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.

Saving Energy

Great site for kids and adults alike. If your children aren't turning off lights when they leave a room, or you just want to have an easy, visual explaination, this website is the perfect amount of energy-concious, easy-to-understand information. 

Source: http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/saving_energy/index.html 

"Professor Questor" gives tips and tricks to save money (and energy) around the house. 

It's a Matter of Degrees! In warm weather, the thermostat at home should be set at 78 degrees. (Don't do this, of course, if it will cause health problems for anyone in your family.) When no one is home, set the thermostat at 85 degrees. That way, you'll reduce the need for air conditioning and you will save energy. If you have ceiling fans or other fans, turn them on. The blowing air can make you feel 5 degrees cooler, without running the family's air conditioner. Fans use a lot less electricity than air conditioners!

In cold weather, wear warm clothing and have your thermostat set to 68 degrees or lower during the day and evening, health permitting. When you go to sleep at night, set the thermostat back to either 55 degrees, or turn it off. When you leave home for an extended time, set the thermostat at 55 degrees or turn it off, too. That way, your family can save from 5 percent to 20 percent on your heating costs. (Don't do this, of course, if it will cause health problems for anyone in your family.)

Don't Heat - or Cool - the Great Outdoors!

Americans use twice as much energy as necessary to heat their homes. That accounts for a lot of wasted energy!

If you have a fireplace, close the damper when you don't have a fire burning. An open fireplace damper can let 8 percent of heat from your furnace escape through the chimney! In the summer, an open fireplace damper can let cool air escape. It's like having a window open!

Make a map of your home, and mark all the windows, heating vents, and outside doors. Take a ribbon and hold it up to the edges of the doors and windows. If the ribbon blows, you've found a leak! Ask Mom or Dad to seal the leak with caulk or weatherstripping.

Think about your curtains. Keeping the curtains closed on cold, cloudy days helps block the cold outside air from getting inside. Also, keeping the curtains closed on very hot days keeps the hot air out!

These are the tips and suggestions will save you money on your energy bill for heating and cooling and this site makes it easy and fun to learn about energy use! 

100% Sod

As 'Green' Building techniques take advantage of newer technology, one has to wonder if the 'old' ways of doing things weren't just a little bit better?

In Serbia, a man has created a 'sod' home that utilizes soil around the house as an insulation to provide most of the heating and cooling energy needs. The layer of soil (and grass - his lawn goes up and over his home) insulates the home so well, that solar panels and reflective window panels can effectively heat and cool the home most of the time. The first one of these homes was built in the 1970s and now there are 10 of these homes in Serbia, racking up the savings in home energy costs.

February Tips

February tips for Southern California from Better Homes and Gardens

Source page: http://www.bhg.com/gardening/gardening-by-region/southern-california/february-tips-southern-california/ Question 2: What on earth does this have to do with heating and air conditioning? Hmm. probably nothing, but it has to do with saving energy. The shrubbery around your home can insulate the home against outdoor weather and provide shade or wind breaks. So gardening the outside of your home, can really make a difference in the indoor temperature. Gardening is also a pretty good source of exercise. According to a "healthy all life long" mandatory college class it burns about as much calories as walking if you do it for long enough.

• First, they suggest planting box-grown trees and shrubs. These are perfect for placing in front of windows or on the side of the house that gets the most sun. The idea here is to block direct sunlight so that it doesn't go right into your home and warm it during the summer. If you plant deciduous trees, that's even better, because they will loose their leaves during the winter and allow that same sunlight to go into the room and warm the house.

The entry continues cautioning the ways that certain grasses etc. should be cut, as well as what to add mulch to. This stuff is more for the hardcore gardeners...and there aren't any basic energy savings to glean here, so if your thumb is green, take their advice and read the rest of the article. For the rest of us, just know that it is important to plant after the frost, but before the heat of summer. AND if you're planting strawberries - now's the time. MmMm.

Winter Energy Savings Tips

Winter Energy savings tips a la consumerenergycenter.org. California is pretty fortunate in that there are many different non-profits that are focused on providing consumers with the best energy-savings tips and suggestions. As such, we get pretty good information and finding 'green' or 'energy-sparse' ways to do things is fairly simple. Aside from energystar.gov and flexyourpower.org we also have a non-profit dedicated to providing information to consumers about their energy consumption (hence: www.consumerenergycenter.org - the SOURCE for this post). They break down their winter tips into five sections:

• Tips to Save Natural Gas
• Keep Safe This Winter
• Things That Are Fast and Free
• Things to Do That Are Inexpensive
• Thing to Do That Are Investments

(clicking on a section will take you to that section on their web page so you may read more). The natural gas tips are pretty common across the board - health permitting, turn down the heater and don some wool. The keep safe section highlights the need for a carbon monoxide detector in the home. While the things that are fast and free section gives more advice on how to save just a bit on your energy bill. They suggest opening drapes, to let the sun warm areas of your home and rearranging furniture so that nothing is blocking vents/air flow. The "Inexpensive" breakdown as well as the investments sections provide tips on what types of appliances etc. to buy. This page is actually an excellent place to start on your journey to an energy efficient home. There are steps on every level of commitment. And who knows? seeing the change in your energy bill from simply moving the couch might encourage following more tips. In this economy every little bit helps...

Winter-ize Your Home

In Covina at least, winter came...and then went... and now...it's...warm during the day and incredibly cold at night? So what is a homeowner to do? Use the Air Conditioning during the day and crank the Furnace up at night? -something like that. So, it is important to make sure that your heating (and cooling) systems are running at top capacity before you spend/waste unnecessary energy bill money on inefficiently heating your home. According to the gas company in San Diego, there are 10 easy tips that you can do to boost your efficiency and ensure that you aren't wasting precious heat or money. You can find the original pdf on their website http://www.sdge.com/winter/pdfs/tentips.pdf or we also have posted a copy to the resources section of Sinclair Air. Some easy suggestions from the guide: 1. Replace (or clean) your furnace often when the unit is being used a lot - AND - make sure the door closes COMPLETELY after the filter has been replaced. You want to make sure all of the 'gaps' are filled so hot (or cold) air isn't "escaping." 2. Try not to overload your circuits and whenever possible use a surge protector strip and turn the whole thing off when it is not in use. 3. Close curtains at night to keep out the cold. The guide continues to provide advice in the areas of general space heating, electrical and water use as well as furnace and chimney energy use. It is only a 2 page (1 page front/back) brochure that is very easy to read. It wouldn't be a waste of your time to check it out.

Home Energy Solutions - What To Do If I Have a High Energy Bill?

According to Energystar.gov, there some common problems with home inefficiency that can manifest themselves in some easily recognizable symptoms. Some of these include, condensation on windows, very dry air and rooms that are different temperatures. Besides listing the problems, energy star also provides explanations on how homeowners can make simple changes to prevent these problems from happening. The first common problem is a high energy bill.

"Diagnosis: One reason for high energy bills is an increase in the price of electricity or heating fuel. However, it is common to trace high energy bills to an in-efficient component (windows, heating and cooling equipment, ducts insulation) of your home or a failure of one of these components to perform as intended. It is not always easy to pin-point the problem, but fixing it can make your home more energy-efficient and comfortable."

Their solutions? systematically go over each one of the options and fix and/or rule out the reason. So, the first make sure that the price of the fuel or energy source hasn't increased. Then, perform an energy audit of your home to see what places you could be loosing energy. Common leak problems are around windows and doors, or through the attic or basement. They also recommend checking your duct work for leaks or disconnects. This will allow air to leak into the attic and escape from the house, while not cooling or heating the rooms that the air was meant for. They also recommend setting your water heater at a lower setting, upgrading to energystar(R) appliances and CFL light bulbs. *Image used from www.blueline.net.au/images/gallery/lg-05.jpg

"Why You Should Change Your Thermostat"

Suggestions found at: http://www.residential.carrier.com/knowledge/askme/changethermostats.shtml

Digital Thermostats Anyone?

Well, it might not seem like such a big deal - but really it can save you a lot of energy and money, especially when heating your home. On top of all that, it will probably make the temperature in your home more comfortable - consistency helps to prevent those problems a body has adjusting to temperatures. Digital thermostats are fairly easy to install and to work. All you do is program the thermostat to go on at certain temperatures (or certain times) or really, any other specific setting you need. Then, sit back & relax. The heater (or AC) turns itself on and off.

"According to EnergyStar.com, homeowners can save about $180 a year by changing thermostats to a new, digital, programmable thermostat and maintaining those settings. So, whether you are planning a remodel or simply trying to make your home as energy efficient as possible, you may want to change thermostats." - qtd from the Carrier page.

Or, if you would like, check it out at www.energystar.gov - they have even more suggestions on how to "winter-proof" your home, but a digital thermostat is one of them. If you DO have a digital thermostat- PLEASE don't use it like a manual thermostat. If you turn it on and off only when you want to, you are loosing out on any potential benefits. Your HVAC contractor can help with programming and answering questions. Don't be afraid to let your unit take care of itself. Plus, you might enjoy coming home to a nice, toasty house.

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...

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:

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."

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.

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.

Resource: Summer Tip Sheet

Flex Your Power (a California based organization that encourages energy savings) offers a supper tip sheet on their website, there is also a link to their document on ours. Some of the stuff is dealing with air conditioning, but there is also information on clothes dryers and other household appliances that may be helpful. Check it out: http://www.sinclairair.com/tipscard_summer08.pdf

PROS and CONS of PROGRAMMING

Source: http://www.achrnews.com/CDA/Articles/Feature_Article/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000424599 Story By: Angela D. Harris News & Legislation Editor. E-mail her at angelaharris AT achrnews DOT com So this energy star thermostat this and programmable that and set your temperature this. Okay, so I might have been a bit hasty in advocating the use of this tool. Today, I learned that Energy Star (www.energystar.gov) is attempting to decide whether to increase qualifications for programmable thermostats or take the energy star label off them completely. As everything, there are pros and cons on both sides.

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CONS Or Energy Star should not put their label on Programmable thermostats BECAUSE:

1. Most people do not know how to program their programmable thermostat.

   Why is this a problem? Because if you use your programmable thermostat just like you would a manual thermostat you are NOT saving ANY money! To properly use a programmable thermostat, it needs to decide when to flip on and and off – not you. PLUS! There is no excuse for not knowing how to program it. It comes with a manual – that if you read, will make sense. AND if you ask your HVAC contractor, they will be more than willing to help you set it up or teach you how to use it. Many of the brands offer customer support over the phone AND on their webpages. It will take 2 seconds to set your thermostat – it’s totally worth it. besides, if all else fails, have some video-game playing/computer using (probably little kid) look at it, and they’ll have it done in no time.

2. Most people do not understand the importance (or reasons) for using a programmable thermostat.

   Why is this a problem? A programmable thermostat is easy, and it saves you money. How could that not be important?

• It is easier to cool a cool house than one that has heated up. So if the thermostat kicks on before you would flip it on, it will be on for a shorter amount of time, and use less energy to cool your house. Also, you can have the thermostat kick on when you leave work, so you don’t walk into a hot house!
• An air conditioner isn’t supposed to run constantly – you’re asking for it to break down prematurely. How can this be prevented? By setting a temperature and allowing the unit to cycle on and off.

There are other reasons, which are elsewhere on the blog. If you’re interested read the entries about programmable thermostats or do the research on www.energystar.gov.

PROS Energy Star should NOT put their logo on programmable thermostats BECAUSE:

1. Homeowners are NOT experiencing energy savings

   If you’re not comfortable with the complicated programming, you aren’t going to utilize your energy savings and then you will have paid for a promise (saving energy) that you did not get. That’s not fair.

2. the Energy Star label encourages customers to buy certain products

   If you are trying to save some money, or the environment and you patronize companies that partner with energy star, it’s influence may be used unfairly.

Energy Star is committed to maintaining relations with the thermostat producers and they have until 2009 to make a decision. The facts are that there CAN be savings if the models are used correctly. However, it is also a fact that most people aren’t getting those savings. What do you think? Use our comments to sound off: is your thermostat too hard to program? Do you use yours all the time? For more information, please email Amanda AT sinclairair DOTCOm

Learn All about Programmable Thermostats- video

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=thermostats.PT_Podcast (source)

Increasing Energy Costs

EVERYONE is talking about ENERGY - the politicians, the homeowners paying for them, and now...Universities...in Kansas. Personally, being a history major, I can trace how energy costs have affected governmental policy throughout the 20th century. The TVA and other new deal, then fair deal programs tried to bring electricity and ensure competition to Americans. But that leaves us with the age old problem of more or less government and what exactly the buraucracy is supposed to control. Politics aside, this has and will continue to be a matter close to America's wallets. As such, I believe it does merit some discussion. This article caught my eye- because I am also a college student. Sometimes I walk into classrooms and FREEZE. I sit there and think...hmm, what a waste. Does it HAVE to be 60 degrees in here? Kansas University has decided to set their thermostats higher, for purely economical reasons. They will set their air to 78 degrees (the suggested energy star level for optimum comfort and savings) and in the process will save $3,000 a week in energy costs. Some of the students have complained that it has been warm, but if you think about it, 78 degrees is a heck of a lot better than 90 or 100. It is worth it to save money and the environment. If we get all of our larger buildings to commit to saving just that much energy, increasing their set thermostat level by just 2 degrees it would make a world of difference. Source: http://www.kansan.com/stories/2008/sep/02/energy/ September 2008, Kansas University. From the University Daily Kansan. My friend LIZ lives in Lawrence! HI LIZ!

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)

Shrink Your Energy Bill

Pandolfi, Keith. “10 Ways to Shrink Your Energy Bills” in This Old House Magazine Online. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20169070,00.html?xid=CNN-060909-shrink-bills&cnn=yes last access 8/22/08.

“1. CHOKE YOUR CHIMNEY”

If you have a chimney, it is a good idea to keep a working damper installed. This will prevent air conditioning cooled air (or furnace warmed air) from escaping out the chimney. Why run your air conditioner if you’re going to cool the outside? Make sure the damper is closed when you’re not using your chimney. Savings felt = immediately.

“2. SEAL AIR LEAKS”

This means that cracks around the windows, doors, piping and wiring need to be closed up. Caulking or installing weather-stripping around windows can save you “more than 10% on your heating bills.” Hardware stores even sell kits that can help you seal up your home. While this one takes a little longer to pay back, it is definitely worth a tiny bit of extra effort. Savings felt = 6mos to a year.

3. TUNE UP TUNE UP GIDDE-YUP

If your heating and air conditioning system is a well-oiled machine, it can serve your cooling/heating needs for LESS! Call your Air systems’ contractor to sign your unit up for a service. Off peak services are also beneficial, to avoid longer wait times. Savings felt = one heating or cooling season.

“4. GIVE IN TO ENERGY STAR”

If you partner with energy star and buy their appliances you will save on your energy bills. Sometimes, the local agencies (electric/gas/water…depending) will even offer rebates for replacing your old appliances. According to the “This Old House Magazine” you can save “$110 annually for replacing your clothes washer.” Savings felt = depending on the appliance. 5 years for a fridge, 7-8 years for a clothes/dishwasher.

“5. MAKE YOUR ATTIC MORE CUSH”

Especially if you have an older house, insulating the attic can be a very cost effective way of saving on your energy bills. Often times, before the building codes were as complex as they are today, the amount of insulation was left up to the individual contractor. They also have a link on their page teaching how a homeowner can beef up their insulation themselves. Savings felt = 3-5 years.

“6. EMBRACE THE PELLET STOVE”

This has got to be for people living in the boonies, but I guess it’s a pretty good idea. They have stoves that run off of sawdust pellets…I wonder what that does to the environment. But, one of the benefits is saving up to 50% on your heating bill – that’s pretty significant.

“7. TAKE CHEAPER SHOWERS”

A little redundant here – they suggest upgrading to an energy star approved water heater. Check with your local gas company or energystar.gov to see if they are currently running any tax brakes or incentives to switching over. Your local city hall is also a good place to look for homeowner’s benefits.

“8. FIND SOME PERFECT STORMS”

TOH (this old house) suggests putting in storm windows (that are triple paned), to prevent energy from leaking out of traditional glass panes. Especially if you have windows with large surface areas, this might be a good option. Upgrading to double-paned windows is another option if you don’t want to do the whole storm lockdown thing. Savings felt = 2-5 years.

“9. ADDRESS THE BEAST IN THE BASEMENT”

TOH recommends replacing your furnace. I couldn’t agree more. Technology has come so far in a short span of time. Heating is measured in BTUs and instead of having an efficiency ratio like air conditioners; heaters are measured by the ratio of waste to actual heating. The southern California gas company (for example) is offering rebates for 92% AFUE (Air Fuel Utilization Efficiency) which means at 92% that 92% of the energy is being used to heat the home, while only 8% is escaping as exhaust. When compared even to an 80 AFUE model that’s 20% exhaust! Savings felt = 2-5 years.

“10. SELL YOUR HOUSE”

WHOA! That seems a bit extreme to me…like by a lot. But for some of those older homes, I guess it could be beneficial. Savings felt = immediately. Check out the full article for information on this one…

SEER!

Source: http://www.residential.carrier.com/knowledge/efficiency/ratings.shtml Energy Efficiency in Air Conditioners is rated by SEER, which stands for: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. In 1992, the SEER rating was set at 10. Now it is at 13. Depending on when you had your central air conditioner installed, your unit may be operating a SEER of 6 or 7 or even 10. Each time a seer rating increases, the savings goes up by a percentage. For example, a 13 SEER is 30% more efficient than a 10 SEER. Concurrently, each time the efficiency goes up, the more money you save on your energy bill. According to http://www.eesi.org/publications/Fact%20Sheets/acfactsheet.htm, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute explains some common myths about SEER ratings and the corresponding factual evidence.

Myth #2: Utility bill savings will not cover the cost of going to a SEER 13 standard. FACTS: • The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) estimates that the incremental cost of a SEER 13 unit relative to today’s minimum standard SEER 10 unit will be about $171. With typical household savings of $48 per year based on current national average electricity prices, the higher standard pays for itself in about 3.5 years. Central air conditioners last about 18 years. • If prices for power go up (particularly in the summer), the consumer payback will be even quicker. • History shows that manufacturers’ predictions of huge price increases due to higher standards prove false. In the 1980s, the air conditioner industry predicted that the 1992 standard would increase prices by more than $700. U.S. Department of Commerce data show that prices did not go up at all. Now, some manufacturers are again claiming a new standard will increase prices by more than $700. • The truth is that the market determines prices, not industry or government projections. When faced with the need to compete for the business of price-conscious consumers, manufacturers have a very good track record of meeting standards with minimal price increases. Myth #3: The higher standard will prevent people from replacing their old air conditioners because of the extra cost. As a result, people will stick with old, inefficient air conditioners causing the nation to use more energy. FACT: SEER 13 adds three to eight percent to the cost of a purchase relative to a SEER 10 unit. When compared to the weaker SEER 12 standard that some in the industry and the Bush Administration support, the price difference is even smaller (about 2 to 4 percent). It would seem unlikely that droves of consumers will decide to repair rather than replace an old broken-down energy-hog system over such a small price differential on a $2,000 to $5,000 purchase. Myth #4: SEER 13 units are much bigger than SEER 10 or SEER 12 units, so major renovations will be required to fit them into existing homes. FACT: Some SEER 13 units are significantly bigger, but many are not. For example, Goodman Manufacturing makes SEER 13 units using non-proprietary technology that are only about three inches larger than their basic units. The size of the unit depends on the technologies that a manufacturer uses to improve efficiency; SEER 13 units of all sizes are made now and will be available in the future.

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Is “High Efficiency” really worth it?

By Federal law, the minimum efficiencies that can be sold in California are 13 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) for residential cooling products and 80% AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) for gas heating products. SEERS can range as high as 21 seer and AFUES can go as high as 96% AFUE. These translate into operating savings of about 25% on cooling and 17% on heating. If comparing against a 20 year old condenser the operating savings goes to about 65% for cooling and 40% for heating. Payback of the initial cost difference in some cases can be realized in 4 to 7 years, depending on how often you use the heating and air conditioning systems. http://www.coolairsolutions.com/F.A.Q.html

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http://www.aps.com/_files/services/ResFAQ/highseer.pdf is a downloadable PDF (also available as a HTML document - to view online if you prefer). According to the Arizona Public Service Company, the Seer efficiency ratings are important for many different reasons. One of them includes protecting the environment.

“On a larger scale, the energy conserved by your high-efficiency unit (12 SEER or greater) will lessen your home’s impact on our environment. With an efficient heating and cooling system, you can save money and also help preserve natural resources.”

You can estimate about how much SEER your current air conditioner is operating at by looking up the year it was installed. According to APS, these are some years and corresponding seer numbers to help you figure out your energy usage.

“Estimate your older unit Seer rating: Pre-1980 – SEER rating of 6 or less 1980-1985 – SEER rating of 7 1986-1991 – SEER rating of 8” © 1999, Arizona Public Service Company – MM-5K-0699-AS

Remember how much money you can save using the chart at the top of the page! A higher seer definitely saves on your bills. Maybe an increase in comfort and energy efficiency is worth upgrading to an energy saving product.