Archive for May, 2010

With 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 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.

The 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.