Young’s Air Conditioning of Los Banos, California came on board before the start of the New Year. Young’s is a family business with strong roots in Los Banos and a reputation as the area’s leading provider of energy efficient heating and cooling services.
In the early part of the winter, we added three locations with Carolina Green Energy Systems. CGES is one of South Carolina’s oldest and largest comprehensive Home Performance Contractors, and we are proud to include them in the GreenHomes Network.
Also new in town is Air Rescue Air Conditioning of Tampa, Florida. This is our first partner from the Sunshine state. Air Rescue started in 1965, and is one of the oldest and largest residential HVAC contractors in the Tampa Bay Metro area. Air Rescue will service customers in over seven counties.
This is only the beginning as GreenHomes grows to better serve you nationally! Stay tuned for more!
Looking down the road with our sister companies at The Linc Group, and Linc Lighting & Electrical, GreenHomes is already exploring how a shift toward electric vehicles will impact home energy use and the need for home energy efficiency. There are some big ideas being experimented with.
And another interesting idea was discussed over the weekend in a NY Times article on “data furnaces”. Very timely given the “Cyber Monday” heat we anticipate today. The basic premise is to use the tremendous amount of heat generated in data centers—from the servers that run Google, Netflix, and the rest of the internet world—to heat homes. It’s not so far fetched. We have examples of co-generation heat in this county dating back more than a century. While this used to be centered around industrial heat sources, high tech is part of that industrial base. Further, there are intriguing benefits of distributed capacity on both the energy and the internet sides.
Don’t look for Google to be asking to install servers in your basement this year. But don’t be shocked if the opportunity comes soon. Just one of the exciting things we’re working on!
We’ve provided the details on the federal home energy-efficiency tax credit a few times this year—for efficient furnaces, air-conditioners, windows, insulation, and the like. You’ve have access to the federal tax credit for existing homes for almost six years, in some form or another, including a bump up in the credit amount for two years as part of ARRA and then ratcheting back down this year.
But the time is running out. These federal credits disappear at the end of the year. To be eligible, qualified products must be “placed in service” (installed) by December 31, 2011. If you know you’re going to be doing something that qualifies, now is the time. I’m not betting that Congress will pull together and agree on much of anything, let alone pass something like an extension of this tax credit. So right now, it looks like before the end of the year, or kiss it goodbye.
Of course, if the time isn’t right for you, we always help our customers find any other incentives out there. Call us when you’re ready.
It was 1911 when The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles had installed air conditioning truly bringing the concept of keeping comfortably cool to the masses. Ten years earlier Willis Carrier had started work in Buffalo, New York, a city not too far from our Greenhomes America office in Syracuse. His trial and error over the years focused on dehumidification and it was in 1907 that the Carrier Air conditioning company was established.
What did folks do before that? Looking back at a late 1800’s trade journal “Ice and Refrigeration” reveals a lot. The journal is packed with beautiful advertising for coils and pumps and innovative patents for cooling systems ads for insulation like cork and mineral wool and insulating paper whatever that may be. It also holds reports of what industry in need of cooling relied on every year: Ice Harvests.
The Hudson River crop in 1890 was around “4,000,000 tons of which New York, Brooklyn and Jersey City will use 1,200000 tons or more if the summer proves a hot one”. Ice harvest happened in many places, a number of rivers in Maine were used and the ice was then stored near shipyards to be distributed later.
There’s a connection to today we might not think of: The size of our air conditioners. From the beginning these cooling machines capacities were described by an equivalent amount of ice that would melt in a day. A window unit might be less than a 1 ton system where central air can range from 2 to 5 tons.
How much do you need? Think of keeping food in a cooler for a long trip to the beach or a weekend camping. As that block of ice melts it keeps things cool in there. The more we open it up the more we lose that cooling. The less insulated or efficient the cooler is the faster it melts. Same goes for our houses. We don’t think of running out of ice anymore because we’ve found a way for air conditioner to provide endless cooling, as long as we pay the bill.
The GreenHomes Partners I visited recently really know cooling. Just as important they understand how to keep the cool in your home as well with air-sealing and insulation so you can get by starting out with a smaller block of ice!
With the monster heat wave we’ve been having, a question that has come up several times this week—how can I add central air if I have a hot water heating system (and thus don’t have ducts to move the air)?
Minisplit air-conditioning is recognizable by it's slimmer--and quieter--outdoor condensing unit.
The good news is that there is a great answer—ductless minisplits. And mini-splits have some big advantages going for them.
Mini-splits are some of the most efficient systems available, and you know we’re a fan of efficiency.
Mini-splits come in smaller sizes, better matching cooling “loads” in the house. And as you’ve heard me say, when it comes to A/C, bigger is NOT better.
Not only do they come in smaller sized, but they can also modulate the amount of heating or cooling by varying the refrigerant flow to dial is the amount of cooler you need now, not just what you need on the worst day (see bigger is not better, above).
With no ducts, there is no duct leakage.
They are really quiet!
The indoor units, while different than a simple grill, can usually be unobtrusively tucked away, like in this hallway, for instance.
Mini-split systems have a different design aesthetic, and some people don’t look the way the look. However, it’s often possible to tuck them in an unobtrusive location where they’re barely noticed. And there are options like a “ceiling cassette” with is mounted above the ceiling with just a grill visible. Ducted mini-splits are another option. The allow you to hide the unit, in a soffit for example, and use short ducts for the return and supply air. With the ducted systems, you can allow feed multiple rooms from a hallway, for example.
A mini-split system is often more expensive than bolting on A/C to an existing warm air furnace and duct system. But it is usually less expensive than adding A/C and ductwork if you have a hot water system already. And because of the smaller sizes available, mini-splits are often a better choice for a more efficient home—one where we’ve air-sealed, insulated, swapped out lighting and appliances for more efficient models, and upgraded windows.
So, if you’ve got hot water heating, whether it’s baseboard, radiators, and in-floor radiant, don’t sweat it. Ask us if a mini-split might be a great cooling solution for you.
The incredible heat wave continues across the Midwest and the East Coast. To temperatures pushing—or passing—100 degrees, add stifling humidity the bump the heat index over 120 in some places. In this case, it’s the heat AND the humidity.
While our friends down in Houston are used to this, and they’ve got the air-conditioning to deal with it. This is beyond what many people and homes and buildings in the East and Midwest are prepared for. And the heat can be deadly. So it’s worth taking a few minutes to talk about what you can do.
We often providing cooling tips, and they’re worth revisiting. But let’s hit a couple of important reminders for you and your home to help get through this.
Keeping your person cool
Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic, and without caffeine), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you get thirsty to drink. Warning: if your doctor has you limiting fluids or reducing water, check in with her to find your specific recommendation. Remember, if you’re sweating a lot, you need to replace electrolytes, too. I like a diluted sports drink (otherwise they can be too sweet).
If possible, stay indoors in an air-conditioned space. If you don’t have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library–or the time-honored tradition of going to a movie theater. Might be a good reason to go so Harry Potter again! Some locals might have heat-relief shelters. Check with your local health department.
Go swimming in a cool pool. Take a cold shower or a cold bath. (Not a hot shower or hot bath!) Cooler water can be an excellent way to cool down your body temperature.
If you’re going to be outside, try to do it early in the day or late in the evening when it’s generally cooler. Try to avoid heavy exercise in the heat.
The Centers for Disease Control has a helpful Extreme Heat guide the offers additional details and advice.
Keeping your home cool
According to CDC, air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death. Room air-conditioners can help. And installing a central AC unit is usually done in a day.
Keep the heat out! During the day, if it’s cooler inside than outside, keep windows shut. And keep window shades down to block out direct sunlight. Open the windows at night if it’s cooler outside than in.
Fans to the outside—blowing in either direction—can help if it is cooler outside than inside. But they’re counterproductive if it’s hotter outside. Ceiling fans (and other fans) help you stay comfortable—but only while you’re in the room. The fan motors actually generate heat, so turn them off when you’re not there.
Finally, children, the elderly, and the sick, are especially susceptible to heat. Keep a close eye on them.
Of course, contact us if you’d like more permanent, energy-efficient solutions. But in the meantime, be safe, and stay cool.
OK, I’ve been too danged busy. But my neighbors are out—between the crazy frequent rain storms this spring—working on their yards. Landscaping, planting flowers, planting trees. Energy geek that I am, I’m paying particular attention to the trees. Not because they’re sexy (they are!) or because I’m a treehugger (I’m not—too scratchy—I prefer to hug my wife), but because they can have a real impact on the comfort and energy use of a home.
The trees to the South and West around this Vermont home provide shade from the summer sun, but drop their leaves and let winter sun bathe the house.
The right tree (or bush or vine—you homebrewers, grow your own hops and save energy!) can provide shade (good in the summer), serve as a windbreak (good to protect you from those cold North winds), and chip away at your energy bills in other way.
What you should focus on with your shrubbery (said in my best Monty Pythonesque voice) depends on the climate—and the microclimate where you live. The Department of Energy dives into the weeds with some good guidance on landscaping to save energy. Here are the basics.
Maximize shade on the walls and windows, especially on the South and West, and the roof in the summer. A mature shade tree can dramatically reduce cooling costs. With enough trees, transpiration, can actually reduce air temperatures by up to five degrees.
Even ground cover, including grass, small plants, and bushes helps, staying cooler than bare ground. But use native plants that thrive with little water and minimal babysitting.
But…allow winter sun to hit south facing windows, especially in colder climates. And thus, think deciduous trees that drop their leaves in the fall. The heat from the sun helps warm your house.
Protect your home from cold winter winds…and hot summer winds if you use air-conditioning.
So planting the right tree in the right place is green times two. Or three.
You know I’m a fan of the CREE CR6 LED light. Mostly because it performs great. And partly because it’s energy efficient.
Standard incandescent lights waste about 90% of their energy use on producing heat instead of light. Think about that in the hot summer months every time you turn a light on!
Well, the folks at CREE found a good way to demonstrate this using the Easter Bunny.
Think about that as we head into the summer cooling season. You pay to waste electricity on inefficient lighting. And then you either sweat or pay again to remove the extra heat with your air-conditioner. A double whammy.
Our Home Performance technicians see some scary stuff out in the field, like giant wasps’ nests, creepy crawl spaces and immense icicles. But arguably the scariest of them all is the dreaded duct tape monstrosity! Often found lurking in basements and attics clinging to heating and cooling ducts, these efficiency eaters can range in size anywhere from a single stitch to multiple rolls.
This may seem crazy, but your standard cloth duct tape can and should be used to patch or repair virtually anything – except for ducts! These tapes just aren’t suitable for patching, repairing, or securing heating and cooling ducts. These tapes quickly deteriorate—sometimes within just a few months. They come unglued and allow air to leak in and out of your ducts, thereby letting your heated or cooler air to escape before its final destination. Yet, time and time again we see these silver-backed creatures in homes all across the county. Real HVAC professionals use mastic, a goopy white paste that has the consistency of peanut butter (we do NOT want to know what it tastes like!).
Do you have a duct tape monstrosity living in your house? A cobbled-together contraption, with failing joints and seams? Have you seen one while out on the job? We want to see it!
Example of improper use of duct tape
Have you used duct tape to fix your brother’s broken-down car? Is your private spaceship made out of 36% duct tape? Your daughter’s prom dress? We want to see those pictures too!
Mike Rogers exhibiting proper use of Duct Tape
We are awarding prizes to one winning photo from each of these two categories:
Best example of inappropriate duct tape use on an HVAC system.
Most creative use of duct tape – anywhere, on anything (keeping in mind this is a family program)!
Post your photo to our Facebook page wall by May 31 at 3 p.m. Eastern. We will announce the winners on Facebook and here on our blog. This contest has now ended!
The prizes:
For the bad duct-sealing example winner, a tub of mastic and a home energy-efficiency grab bag gift*.
For the creative-use winner, one large roll of duct tape (of course!) To be used for anything BUT your home’s ducts. And a home energy-efficiency grab bag gift*.
*Retail value of the grab bag not to exceed two twenty-dollar bills duct-taped together. Not exchangeable, not redeemable for cash, and definitely not to be taken internally! Open only to residents of the U.S. and Canada. GreenHomes employees, affiliates, vendors, their families, and pets are not eligible for the prizes—but we like seeing your pictures, too, so feel free to post them!
Young’s Air Conditioning of Los Banos, California came on board before the start of the New Year. Young’s is a family business with strong roots in Los Banos and a reputation as the area’s leading provider of energy efficient heating and cooling services. 
In the early part of the winter, we added three locations with Carolina Green Energy Systems. CGES is one of South Carolina’s oldest and largest comprehensive Home Performance Contractors, and we are proud to include them in the GreenHomes Network.
Also new in town is Air Rescue Air Conditioning of Tampa, Florida. This is our first partner from the Sunshine state. Air Rescue started in 1965, and is one of the oldest and largest residential HVAC contractors in the Tampa Bay Metro area. Air Rescue will service customers in over seven counties. 
