Here at ACDoctor, we are all concerned with energy efficiency. We want to preserve our resources for future generations, and we want to share our knowledge with the rest of the world in an effort to preserve those resources.
According to a study conducted by Columbia University, Ohio State University, and Carnegie Mellon University, 55.2% of people studied cited cutting back on energy usage as the best way to conserve energy as opposed to 11.7% saying energy efficient appliances were most effective. Now, I can completely understand this way of thinking. I run my laptop off its battery as often as possible, make use of natural lighting during the day, unplug anything with a LED light when I’m not using it, but ultimately, the biggest difference in my energy bill comes from having a high efficiency air conditioner. I have also upgraded to CFL light bulbs, and I do have to say they make a huge difference! They do not emit as much heat as a regular light bulb and the light is much softer. I don’t mean the light isn’t as bright, Before upgrading my unit, I used ACDoctor’s energy calculator to see what my energy savings would be just from upgrading to a high efficiency AC unit and I was amazed! Comparing a unit with a SEER 10 rating (my old unit) to a unit with a SEER 16 rating I found I will save $272 a year and cut my energy usage by 2,430 kWh! Over the lifetime of the unit, that adds up to $2,875 and 34,020 kWh saved! That’s comparable to removing 5 cars/year from the road and planting 6 acres of forest. (Yes, you can see all of this when you check out our energy calculator.)
Granted, the new unit plus installation cost me around $6,000, but once I take into account my energy savings, that’s really only $3,125. Oh yeah, you can also get a federal tax credit for buying a high efficiency AC. The tax credit expires December 31, 2010, but it can save you up to 30% or $1,500. This is a credit on the TOTAL cost, which includes installation, so my expected tax credit is $1,500. Subtract from that the $3,125 that is not covered under my energy savings, and I’m only out $1,625. You can cut that down even more with state and city rebates. I do understand that it can be hard to justify spending $6,000 out of pocket, but when I think of the acres of trees that I’m saving and the CO2 I’m removing from the air, it’s definitely worthwhile!
So, now that I’ve doubtlessly convinced you to upgrade your AC, call your local ACDoctor Certified Contractor to find out which unit is best for you!
Upgrade to Save Energy
August 23rd, 2010 by Melissa DoyleTips For Greening Up Your Home
August 8th, 2010 by Melissa DoyleAre you looking to green up your home, but don’t know where to start? Here are a few tips that should get you started and on your way to a greener, more energy efficient home!
- 1. If you are building a new home and want it to be certified green, check the program first. Most require an inspection at the very beginning of the project.
- 2. Start off with a home energy audit. It will run you $400-600, but will show you where your energy leaks are and give you a list to work from.
- 3. Start with the biggest leaks. They will give you the biggest ROI. You can do the smaller ones as your budget permits.
- 4. If you are in the market for a new HVAC unit, look for one that is already solar-ready. They are not much more expensive and you can add solar panels as your budget permits.
The federal government is also offering a 30% tax credit for installing solar-energy appliances as well as the 30% tax credit for energy-efficient improvements (this one expires at the end of the year). Check www.energystar.gov for more information on federal rebates and the AC Doctor Rebates page for information about state rebates.
A Little History Lesson
July 20th, 2010 by Melissa DoyleWith rising temperatures all over the world, we are hard pressed to get by without air conditioning. It is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. But when you think about it, air conditioners really haven’t been around for long.
The first form of air cooling was created around 1841 by John Gorrie when malaria and yellow fever swept the world. He was a doctor in South Carolina that believed cooler air would help reduce fevers so his patients would get well faster. He had snow shipped in from the mountains which he suspended from the ceiling in a basin connected to a pipe that went through the roof. As the air around the snow was cooled, the air contracted creating a vacuum and pulling air from outside through the pipe. This created cool air flowing throughout the room. Doctor Gorrie realized that shipping snow was impractical, and even impossible in the winter, so he then invented a man-made ice maker. After he died, his efforts in air conditioning also died.
Air conditioners as we know them were first created in 1902. Willis Carrier needed a way to cool and remove humidity from a printing plant so pages wouldn’t wrinkle. He found a way to use coils to remove moisture and cool the air before creating the first mass air conditioner manufacturing plant. The first unit was installed in 1914, but air conditioners were too bulky and needed too many chemicals to be practical in homes.
In the early 1930’s Carrier invented a unit to cool movie theaters that cost between $10,000 and $50,000. Even during the Great Depression, theater owners made sure to invest in an air conditioner! By the late 30’s, window units were available.
In the early days, air conditioners were considered a luxury that most business owners wouldn’t buy. Throughout the 1940’s and 50’s studies were conducted to show that worker productivity increased in buildings that were air conditioned. By 1957, people stopped believing that air conditioning made workers lazy; close to 90% of companies attributed higher productivity to air conditioning.
Not even 60 years after the first modern air conditioner was invented, it had already become a necessity! Nowadays, we can’t even imagine a life without it. We are so dependent on air conditioning that we have to become more energy efficient just to avoid energy crisis. Maybe if we all remembered that our grandparents didn’t have in home air conditioners, we would be a little more willing to cut out energy consumption.
Take It Easy On Your AC
July 14th, 2010 by Melissa DoyleAlready this summer feels hotter than summers past. Here in Houston, it is miserable outside past 10 a.m. Temperatures are supposed to reach record highs, so how are we supposed to keep our homes cool with energy process rising? The obvious answer: reduce your cooling load. Easier said than done, I know, but it is possible. Here are a few tips for reducing your cooling load:
1. Fire up the grill. Your oven and stove emit tons of heat; after all, that’s how they work! But the heat it takes to cook your food also heats up your kitchen. Give your AC a break and cook out more often. Temperatures have started to drop by dinner time and the smoke from the grill helps keep the mosquitoes away, so take advantage of these beautiful nights and spend some time outside.
2. Wash your clothes and dishes at night. Temperatures drop with the sun, so your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to remove the heat your appliances emit. Run the dishwasher and dryer when you go to bed. Your body temperature lowers when you sleep, so the added heat from your dryer and dishwasher won’t affect you as much. You can always run the dryer on a cool setting in the morning to fluff the wrinkles out of your clothes.
3. Ventilate the bathroom. Your air conditioner also removes humidity, so turn on the air vent when you shower to suck out the humidity. Don’t have an air vent? Crack a window. Just don’t forget to shut it later. You don’t want your nice, cold air escaping once the humidity is gone.
Remember - reducing your cooling load reduces the wear and tear on your unit, prolonging the life of your unit as well as lowering your energy bills.
Florida Citizens Get A New A/C Rebate!
July 2nd, 2010 by Melissa DoyleFlorida is offering a state-wide rebate for upgrading your air conditioning system. The amount of the rebate is yet to be determined, but it can be used on any Energy Star rated air conditioner system or air source heat pump system purchased before the end of the year. Room air conditioners and window units do not qualify for this rebate, however. This state rebate can be combined with the federal energy tax credit for even more savings! This tax credit (30% of the price of the unit, up to $1,500) also expires at the end of the year, so take advantage of these funds before they’re all gone!
Don’t live in Florida? You can search for rebates in your area by clicking here.
It’s Time To Change Your Filter!
June 16th, 2010 by Melissa DoyleSummer is in full swing, and that means it’s time to change your A/C filter! Remember, most air filters need to be changed at least once every 30 days. They need to be changed more often during summer and winter months when your system is running almost constantly.
Aside from being good for your unit, changing your filter regularly is good for your health. Air filters are designed to trap dust, mold, pollen, and other indoor air pollutants. These pollutants can aggravate your allergies or asthma if you have them, and, according to The American Lung Association, they can even cause cancer! I know it seems like everything causes cancer these days, but if something as simple as changing your A/C filter can help prevent it, why not do it?
As a filter clogs, your unit has to work harder to pull air through, making the unit wear out faster. Disposable filters are not very expensive, especially when compared to the costs of having your unit serviced or replaced due to excess wear and tear. Replaceable filters are even more cost effective! They do cost more initially, but after that purchase, you are not shelling out $15+ a month for a new disposable filter (they also keep all those disposable filters out of our landfills).
If this blog comes a little too late and you already need to repair you system, any of our AC Doctor Certified Contractors would be happy to help you. For instructions on changing your air filter, click here.
Leave It On Or Turn It Off?
June 4th, 2010 by Melissa DoyleI’ve always heard that leaving your air conditioner running when you are not home is more energy efficient that turning it off. Everyone always said if you bump the thermostat up it takes less energy to cool your home than if your turn your system off during the day and then back on when you get home. I can see the logic in this, but even if you set your thermostat to 85 degrees during the day, your system will still kick on whenever the temperature reaches 85 degrees. While it is true that you will use less energy to cool your home from 85 to your preferred temperature than you use cooling from the outdoor temperature, the amount of energy you use to cool your home after the system has been off all day may be less than the energy used to keep your system on all day. Systems made these days are not put under undue strain by being turned off and then back on, as long as it is not being turned off and back on in less than 15 minutes. The choice to leave your system on or turn it off is ultimately yours, however, before you decide do a little experiment. One day set your thermostat at a higher temperature before you leave and check your meter. When you get home, check your meter again to see how much energy you used. On another day that is projected to have the same temperatures, turn your system off and check the meter when you get home, before you’ve turned your system on again. Check the meter again when your home is cooled to your preference (which should only take about 10 minutes) and compare the energy used for those two days. For some people, it may be more cost effective to leave the system of, while for others it is more effective to turn it off. For those of you that want to leave it on, remember this: for every degree you set your thermostat above 80 you can save up to 3% on your energy bill. So setting your thermostat at 85 when you are gone can save you up to 15%. Granted, this 15% decrease is only for the length of time your thermostat is set to 85, but these days we’re all looking for even the tiniest savings!
Time to Get Tested
May 23rd, 2010 by Melissa DoyleWith summer approaching, I want to remind you to get your air conditioner serviced. While you’re at it, getting your entire system tested would be a good idea too. A system test will check the air flow at each register, the tightness of your ducts, air flow over the coil, and refrigerant charge. It will also let you know if your system is the wrong size for your house. A system that is too large just wastes energy, and one that’s too small uses too much energy to keep your home comfortable.
Green Building Leads to Green Neighborhoods
May 11th, 2010 by Melissa DoyleGreen building is on the rise all over the world. We are becoming more aware of our impact on the world and trying to do something about it. This new awareness has given birth to a new program: LEED for Neighborhood Development. The pilot program that began in 2007 has targeted cities that were experiencing a housing boom, pushing them to build neighborhoods with a high walkability score. This means that there are grocery stores, dry cleaners, schools, child care, parks, and more within an easy walking distance. By encouraging people to walk more, the risk of obesity, hypertension, and heart disease is being reduced, as well as the level of air pollution. A study conducted in 2008, “The Economic Value of Walkability”, found that people living in vehicle-dependent communities spend an average of 50% more on transportation. On top of reducing your waistline, these communities reduce your spending! Of course, LEED-ND understands that sometimes you just can’t walk somewhere, so they are also working to increase the availability of public transportation.
This could lead to smaller, more tight-knit communities; communities where we actually know our neighbors. This could increase overall happiness. Gone are the days of spending hours in the car a week just to get to and from work. Here come the days of spending more quality time with our families.
Four Reasons To Invest In A New High Efficiency HVAC System
May 5th, 2010 by Melissa DoyleThe economy has caused us all to tighten our belts and cut down on the non-essentials. As summer approaches (actually, it already feels like summer here in Houston, we’ve had temps in the low 90’s the past few days!), I can’t help but realize that the measures I’ve taken to reduce my energy usage are not going to impact my bill like a new HVAC system will. I’ve seen a difference with the new light bulbs and better air filter, and my bill did go even lower when I started changing my air filter more often, but pretty soon my system is going to be running around the clock! Since a lot of you are in the same position, I decided to share some reasons to invest in a high efficiency system.
First off, there’s monetary savings. A high efficiency system will reduce your energy usage, causing your bill to lower. These systems usually pay for themselves in about 12 months.
Secondly, you’ll have a lower environmental impact. Less energy usage translates to fewer carbon emissions and a smaller carbon footprint.
The third reason is the longevity of the system. New, energy efficient systems are designed to identify potentially malfunctioning equipment so you can have your unit serviced before it breaks! This helps reduce costly repairs and the discomfort of a malfunctioning system.
Lastly, some systems are designed to have round the clock monitoring. Companies can monitor your energy usage to help you make cutbacks where they are needed. This monitoring can control the unit’s energy usage 24/7 to minimize consumption and maximize savings, as well as make seasonal adjustments.
