Slim Down Your Energy Bills A New Year Means New Resolutions A new year means time for New Year’s resolutions. And, a number of Americans will promise to take better care of themselves, quit smoking or slim down after overindulging throughout the holiday season. But what if you could also slim down your home’s annual utility bill? According to the Department of Energy (DOE), a family’s annual energy bill is approximately $2,100. By making some simple behavior changes and opting for energy-efficient products, you and your family can reduce your annual energy bill (and subsequently your greenhouse gas emissions). Now there’s a promising resolution! Heating and cooling accounts for approximately 45 percent of the energy used in your home. Twenty-nine percent—nearly $630—of a homeowner’s bill goes to heating. To help reduce your heating bill: Check your air filter on a monthly basis. During heavy-use months, such as winter and summer, the filter may need to be changed monthly.

At a minimum, it should be changed every three months. Schedule pre-season tune ups with HVAC professionals to ensure your equipment is performing in top shape. Dirt and neglect are top causes of heating-system failure. Install a programmable thermostat that allows you to “set it and forget it” based on your family’s activity pattern. Per the DOE, turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours can save 5 to 15 percent a year on your heating bill. Replace screen with storm windows to help block the cold outside air. When it comes to cooling, a homeowner spends almost $275 annually. Your family can experience more efficient cooling by implementing the following: Put an end to overheated spaces with ENERGY STAR®-qualified windows, which can save you 7 to 15 percent depending on your product selection. Keep air vents clear. Purchasing a new cooling unit? Whether a whole-home or single-room cooling solution, select ENERGY STAR®-qualified models, which can reduce your monthly utility bills.

Water heating is the second largest energy expenditure after heating and cooling. In fact, the average household spends between $400-$600 each year on water heating. ionic air purifier smellOne way to cut down on your water-heating bills is a Rinnai Tankless Water Heater. california air duct cleaning rosevilleUnlike its traditional storage tank counterpart, a Rinnai Tankless Water Heater only heats the water as it’s needed and shut down when the demand for hot water ceases, so they use less energy—up to 40 percent—and produce an endless supply of hot water. ridgid jobsite air cleanerIn addition, tankless units offer a longer lifespan than tank water heaters as well as space savings; plus, they are ENERGY STAR® qualified.

Together, these attributes make tankless technology the superior source for hot water. Rinnai offers homeowners the chance to preview potential water-heating savings with its Energy Savings Calculator. ENERGY-STAR-qualified appliances are a win-win-win. They save energy, money and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, they are engineered with advanced technologies that saved between 10 and 50 percent on energy and water usage compared to standard appliances. When it comes time to buying or replacing older appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers and washers and dryers, selecting an ENERGY STAR® option just makes sense. A Few More Ways…Unplug it when it’s not in use. This tips works for all electronics. In the average home, 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics (and appliances) is consumed when the product is turned off. Screen savers don’t actually reduce the energy used by computer monitors. Turning your computer to sleep mode or completely off saves more energy.

Making small adjustments and changing up a few behaviors can have a significant impact on your annual utility bill. And this year, these small actions can help your home slim down. Apartment Complex’s Energy Efficiency Soars (Part Two) Apartment Complex’s Energy Efficiency Soars (Part One)We install and service heating, ventilation, and air conditioning products from the best manufacturers in the industry— such as Trane, Lennox, Carrier, Utica, Fujitsu, Sanyo, Viesmann, Buderus, Rheem, Aprilaire, Weil-McLain, Munchkin, Lochinvar, Energy Kinetics System 2000, and Rinnai on-demand hot water heaters But heating and air conditioning problems are not solved by equipment alone. Our expert installation means your equipment will be installed properly, so you'll get the maximum performance out of your new purchase. Even if your air conditioner is only a few years old, it could be terribly inefficient. Installing a new, high-efficiency air conditioning system can actually pay for itself in energy savings within a relatively short time.

The higher the SEER rating, the higher the efficiency. Are you an owner of a home without forced-air HVAC systems? Would you like to add central air conditioning, but are daunted by the the installation process? Consider a Mini Duct System or a Ductless Split System. Corrrect Temp can add a complete ductwork system to your home to provide you with the comfort of central air conditioning. We use metal, sealed & insulated ductwork with minimal flex. We never use ductboard on our installations. Our boilers, heaters and furnaces are the core component of some of the most efficient heating systems available. A boiler is a piece of heating equipment that is used to heat water for use in a hot-water-based heating system. Examples of hot-water-based heating systems include under-floor radiant heat, baseboard hot water, and radiator-based systems. A furnace is a piece of heating equipment that is used in a hot-air-based heating system to heat the air that is circulated through the ductwork.

A new heating system uses less fuel and produces fewer toxic by-products of combustion. New boilers reduce the risk of carbon monoxide exposure and contribute to a cleaner external environment. Heat pumps work to provide both heating and cooling. In the winter, a heat pump draws heat from the outdoor air and circulates it through ducts into your home. During the summer, your heat pump reverses the process and releases heat outdoors. It also dehumidifies the indoor air as it cools it. Because a heat pump does not burn fuel, it is safer and cleaner to run than a gas or oil powered furnace. It is also more efficient and costs less to run than an electric furnace. Because heat pumps are used year round, they cost less (per hour of use) than do individual heating and cooling systems. Radiant Floor Heating Systems depend heavily on convection, the natural circulation of heat within a room, caused by heat rising from the floor. Hydronic (liquid) systems are the most popular and cost-effective radiant heating systems for heating-dominated climates.

Hydronic Radiant Floor Systems pump heated water from a boiler through tubing laid in a pattern underneath the floor. In some systems, the temperature in each room is controlled by regulating the flow of hot water through each tubing loop. This is done by a system of zoning valves or pumps and thermostats. Most households still use storage tank hot water heaters. However, both tank and tankless hot water systems exist. Both may be fueled by gas, oil, propane, electric or solar energy. Mini Duct Systems: High velocity heating and air conditioning systems minimize the cost and difficulty by using small diameter ducts. They can be more easily threaded through floor, ceiling, and wall cavities. These high velocity systems improve energy efficiency. Correct Temp recommends the use of Trane Clean Effects air cleaner, Aprilaire media air cleaner or electronic air cleaners. The EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. With more energy-efficient building construction, indoor air quality can suffer.

Using air cleaners to remove airborne particles may help reduce allergic reactions of people suffering from asthma and other respiratory problems. When you turn up your thermostat in the winter, it dries out your house. As a result, hardwood floors separate and woodwork shrinks, warps and cracks. Fortunately, you can help solve the problem by installing a whole-house humidifier. They are a great solution for a more comfortable home. Zone Control saves energy and reduces utility bills. Why waste money heating an empty bedroom when it's not being used? We can set up programmable thermostats that allow you to control the heating and cooling needs of your home by zones. Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems Geoexchange is a simple technology that draws heat from the ground during the winter and transfers it to your house. In the summer, it extracts heat from your house and transfers it to the ground. It is the most efficient HVAC system on planet Earth. Find out about our Geothermal Solutions.