TVs near your air conditioning thermostat. The heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer. * Look for the ENERGY STAR® label. If your air conditioner is old, the new energy efficient models can save you up to 50 percent on your cooling bills. * Consider installing a whole house fan or evaporative cooler if appropriate for your climate.

See all the tips for saving and staying cool on their website. Their low-cost tips allow for shade trees and weatherizing windows. All of these things can help homeowners to save money and stay comfortable.

20 Summer Tips

20 Summer Tips comes via the Tallahassee (FL) Utilities Services. Find their website at: http://www.floridapsc.com/publications/electricgas/20summer.aspx

1. Close shades, drapes and blinds during the day (all directions). 2. Wear light weight clothing (short sleeves, shorts, cotton). 3. Set the air conditioning thermostat at 78 degrees or higher. Raise it a few degrees higher when away in the day. A lower air conditioning temperature makes your costs much higher. Setting your air conditioner at 70 degrees instead of 78 can almost double your operating cost! 4. Don’t choose a lower air conditioning temperature when you first turn it on. It won’t cool faster –- whenever it’s running it’s cooling as fast as it can. Set low, it cools longer, not faster. 5. When weather is mild, use fans instead of the air conditioner. Your central air conditioner will use about 100 times more energy than a fan at medium speed. 6. If you have ceiling fans, run the fans and the air conditioner at the same time but set the air conditioner a few degrees higher, to 80 or 81 degrees. With the breeze from a fan, you should feel as cool as you would at 78 degrees with no fans – but you’ll reduce your costs by about 15%-25%. However, don't wait until the peak of the day's heat to turn ON your air conditioner - it isn't going to cool how you would like it to. It is much easier to keep a home cool than to cool down a home if it's been baking all day. 7. Use a microwave instead of the range/oven. The microwave doesn’t heat the kitchen. 8. Keep windows and doors closed while air conditioning. Isn't this a given? Unless you want to pay to cool the outside, keep your doors/windows closed. 9. Change the air conditioner’s air filter monthly during heavy use. When it’s clogged, air flow is restricted -- cooling costs rise, and your system may eventually suffer a compressor failure with a $1,000+ repair bill! This is one of our most common repair calls!! Please CHECK your filter before paying for a service call. Of course, if you think about it - if the filter is so full that it prevents air flow - your home isn't going to get any air cool or not. It's really easy to keep filters clean, and an expensive problem if you don't. 10. Arrange items in your refrigerator for quick removal and return. Your refrigerator cools the food but heats the kitchen! The longer the door is open, the longer it runs, heating the kitchen and raising your air conditioning costs. 11. Vent the clothes dryer to the out-of-doors. Otherwise it pours heat and moisture into the house air. Humidity is what makes the home feel warm - (part of the air conditioner's job is to take moisture out of cooled air to help you feel more comfortable). So don't add excess moisture - the same goes for taking hot showers while the air is running. It adds water into the air and your home will feel warmer. 12. Clean the dryer lint filter frequently and check the outdoor vent opening. When lint slows the airflow, the dryer runs longer. When the vent is clogged, the clothes get a long hot damp costly tumbling. 13. Drink plenty of cool liquids. Avoid caffeine or alcohol. Eat lightly. Cook outdoors. 14. Plant shade trees. Outside shade can reduce air conditioning costs 30%. Shade on the east and west is most important. 15. Seal air leaks around doors and windows. Use caulk and weatherstripping. 16. With central AC or heat pump, keep all air conditioning supply registers open, don’t close off rooms or registers. That doesn’t save money, and it may lead to costly problems. 17. Check for air duct leaks. Duct leaks in the attic or under the house cost you money. There are companies that can come out and do this. If you notice that you get good air flow to all rooms but one, you might want to check to see if that duct is still connected. It's a good idea to get the ducts checked after you've had your roof done, or other cases when non-ac contractors have been crawling around your attic (exterminators...cable guys...etc.). things can get pulled out and this can prevent air flow. If your ducts are leaking too much, it's probably a good idea to replace them. It doesn't make sense to cool your attic. 18. Run the AC thermostat set on “AUTO”, never on FAN. The fan is part of the unit that keeps air moving. However, it doesn't actually cool or draw any moisture for the air. So, in circulating air, the temperature isn't changing and you're using a considerable amount of energy. If you want to feel like air is still moving, the best solution is to use a small, portable fan. 19. Keep up the habit of turning off lights as you leave a room, especially in summer. Lights add a lot of heat to the room. 99% of a light’s energy use is converted to heat, 1% to light. Use only as much light as you need. 20. Call the City’s Energy Services office and schedule a free home energy audit. Your energy auditor will have seen all of the 105 situations described in this book, and more. Let us bring that experience to your residence and put it to use. There are also companies in California that do energy audits. They can be found on the energystar.gov website and range in price and services. This can be a good idea, but it can be pretty pricey, so I would suggest only doing so if you're really having energy problems.

The red color and bold added by Sinclair Air to provide more specific tips. Stay cool this summer AND save energy!

SEER

What is SEER?

Definitions of SEER:

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is the measure of efficiency by which the cooling process of air conditioners and heat pumps is rated. The higher the SEER number, the greater the efficiency—and therefore greater energy savings. Today, U.S. regulatory agencies require all new products to have a 13.0 SEER rating or better.

Source: http://www.residential.carrier.com/knowledge/efficiency/ratings.shtml

When buying an air conditioner, look for a model with a high efficiency. Central air conditioners are rated according to their seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). SEER indicates the relative amount of energy needed to provide a specific cooling output. Many older systems have SEER ratings of 6 or less. The minimum SEER allowed today is 13. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label for central air conditioners with SEER ratings of 13 or greater, but consider using air conditioning equipment with higher SEER ratings for greater savings.

http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12440?print

in english

Seer is how they rate air conditioners - kind of like how light bulbs have numbers. The rating reflects how good the air conditioner is at using energy. The air units with lower seers use MORE energy (so it's a converse relationship - they're opposite. As the number goes UP energy use goes DOWN - as the number goes DOWN the unit uses MORE energy). So. If you are looking to upgrade, remember to look for a higher seer. The lowest you should look into is 13, but for the tax credit the seer needs to be above 16.

No AC this weekend?

If you check weather reports, this weekend - it's going to be SWELTERING!~ If you don't have air conditioning, the best places to be are those places with air conditioning, or outside next to some body of water, or a park with lots of shade-trees. This weekend is the Homestead Museum in Industry's "Ticket to the Twenties" it's a festival all about 1920s jazz and enjoying some 'good 'ol fashioned fun.' http://www.homesteadmuseum.org/events/index.htm

Ticket to the Twenties Saturday & Sunday, July 18 & 19 4 to 8 p.m. both days Free—but bring spending money for food and shopping. 1920s dress is encouraged & Prohibition will be strictly enforced! Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets, but please leave little Fido at home (only certified service animals are permitted at the festival). Dig out your glad rags and join us for a weekend of great fun! Celebrate the Roaring Twenties as you enjoy music, dance demonstrations and lessons by the One2Swing Jitterbugs, crafts, vintage automobiles, historic house tours, and tasty food during BOTH days of the festival, and note some of the special performers and activities that differ from day-to-day below! Click here for a copy of the festival flyer. Saturday, July 18 • Dean Mora and His New California Poppies • Janet Klein and her Parlor Boys • Silent film screenings with live musical accompaniment by Michael Mortilla • Ukulele lessons and demonstrations with Susan and Karl McCormick Sunday, July 19 • Ian Whitcomb and His Dance Band • Night Blooming Jazzmen • Fashion shows and a costume contest presented by the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles • Radio plays performed by the 14th Street Players This festival is generously cosponsored by the Industry Manufacturers Council.

If you've never been - it's a HOOT! There's classic cars, silent movies (in air conditioning) and live bands and dancing. It's a great afternoon for children and adults of all ages. But, seriously...if you don't have air conditioning...you should probably look into pricing, because it's not too bad.

10 Tips to Cut Electricity Use

Source: http://www.themoneytimes.com/featured/20090716/10-tips-cutting-electricity-costs-id-1076603.html last access 7/16/09. There are many different ways to lower your energy bills and with the heat of the summer coming on strong, why not look into a couple. It pays to stay comfortable.

1. Conduct an Energy Audit - Their first recommendation is to see how much energy you're using and where the areas are that you could be saving money. There are many different ways to do this (online programs, do-it-yourself checklists...etc.) The first step is to find out where you are.
2. Invest in Florescent Lights - they suggest these because they are much more efficient than even cfls and there are a bunch of different rebates for installing them (see Edison www.sce.com) Plus, there aren't too many of the lingering side effects for fluorescent lights that there used to be - flickering...etc. So it provides nice lighting on a budget. This is especially a good consideration if it is a home office or showroom.
3. Switch off or unplug electric devices - Using a power strip can be especially helpful. Also, there are a couple of different settings on computers and Tv's to use the lower energy settings especially when in "sleep" mode. Read your manual for instructions on how to program these settings.
4. Purchase Energy Efficient Appliances - If you have older appliances they are using way too much energy. That means that if you can afford to replace big ticket appliances like your fridge or your heating and air, you are going to save a substantial amount on your energy bills.
5. Program your Thermostat - I cannot stress this one enough. If you have a programmable thermostat and you aren't using it like a programmable thermostat YOU AREN'T SAVING ANY MONEY. If you can turn on the air while it's still cool, your unit won't have to work as hard to cool down a really hot house. This saves you money and keeps your unit running efficiently.
6. Regulate Your Water Heater - with newer water heaters you can program them just like your air conditioning. This means that you can turn down the water temperature when you're away - even if it's for the majority of the day.
7. Add Insulation - I can't also stress this one enough - If your house isn't insulated there is no point in cooling it. Scientifically heat transfers from hot to cool, so if it's hotter outside and there is nothing preventing the transfer, it's going to get hot in your house. Insulation prevents the air from escaping and keeps the cold air in. Insulation in the attic also keeps the whole House cooler.
8. Use the Washing Machine and Dishwasher Wisely - if you are running the washing machine and dish washer without full loads you are wasting energy and water. Heating the water also adds a considerable chunk to your energy bill.
9. Save on cooking - use the method of cooking that's shorter...
10. Plant trees - shading your house keeps it cooler and then that leaves you free to turn the thermostat up which saves on your air conditioning bills.

Hope these tips help to keep you cool and within your budget this summer.

Looking for New AC?

If you're in the market to replace your air conditioning, here are some things that you should take into account.

1. Most appliances now are efficiency rated. This includes air conditioners and furnaces. The government standard for air conditioning is a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is 13. However, units are available up to 21. The higher the seer rating the less energy the unit uses (and the less money you spend on energy bills). The tax credit for homeowners gives units installed with a seer of 16 eligibility.
   Furnaces are also efficiency rated, although a little differently. They are rated using AFUE or (Air Fuel Utilization Efficiency). AFUE is a percentage representing how much of the energy is output as heat and how much is exhaust (or waste). The higher the AFUE the less waste (and therefore more efficient and cost-effective to run). Currently, the minimum is 80% but furnaces can go up to 95%. A 95% furnace qualifies for the tax credit.
2. Air quality may be a concern nowadays, so if it concerns you, be sure to ask about the different options that can attach to heating units to clean the air or trap particles.
3. Units are getting smaller and smaller - so don't worry if you don't have room for a huge unit, and there are also options if you don't have any room for ductwork.
4. The Tax credit applies to homeowners that install newer, energy efficient appliances. The tax credit takes 30% of the cost of installing new heating and air up to $1,500 for qualified units. Qualified units are Air conditioners that are at/above 16 Seer and furnaces at/above 95% AFUE. The tax credit can apply to only one or both units. Your dealer should provide you with satisfactory documentation upon installation.
5. Choose a reputable contractor and make sure you get a bid in writing. Search the blog for other tips on how to choose a contractor.

I hope this takes some of the confusion out of it. We also have an excellent FAQ page on our website as well as terms that HVAC technicians use. It's our job to educate our customers, so for more information please visit http://www.sinclairair.com/Information.html We can also provide you a quote right over the web!

Attic Heat

When it's this hot outside - the first place heat is getting trapped is your attic. Once it's in the attic, it's very easy to get into your home. So even if you're running your AC, it still may not be as cool as you would like it to be.

Hot air gets trapped in your attic, especially if there isn't a mechanism to move the air around (like an attic fan). The trapped air keeps getting warmer and warmer, and then scientifically heat transfers from warmer to cooler. So if the house is being cooled, the hot air from the attic is going to move to livable space. This is a very common problem, and there are some quick and easy fixes. Upgrades to consider:

1. Buy a reflective coating for your roof. (usually this is marketed for mobile homes, but it does help any roof). Make sure that you follow the instructions on the can and only use where directed by the instructions.
2. Another option is installing a radient barrier inside your attic. This is especially important for homes with a higher pitched roof. Sold at hardware or other improvement stores the barrier is a type of silver 'blanket' (for lack of a better word) that gets stapled to the inside of the roof (on the attic side) to prevent heat from entering. It's similar to those reflective cardboard thingies used in car windows to prevent the stearing wheel from getting too hot. Same Idea. Keep the heat out, and you'll have to cool it less.
3. More on the expensive side is adding a fan. There are several different types. The main two are an attic fan and a whole house fan. An attic fan is a small fan that moves air from the attic and increases circulation. This prevents the "baking" of air and cools the space which then helps the home stay cool. The whole house fan (is exactly how it sounds) which circulates air throughout the whole house, but can be loud and distracting.

If these upgrades seem like too much, you may want to consider adding more insulation to walls and especially in the attic. The less air that leaks, the cooler the air processed by your air conditioner can get. Things to think about...

Low Cost, No Cost Tips

This weekend was just a taste of the warm weather, but let's not start getting too worried about our high energy bills - there are easy (& FREE) things you can do to lower your bills.

Source: http://www.energyhog.org/adult/checklist.htm Last access 7/13/09. (Please note: energyhog.org is primarily a web resource for students and teachers to teach about energy use and reduce it's use. Our schools spend more on energy bills than on books and computers combined, so schools are now trying to cut back and save energy to save some of that badly needed cash. If you have a child, this site has fun games etc. for them to enjoy as well.)

NO-COST WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY & MONEY * Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers, etc. * Check the furnace or air conditioner (AC) filter each month, and clean or replace it as needed. Dirty filters block air flow through your heating and cooling systems, increasing your energy bill and shortening the equipment’s life. * During hot months, keep window coverings closed on the south, east, and west windows. In winter, let the sun in. * Glass fireplace doors help stop heat from being lost up the chimney. Also, close the fireplace damper when not in use. * Activate "sleep" features on computers and office equipment that power down when not in use for a while. Turn off equipment during longer periods of non-use to cut energy costs and improve longevity. * When cooking, keep the lids on pots. Better yet, use a microwave oven instead. * Dress appropriately for the weather, and set your thermostat to the lowest possible comfortable setting. On winter nights, put an extra blanket on the bed and turn down your thermostat more. * In summer, use fans whenever possible instead of AC, and ventilate at night this way when practical. Using fans to supplement AC allows you to raise the thermostat temperature, using less energy. Fans cost less to use than AC. * About 15 percent of an average home energy bill goes to heating water. To save hot water, take five-minute showers instead of baths. Do only full loads when using the clothes washer or dishwasher. * Switch to cold water washing of laundry in top loading in top-loading, energy-inefficient washing machines to save energy and up to $63 a year–detergents formulated for cold water get clothes just as clean. * Lower the temperature on your water heater. It should be set at "warm," so that a thermometer held under running water reads no more than 130 degrees. * Only heat or cool the rooms you need–close vents and doors of unused rooms. LOW-COST WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY & MONEY * Install low-flow showerheads and sink aerators to reduce hot water use. * Seal and weatherstrip your windows and doors to ensure that you're not wasting energy on heat or air conditioning that escapes through leaks to the outdoors. * A water tank insulation wrap costs about $20 and helps hold the heat inside. Add pre-cut pipe insulation to exposed pipes going into your water heater–it is cheap and easy to install. If you’re starting with an uninsulated tank, the energy savings should pay for the improvements in just a few months. * Duct tape works well on lots of things, but it often fails when used on ductwork! Use mastic (a gooey substance applied with a paintbrush) to seal all exposed ductwork joints in areas such as the attic, crawlspace, or basement. Insulate ducts to improve your heating system’s efficiency and your own comfort. * Storm windows can reduce heat lost by single-paned windows by 25–50 percent during the winter. As an alternative, you can improve your windows temporarily with plastic sheeting installed on the inside. * When buying new products, look for the ENERGY STAR® label, found on more than 40 different products such as TVs, furnaces, cell phones, refrigerators, air conditioners and more. * Incandescent light bulbs are outdated; 95 percent of the energy used goes to heating the bulb, adding unwanted heat to your home in the summer. Replace your five most used light bulbs with ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent bulbs to save $60 each year in energy costs. These light bulbs use two-thirds less energy and last up to 10 times longer. Use dimmers, timers, and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting. * Consider safer, more efficient ENERGY STAR torchiere lamps rather than halogen torchieres, which can cause fires. Halogen bulbs are expensive to use.

They continue to provide a more extensive list that will help homeowners to weatherize and replace key energy guzzlers (like poorly insulated windows that hit direct sunlight). If you are seriously interested in saving money and energy, I would definatley check out their more in-depth suggestions. On the very bottom of the page they also have a "mythbusters" section which was pretty interesting. So enjoy your AC without worrying about those end of summer bills.

Hot Enough For Ya?

Let me say it now: Enjoy the temperature for the rest of the day. Why? Brace yourselves. Because this weekend it's only going to get hotter!

Source: http://www.usairnet.com/weather/forecast/local/?pands=91723&Submit=Go&daysonly=2&maxdays=7 Last access 7/10/09 - I plugged in the address of the shop to see what the bad news was.
So, bear with me as I offer some suggestions:

1. Crank up the AC (it hurts less when it's efficient/new and kind to the wallet) and stay INDOORS! If you have a room AC close off the one room so that the one space gets as cool as it possibly can (when I was little we thumb tacked a bed sheet to the door jamb and that did the trick).
2. If you don't have AC, or it's not working correctly - find cooler ground. That means venture towards the coast in hopes of catching a breeze.
3. Use fans - there are some interesting techniques of how to use ice water, an aquarium pump and some tubing to make your own air conditioner - so if you're crafty you might give it a go. If not - BE CAREFUL and please remember that water & electricity aren't friendly together. http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-air-conditioner/
4. Don't make the house hot - if that means BBQ, so be it. Avoid using the stove, the oven, the dryer, the hairdryer, the dishwasher...you know ANYTHING that uses hot water. It will just add to the indoor condensation of the house and you will feel more humidity - and therefore more HOT!
5. Use cold water where necessary. (lol) Studies have shown that if you run cold water over your pulse points it can make you feel cooler.

Those are the basics - enjoy your perfect summer weekend. Enjoy the heat, or staying out of it depending on your disposition. Best of Luck. Oh, and if you are planning on calling for an air conditioning service call don't wait until the last minute...We are busy this time of year, and want to get out to you before you're all melted on the couch.

Use the Summer Heat for Cool

Okay, so believe it or not, there are some things that you can do to lower your energy bills during the summer, but also stay cool.

Source: http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/06/26/15225152/index.xml Here are some great tips from the daily-chronicle.com:

2. Air-dry your laundry Home appliances are a major factor in the energy consumption of homes, but summer weather gives you an opportunity to use them less. After you finish washing a load of laundry, take it outside instead of dropping it in the dryer. Hot summer air can dry your clothes just as well as an electric appliance. 3. Grill out It’ll be hard not to turn up the air conditioning if you cook on the stove during the summer. Luckily, summer is grilling season and you can avoid filling your house with excess heat. Grill outside and enjoy the day as the heat morphs into a mild evening. 4. Upgrade and weatherproof If you don’t feel like you’re getting the most out of your air conditioning, it might be time to make some investments in your home. Some modifications are as simple as changing your AC unit’s air filters. A slightly more expensive but worthwhile investment is to weather strip your home so that cold air (and heat in the winter) is not escaping through the cracks. 6. Make use of fans A ceiling fan will cool the room by circulating air, but it will use considerably less energy than air conditioning. A whole-house fan is a worthwhile investment that uses a fraction of the energy used by a central air conditioner. 7. Properly shade your home Sunlight will warm your home and make your air conditioning work harder. But awnings, blinds and reflective films on windows will reduce the effect of the sun on indoor temperature. If you have an AC wall unit, it will run better if it’s shaded.

((please note, the numbers aren't in sequential order (some are missing) because the complete list of 10 is featured on their website. If you would like to see the entire list, please visit them directly. I have just pulled out the HVAC/energy-related tips.))

Decrease Your Energy Use

Today's tips come courtesy of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

source: http://www.mma.org/public-works-energy-a-utilities/3856-tips-to-decrease-energy-use-in-summer-months Last access 7/8/09. This summer is going to be HOT! Hotter than normal, in fact, so your air conditioner is going to be feeling the strain of constant use. How can you avoid a breakdown in the middle of summer?

1. Clean your filters!

I cannot stress this one enough. In the summer, you should be looking at your filter about once a month. If your filter is dirty - it can shut down your unit completely. Dirt and dust accumulation block air flow and make the unit strain to work. If the unit strains too much (picture someone skinny trying to lift a car) it will eventually break. Before calling for summer time service, make sure your filter has been cleaned.

Raise your thermostat temperature to 78 degrees and use a programmable thermostat if possible!

If you raise your thermostat by only a couple of degrees *(health permitting) you can save large percentages off your bill. If you utilize a programmable thermostat, you don't even need to be home to control your savings. If you work during the day, your home should be warmer than when you're home, but it's still a good idea to keep the AC running. Why? Because it's much easier to keep a home cool than it is to cool down a home that has been baking in the sun all day.

Tips from MMA:

Efficient air conditioning will make an impact on municipal electricity costs. The most common causes of degraded air conditioning performance are dirty filters and fans, improper belt alignment and adjustment, air leaks in equipment cabinets and ducts, improper air damper operation, dirty condensers and evaporator coils, and improper refrigerant charge, according to a report prepared for the Department of Energy.
Some other common-sense savings measures include using window blinds, keeping doors and windows closed when the air conditioning is on, and adjusting the thermostat after hours.

Thermostats Upgrading thermostats to programmable models is a smart investment for the summer months. A programmable thermostat may cost $50 to $200 initially, but the investment will typically pay for itself within the first year by decreasing energy bills. The pre-setting capability ensures control over building temperature and improved comfort for workers. Office equipment When purchasing office equipment, cities and towns should look for energy-efficient options from Energy Star, which may offer tax breaks as well as electricity savings. Energy Star copiers, for example, can use 40 percent less electricity than standard models. For fax machines, look for models with the lowest available power level in “sleep” mode, because most fax machines are in standby mode most of the time. Municipalities can also realize savings by using their current equipment wisely. All office equipment should be shut off at night and on weekends, when not in use. Even for PCs with a low-power sleep mode, shutting them down at night will save energy and possibly extend the life of the computer. Computer monitors typically consume about two-thirds of the total energy used by a computer, so shutting off the monitor is a good idea when leaving a computer, even for a short time. Screensavers should be avoided, as they require a lot more electricity. (Modern displays have largely eliminated the burn-in problem that screensavers were designed to resolve.)

Saving energy saves money, so take a look at these simple home changes and start saving on your monthly bills.

"Changing Habits"

As energy efficiency becomes more and more of an issue, some of us are concerned that we don't have the financial capital to keep up with all the new technology. What can we do instead? Change some of our habits - like using less water (less water used is less energy to heat it).

Source: http://www.fypower.org/res/changing-habits.html Flex Your Power "Changing Habits" Last access 7/7/09. What kind of habits do they recommend you changing? Well, the largest user of household energy is usually the heating and air conditioning. If you can begin to conserve money on your heating and cooling bills, you can drastically cut your monthly bill, so, that's where the changing habits starts. If you have an efficient system that cools your home effectivley, you should be able to turn the thermostat up a couple of degrees and still be more than comfortable!

---

However (minor disclaimer:) If your home is NOT staying cool with the unit you have now, here are some things to consider.

• Adding more insulation. Especially if your home is older, it probably doesn't have enough insulation to keep out the heat so it is going to take considerably longer to cool your home, and it is going to be much harder to keep it cool. The air is just leaking right back out. Scientifically air moves from hot to cooler, so it's going to move from the outside in, unless you have everything sealed up.
• Draw the drapes and use other shading techniques (outside shades, double paned windows...etc) to keep heat out. It's easier to keep a home cool than it is to cool it down once it is hot.
• Finally, consider an upgrade to a more efficient unit. (but if you haven't done the repairs above, you aren't going to be saving too much money).

---

Then they go on to explain how to conserve energy in your use of appliances and even water. You wouldn't think that behavior could make too much of a difference, but it does. The more you can cut back, the less energy you use, and the lower your monthly energy bill is. For example, washing the majority of your laundry in cold water instead of hot can save you the 90% of energy used to heat the water. Good luck in changing your behaviors!

Monitor Your Energy Use

Microsoft Hohm - a computerized tool to measure and record your home's energy use - has gone live this week.

To see the site for yourself, please visit: http://www.microsoft-hohm.com/?m_sba=niagemania111 So when you first open the page it has a couple different options. Because I was interested in creating my own account - I clicked on the "sign up" and was brought to my start up page. On the front page of your account (my account) they give you lots of different options. First, they ask if you want to complete your home profile. 2. They let you see the cost breakdown in your area. 3. they show you the annual average energy costs in your area. In my area it was $1,785 - that's like second highest! We need to step up our conservation. 4. Then they provide a section outlining the "Top Ways to Save" and provide the dollar amounts so you can decide whether or not you would like to perform the suggested upgrades. For example, if you set the computer displays in your home to work off of low power when not in use, you could save $84/year. 5. They have related news stories, 6. rebates and offers for your area and lastly a "did you know" section to provide interesting facts. For example: did you know that leaky furnace vents can reduce efficiency by up to 60%? I didn't have quite all the information I needed to set up my home energy profile. Like I have no clue what year my water heater is from, so my profile is only 82% complete. However, I can always go back and enter more information. The more complete my profile is, the better I can start benchmarking my energy use. Good luck with the new app. Please remember it's still in Beta mode.

Happy 4th!

Please be safe and enjoy yourself. 4th of July BBQ's are the BEST!

10 ways to save energy now

Source:http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8354b258c53ef011570db75be970b The Department of Energy's Blog Energy Savers. last access 7/2/09.

1. When to Turn Off Your Lights Find out when it's most cost-effective to turn off your lights—and when to leave them on.
2. When to Turn Off Personal Computers Operate your computer and peripherals—such as monitors, printers, and other accessories—efficiently. Also check out these tips for home office and home electronics.
3. Use and Heat Your Water Efficiently There are a variety of tips here—some more costly than others—but others are quick and easy, like reducing your hot water use and turning down the temperature of your water heater.
4. Operate Your Thermostat Efficiently Pay attention to your thermostat settings and reduce your cooling costs (and heating costs in the winter). A programmable thermostat makes it easy.
5. Improve the Efficiency of Your Windows Some simple caulk and weatherstripping can help you reduce air leakage around your windows, and window coverings can help keep your home cool in the summer (and warm in the winter).
6. Avoid Heat Buildup Follow some simple strategies to reduce the heat buildup in your house on hot days, such as using window shades, avoiding oven use, and using spot ventilation when bathing.
7. Replace Lamps in Incandescent Lighting Fixtures Consider replacing your incandescent bulbs with more efficient lamps, such as compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).
8. Use Ceiling Fans and Circulating Fans A fan can keep you feeling comfortable in hot weather without blasting the air conditioner.
9. Drive Efficiently and Maintain your Car You've probably heard most of these tips before, but it bears repeating: less aggressive driving and slower speeds lead to savings. Not to mention fewer accidents and a less stressful commute for everyone.
10. Tips for Doing Laundry Efficiently Using cooler water and air-drying your clothes are just two ways you can save energy while doing your laundry.

The best way to save money on your energy is to have energy efficient appliances. However, that's not always possible because of budgetary restraints. This list allows you to fix things NOW - to change behaviors rather than expensive household goods. One comment on the bottom of the blog left by a reader explained how he and his wife would shower one after another and then run the dishwasher so that the boiler only had to heat water once a day. It's little changes like that which make up all the difference in energy bills.

Programmable Thermostat

Programming a thermostat might seem like a daunting task to any technophobes out there, but there are some very simple solutions.

• Every thermostat comes with a instruction booklet - and they have lots of pictures and are easy to follow.
• You only need to set your thermostat once! Then it just does it's thing, and you save money.
• Your contractor can help you to set your thermostat, or if you have a tech-ie friend (or young grandchild) they can do it fairly easily.
• If those don't work - there are always tutorials on the internet that will walk you through the process step by step.

You aren't saving any money on your new, efficient air system if you are still turning it off and on like an OLD system. It takes WAY less energy to maintain a constant temperature than it does to bring it up and down. It also take WAY less energy to keep a cool house cool than to cool down a really hot one. The more you let your thermostat do, the more money you are likely to save!