I noticed that Chevron has launched a new website,
willyoujoinus.com. The site boasts ways everyone can commit to using less energy in their daily lives. Particularly interesting is their interactive
Energy Generator, which calculates the impact each activity can have towards saving energy and conserving resources.
As a company that specializes in consulting our customers on
energy efficient heating and cooling methods, I'll keep you up to date as I find the latest initiatives to help put more of your energy dollars back into your pocket... and have a posative impact on the
environment.
Posted on: 10/27/2008 9:03:49 AM by Sam
A few weeks ago, I wanted to be sure you've
checked your furnace operation in preparation for the peak usage season. Now let's talk about the other method many people use for home heating. Keeping your fireplace safe this season will help ensure your family is comfortable until Spring flowers return.
While 40% of residential fires are contributed to cooking (the leading cause), heating-related fire is the leading cause in rural areas, accounting for 28% of total residential building fires (the second leading cause)*. So when you crank up the fireplace this season, also remember to use common sense and keep safety first.
- Have a fire extinguisher near your fireplace at all times.
- Always check that the fireplace damper is open before starting a fire. Do not close the damper until all embers have completely gone out. Most fire victims die from smoke or toxic gas inhalation.
- Only burn specified fireplace articles. Never burn garbage, plastic or foreign objects.
- Be sure holiday trees, gift wrap and decorations are at least 5 feet away from fireplaces at all times. Flammable decorative items increase the incidence of holiday fires.
- Close your fire gate to prevent sparks from entering the living space.
Also be sure everyone in the family knows where fire extinguishers are located and have fire department phone numbers posted on your refrigerator and near home phones. Just a little fire prevention and common sense will go a long way to ensuring you have a warm cozy heating season. Enjoy your fall and winter family festivities!
Posted on: 10/20/2008 1:11:07 AM by Sam
There are several provisions of the revised
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA), just signed into law, that could help you
save hundreds of dollars in energy efficiency through tax rebates. In today's economic climate it's a great time to take advantage of every opportunity available to be green, and save green!
Economic policies are changing rapidly these days. I'll keep you posted whenever I find new ways for you to save more energy and money in your home.
Credit for Energy-Efficiency Improvements to Existing Homes
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 created a tax credit for homeowners who installed higher efficiency HVAC equipment in tax years 2006 and 2007. EESA extends the tax credit for energy-efficient purchases in 2009, and adds energy-efficient biomass fuel stoves – such as wood pellet stoves – as a new class of eligible energy efficient property. Taxpayers that have already claimed the maximum $500 in tax credits in 2006 or 2007 are not eligible to claim further credits in 2009.
- Furnace ($150) must have at least a 95% AFUE
- Air handler ($50) must utilize less than 2% of a furnace’s total energy consumption
- Central air conditioner ($300) must have a SEER of at least 15 and an EER of at least 13
- Electric heat pump ($300) must have at least an HSPF of 9, SEER of 15, and EER of 13
- Biomass fuel stove ($300) must have a thermal efficiency rating of 75% or greater
Residential Geothermal Heat Pump Tax Credit
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 contained a $300 tax credit for homeowners who installed geothermal heat pumps. EESA creates a new $2,000 tax credit for home owners who install a geothermal heat pump – not subject to the $500 cap established for the products referenced above. EESA also qualifies geothermal heat pumps for a $6,667 tax credit when used on a jointly occupied dwelling unit, condominium, or for owners of cooperative housing. In addition, the tax credit can be used to offset any Alternative Minimum Tax liability. The new credit is retroactive for 2008 and continues through 2016.
- Geothermal heat pump ($2,000) must meet Energy Star requirements in effect at the time that the expenditure for such equipment is made – credit amount is 30% of the total expenditure, capped at $2,000
Residential Photovoltaic Property Tax Credit
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 created a tax credit for homeowners who installed photovoltaic (solar energy) property for their residence. The law extends the credit for residential photovoltaic property through 2016 and removes the credit cap (currently $2,000) for solar electric investments.
- Photovoltaic property (30% of total expenditure) must use solar energy to generate electricity for a residence, and must meet applicable fire and electrical code requirements
Homebuilder Credit for Energy-Efficiency Improvements to New Homes
Under current law, homebuilders receive a credit for the construction of energy-efficient new homes that achieve a 30% or 50% reduction in heating and cooling energy consumption relative to a comparable dwelling. The credit equals $1,000 for homes meeting a 30% efficiency standard, $2,000 for homes meeting a 50% standard. EESA extends the new energy efficient home tax credit through 2009.
Energy-Efficient Buildings Deduction
Current law allows taxpayers to deduct the cost of energy-efficient property installed in commercial buildings. The amount deductible is up to $1.80 per square foot of building floor area for buildings achieving a 50% energy savings target. The energy savings must be accomplished through energy and power cost reductions for the building’s heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water, and interior lighting systems. EESA extends the energy efficient commercial buildings deduction for five years – through 2013.
15 Year Depreciation for Restaurant, Retail, and Other Qualified Property
The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 changed the depreciation period for qualified improvements of leasehold and restaurant property from 39 years – to 15 years. The provision applied to improvements that included new HVAC systems or refrigerators, and expired December 31, 2007. EESA reinstates the allowance for the accelerated depreciation retroactively for 2008 and goes through 2009. It also expands it to include leasehold improvements in buildings and restaurants less than three years old, as well as including retail space more than three years old on the eligible property list.
Of course, I'm a technician, not a tax adviser. So please be sure to check with a qualified CPA to see what programs are available to you. And if you need a little help understanding AFUE and SEER, see our handy
glossary.
Upgrading your heating and air conditioning equipment is really easy, and we have great
financing and discounts through November 14th. A new system consultation is
completely free, so just
call a location near you to learn what system options meet your needs.
Posted on: 10/10/2008 11:14:15 AM by Sam
When was the last time you sat down with your furnace manual? Have you ever had deep discussions with your spouse or co-workers about the inner workings of the magical box in the basement or attic that keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer? If you’re like most people, you leave it alone, it does its job and you basically forget it until there’s a glitch in the system and it fails to perform up to standard.
But if you pay attention and give your home comfort system a little TLC, it can reward you with years of efficient, money-saving comfort. Here are a few easy things you can do to keep it all running smoothly, and you don’t have to be a rocket scientist, either.
1. Clean the furnace filters or put in new ones. Dirty filters cause the equipment to work harder and that leads to early equipment failure and increased energy costs.
2. Remove clutter from around the furnace or air handler. Besides being a fire hazard, all that stuff blocks the air supply and reduces efficiency.
3. Check out the chimney or flue pipe to see if it is properly installed and working.
4. Listen for unusual sounds emanating from the furnace. The easiest way is to set the thermostat on heat and increase the temperature. Then, shut off the TV, send the kids out to play and listen. If you suspect something doesn’t sound just right,
contact us.
5. Clean return air duct grills. Simply vacuum the accumulated dust away so air can flow unobstructed.
6. Seal air ducts. Air leaks in duct work can reduce system efficiency by as much as 20 percent. And if you find a leak, call us for a
Home HealthTM Report Card evaluation.
Posted on: 10/6/2008 5:02:07 AM by Sam