"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!

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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).

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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!

the "Snackwell Effect"

Today's blog entry comes from the e-Newswire monthly newsletter from Flex your power (fypower.org) from the article "The Snackwell Effect: Consumers Sabotage Energy-Saving Efforts."

Have you ever had those sugar-free vanilla snackwell cookies?

Or I guess any of the concoctions of the snackwell variety? Well. My favorite way to have these yummy vanilla cookies is piled high with an inch of store-bought can frosting. mmMm. That's the best way...and I figure they're sugar free...so no sugar coma - until after 4 or 5 cookies. Well, it appears that I am not alone in my binging on sugar free "diet" substances.

Apparently it is pretty common for those looking to loose weight or diet to over eat products that are supposedly 'healthy' or 'diet-friendly.'

How does the "snackwell effect" affect energy or air conditioning?

Wonderful you should ask. The percentage of homeowners upgrading to energy efficient equipment is heartening. However, thier use of those same appliances...is DISheartening. Many of the homeowners who upgrade don't actually end up saving any money. Why? Because the homeowners are over-using (or binging) their energy efficient appliances. Leaving lights on...running the washer for only a sweater...

The more studies that are being done, show that to fully enjoy the benefits of energy efficent appliances, one should be just as concious about thier use as you would if they were not "efficient." This means common sense. Turn the lights off when you leave a room. Only do full loads of laundry or dishes. Don't crank the furnace all the way up because you think you're saving in energy costs. If you have installed energy efficent appliances and haven't noticed a change in your energy bills - or there was an initial change, but the bottom line keeps going up, it may be time to consider an energy monitoring device. Tomorrow, I will explain the different types of monitoring devices and how they may be helpful in reducing energy use.

Question?

Ever had a question about energy use and not known where to go for information?

The aptly named "The Home Energy Saver Answer Desk," here on this site, the Berkeley Laboratories (experts in Energy savings) have brought many of their FAQ pages to a single location so that homeowners can find information on practically any energy question.

Visit them for yourself: http://hes.lbl.gov/hes/answerdesk_dat.html

They highlight questions from how to save energy on your second home to how much savings you can expect from energy star appliances. Here is an interesting Q & A

"What's the single biggest user of electricity in my house? If your house has central air conditioning, the air conditioner will probably be the biggest user by far. Although used only a few months of the year, the annual cost can be much greater than the annual cost of your refrigerator, which is typically the next largest user. In hot climates, the annual air conditioner cost can exceed a thousand dollars. You can get a very rough idea of what your air conditioner is costing you by subtracting the electric portion of your bill in a spring month when you aren't using your air conditioner from the electric portion of the bill in the summer when you do use it. This gives you the monthly cost. Multiply this by the number of months you use your air conditioner to arrive at your approximate annual cost. Refrigerators are typically the largest users in houses without air conditioning or in climates where the air conditioners are used only a few days of the month during the cooling season. If your refrigerator is more than ten years old should consider replacing it. New efficiency standards went into effect in 1992, and older refrigerators are typically two to three times more expensive to run than a new unit. For more information go directly to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's list of most efficient refrigerator-freezers. See our list of typical energy use costs for various appliances and equipment."

Being that your central AC can be the largest energy guzzler in your home (and if not that, your refrigerator) it is important to the bottom line of your energy bills that those appliances are energy star. The higher the SEER on air conditioning units, the more money you can possibly save! What about using heaters to bring that thermostat down? Does it work?

"Should I use portable room heaters to lower my energy bills? With rising energy prices, it's tempting to think about using portable room heaters. It's also worth considering a programmable thermostat, if you don't already have one. If your central heat is electric, you'll almost certainly save money by using portable electric heaters. In fact, part of the savings come because valuable heat isn't being lost in the ducts before it reaches your living area. If your central heat is gas, you might be able to save money by using portable electric heaters, but it's not something to take for granted. Your local energy prices and desired comfort level will determine the answer. Also, a typical central furnace will provide about 20-times as much heat as a portable, depending on its efficiency. Keep in mind that even if the hourly cost of using portable electric heaters is lower than for your furnace, you will be dramatically increasing your home's overall power demand, which contributes to regional power shortages that ultimately can trigger blackouts and price increases. We've put together the following chart to help you find out how much your heating bill could be reduced by using portable electric heaters. To use the chart, follow this four-step process: 1. Find your gas price on the left hand vertical scale and read over to the right until you hit the scale marked "Your Heating Bill." This is the hourly cost of running a 100kBtu/hour central furnace. 2. Next, find your electricity price on the horizontal scale and read upwards until you hit the yellow line corresponding to how many portable heaters you would like have on at one time (one to five). 3. Next read from this point over to the "Your Heating Bill" scale to find the hourly cost of running a typical 1000 Watt portable electric heater. 4. Compare the two hourly operating costs to see which is lower. In the illustrative example provided, a home paying $0.75/therm of gas and $0.25./kWh would save money if using two portable electric units. They would break even using three and would have an increased heating bill for using more than three portable heaters.

So, it all comes down to energy efficiency... This site has a wealth of information in questions and answers. Even if you don't have a question at the moment, it might be a good site to bookmark just in case you ever have questions.

Spring AC action

Source: "5 things to know about buying, caring for central air-conditioning" by Barbara Mahany of the Chicago Tribune - syndicated on dallasnews.com.

Barbara Mahany explains that since it is Spring (in most parts of the country...for as long as the weather cooperates) that it is the perfect time to start thinking about summer air conditioning...and whether or not your present way of managing is going to handle the heat of another summer.

She gives 5 simple things to think about, that will help determine if you should care for your existing unit or prepare for buying a new one.

Her #1 "Montreal Protocol" She discusses what the Montreal Protocol actually is and why it is beginning to affect homeowners. This helps to determine whether or not you need a new unit...or should start thinking about it. Many air conditioners use R-22 (a refrigerant) to help cool down your home. This refrigerant uses a chlorine base and is very harmful to the ozone. As part of the Montreal Protocol it is being phased out. This will begin to affect pricing and availability of a necessary air conditioning component. If you are currently running R-22, you might want to consider whether or not you should upgrade now...or later, because you will eventually be forced to...when prices aren't so favorable.

#2 - "ditch the chlorine" speaks to pretty much what I just explained and goes hand in hand with #1 -however, for information, please peruse her original article (available when clicking the title of this post).

#3 - "how much energy efficiency can you afford" This section examines the higher costs of a more efficient unit compared with the savings from the unit using less energy. Sometimes, if you go for a high/mid level efficiency, your unit can be paid for in reduction of energy bills in a very short time. It is a good idea to talk to a HVAC contractor and see what the pay off ratio is for your unit. You might be surprised, efficiency can save you a lot of money.

#4 & #5 talk about money as well...the suggestion not to "skimp" on the installation and energy efficiency rating if at all possible. The benefits way outweigh the costs.

For more information please visit: www.energystar.gov or read the initial article at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/home/stories/031709dnlivair.1016600.html

And afterall, there is a plethora of information located on our own site: www.sinclairair.com - especially under the information page - FAQ to your heart's content and study some necessary jargon.

Reduce Your Energy Use

Source: www.greenenergyloan.org If you live in Sonoma, or Marin county, a your path to a greener home may already be paid for you. A collection of banks and non-profits have provided funding for homeowners who want to make their homes more efficient. For those of us who live outside of those counties, they also provide suggestions on how to reduce your costs elsewhere. See for yourself. Here are selected suggestions from their page, under the heading

First, Reduce (Energy Use)

"Residential energy efficiency analysis — also known as “whole-house home performance analysis” — uses building science criteria, onsite test procedures, and analysis software to identify a home’s energy savings opportunities, recommend an upgrade plan, provide savings/cost estimates, and verify the upgrade results. Each house includes three interde­pen­dent systems: (1) an air barrier (that prevents air from leaking into or out of the building shell), (2) a thermal barrier (that keeps heat from transferring through the building shell), and (3) a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system (including furnace, air conditioner, and duct system that provide a stable indoor air temperature). Making improvements to one system affects the other systems. These three items together determine a home’s heating/cooling demand, which can represent from 50 to 80 percent of the home’s total energy use. To obtain site-specific home performance data, a qualified analyst uses test equipment including: * Blower Door: Creates a pressure difference between inside and outside for measuring total leakage in the building shell and identifying actual air leaks * Duct Blaster: Pressurizes the duct system to identify the location of leaks in the ducts and connectors * Infrared Camera: Measures the temperature of the walls, ceiling, and floor to detect missing or inadequate insulation * Carbon Monoxide Detector: Detects poorly performing and dangerous gas combustion appliances The use of this test equipment allows the analyst to monitor and confirm building shell and duct sealing measures, identify insulation upgrade opportunities, confirm proper indoor ventilation, and ensure safe operation of gas appliances such as furnaces and hot water heaters."

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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

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.

Today's Outlook for Megawatt Usage?

The California ISO is a non-profit that mediates between the power companies (available power) and the consumers (wanted power). This interesting relationship is portrayed on their website www.caiso.com/ where they provide an graph of today's megawatt output and demand, right next to a conserve-o-meter. Kinda funny, but really helpful and easy to understand. On warm days like this, when all of California rushes to turn on their air conditoning en masse (I even got a call from Ranchos Palos Verdes today saying they were cranking on their air), it's easy to forget what exactly is happening to the power grid. Here is today's graph: Right now (as shown also on the graph) we are at peak demand! That's tough. Conserve where you can by turning off and un plugging appliances that you aren't using and waiting to run laundry or dish-washers after 7pm.

Check it OUT!!!

So HERE: is my "coolest thing I learned today" moment - and it's already been quite a long day. If you want to read the story that initially caught my eye, it's http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/greencore-solar-air-conditioner-installed/story.aspx?guid=%7B15BF0BB9-033A-445F-9083-557652D9CDC5%7D&dist=hppr explaining how a MetroPCS (the cell phone company) is installing a GREEN air conditioner on one of their cellphone towers. This by itself is pretty interesting, because cell phone towers, computer server buildings, the electric company...pretty much anyone who manufactures something, does reserach, works with machinery - are very inefficient in thier energy use - ESPECIALLY when it comes to air conditioning. You know, climate control and all that, for example, the computers need to be cooled down or I imagine they explode or something --- something to do research on another time. But when it comes down to it - very wasteful. SOOOO, hearing about a green air conditioner being put in a CELL PHONE company peaked my interest for a couple of reasons. 1. Big Businesses are out to make money (hence the market system of America etc. etc.) - so if a BUSINESS is making this change, they are either trying to be responsible - or more likely this technology is proven and fairly fiscally acceptable. 2. For them to buy into this - this thing must ACTUALLY work. and 3. If they're for it and it gains support, we are going to see more responsible choices. SO: in the article - which was interesting, but didn't give too much information, there was a link to the actual GREENCORE (R) site. SWEET! So I check it out (http://www.greencoreair.com/index.html) - it's a really nice flash site, also it doesn't say too much, but why complicate life. It is an excellent idea, pricing is up an available and their FAQ section is helpful. http://www.greencoreair.com/faq.html#q1a So, I would watch this technology and see where it goes. It's pretty cool to see that not everything is being done the exact same way out of habit.

Consumer Information

Here at Sinclair Air Systems, we do receive mailings from other agencies in the heating, air, refrigeration businesses and occasionally information from non-profits interested in saving energy. Whenever possible, I will post those mailings here so that you all can get a different perspective or other information. This posting is from UniSource Energy Services out of Arizona. They have actual seasons there, so they are gearing up for their winter heating season. This information is helpful regardless of heating or air - same principles - seal up leaks, keep blinds closed in summer/open in winter...you know, the basics. The first attachment is downloadable in PDF format and there is also the same document included in Spanish as well. Click here to go to the Energy Efficiency Document in English. Click here to go to the Energy Efficiency Document in Spanish. (These are also located on our webpage under Resources - http://www.sinclairair.com/resources/resources.html)

How much green is too much?

Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/jfloyd/stories/080508dnmetfloyd.13e68202.html How much is too much? With the national climate tending towards cutting back and ‘going green’ cutting energy and utilizing better-for-the-environment products are we missing something? According to staff writer, Jacquielynn Floyd, for the Dallas Local, Morning News one political theorist went too far when he encouraged the end of air conditioning. According to Jacquielynn, “Five thousand years of recorded history confirms that human society endured before A/C was invented, but that doesn't mean they were happy about it. Mr. Carrier, whose "Apparatus for Treating Air" was patented in 1906, no doubt occupies a bejeweled throne in Paradise, surrounded by a host of angels and adoring cherubim. The temperature there is a celestial 70 degrees.” Her antagonist, Joe Klein a columnist for Time Magazine was the one who originally made the statement. His views, as she summarizes “Mr. Klein wrote a column a while back entitled "Kill Your Air Conditioner," in which he says we would be better and more virtuous Americans if we, as he does, lived without A/C.” Isn’t there some happy medium? Can’t we have cake and eat it too? Well…no. That has never worked. However, there are energy saving and smart ways to cool your home. Moreover, even if California is not as hot as Dallas is, we can still rest assured that we are doing our part to save energy. If your unit is at or above 13 SEERs and you set your thermostat at 78 degrees, you can participate in change, and not die doing so. However, if your bills keep getting higher and your unit runs longer and longer into the night – OR if you do not have a programmable thermostat – IT IS TIME TO GET A NEW UNIT!

Repair or Replace??

Repair or Replace? Knowing whether to replace your air conditioner or just to schedule a service visit can be a tough call. This decision should be made individually, with information specific to the homeowner. Getting all the information you need to perform a cost–benefit analysis is easier than you may think. The Energy Star ® website provides an easy checklist of information needed to make this big decision. Their consumer checklist http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_checklist_consumers provides easy steps to help the homeowner make the decision whether to replace or repair. They also provide an energy yardstick program to help you determine how much energy you are using compared to others in the United States and how you can improve your efficiency. For this calculation, you will need an energy bill handy. It is a slight bit of work to find and enter the data – such as the monthly usage of kWh, but the total costs of your energy bills as well as the climate of your zip code are factored in to estimate about how many days of cooling and heating you may need for a year. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=home_energy_yardstick.showStep2 is an excellent way of finding out your score. If you receive less than a 5, it is definitely a good idea to install a new heating and cooling unit that is energy star approved.