Local Utilities and Ductless Heat Pumps: Together They Can Save Money on Monthly Energy Bills

Home Comfort has been installing Mitsubishi Ductless Heat Pumps like crazy lately–and it’s no surprise.  Between the Northwest Ductless Heat Pump Project and local utilities’ incentive programs, it just makes dollars and cents to install these systems into Oregon homes.

For one thing, Mitsubishi, one of our top-selling ductless heat pump manufacturers, is keeping on top of the latest in technology for our home owners. At the beginning of this month, for example, they released their Residential Load Calculator for iPads. This application allows users to calculate total block or room-by-room cooling and heating loads for residential and small commercial buildings.  Amazing!

This application offers technicians and contractors the ability to accurately size HVAC cooling and heating equipment and then submit required load calculation reports to local jurisdictions. The app, a variation of Carmel Software’s HVAC Residential Load Calcs HD app, is the first mobile HVAC load calculation software application available to take advantage of the simplicity, power and large screen size of the iPad.

To think that one of my friends, who just got an iPad for Mother’s Day, can now do this calculation in a matter of seconds is simply breathtaking!

Start saving money today by checking out the awesome product line offered by Mitsubishi Ductless Heat Pumps.  Home Comfort works with local utilities to help our customers save money, be it with iPad apps, utility rebates or simply saving money every month by using less energy with a ductless heat pump heating and cooling your home.

Reference:

http://www.mitsubishipro.com/en/professional/about-mitsubishi-electric/press-room/press-releases/ipad-app

Save Money on Your Cooling Bill This Summer!

Are you aware the up to half of your home’s energy is taken up by heating and cooling? It’s true! But don’t worry, there are ways to cool down the summer bills and keep the money burning a hole in your pocket.

If you change air filters on a regular basis, you will improve the efficiency of your cooling system and also keep the pollen levels down. A good rule of thumb is to change the filter at least every 3 months — and monthly during the summer and winter.

Regular, professional HVAC maintenance will save you money in the long run.  It’s just like taking your car to get the oil changed and the belts replaced.

Sealing and insulating heating and cooling ducts can make a huge improvement, creating up to a 20 percent more efficient usage.  Every crack and crevice where air can seep through adds up to take away from the efficiency of your system.

Installing a programmable thermostat is perfect for people who are away for recurring periods during the week, or vacations.  Even on a day to day basis, programming the temperature changes can save you a lot of money.

These are just a few important tips on how to keep your cooling load manageable.  Call Home Comfort today to schedule any of the above services.  We are quick and efficient, ready to take your call!

Home Comfort Takes HVAC to Pinterest!

Home Comfort now has pins to peruse on Pinterest-the fastest growing social networking site ever!  What does this mean?  Well, we’re just getting started, but right now we have some lovely pictures of recent jobs we have completed, to give you an idea of the amazing work we are capable of doing for you.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web, including heating and air conditioning products.  You can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. To get started, request an invite.

Uponor Heating Systems – A Radiant Household

Radiant floor heating may seem like a new method of heating on the market, but it was actually invented by the Romans!  Even dating before the Roman Empire, Archeological digs in Asia and the Aleutian islands of Alaska reveal how the inhabitants drafted smoke from fires through stone covered trenches which were excavated in the floors of their subterranean dwellings. The hot smoke heated the floor stones which then radiated into the living spaces. These early forms have evolved into modern systems using fluid filled pipes or electrical cables and mats.

Uponor has taken this simple concept to the modern level.  Now radiant heat is more economical than ever before.  While fuel prices seem destined to skyrocket, radiant heat can dramatically reduce heating bills.  Because it distributes heat evenly across each room, you don’t have to crank up the thermostat to reach the chilliest corners.  And it is perfect for homes with vaulted ceilings, which comprise a high percentage of home being built these days.

With Uponor, you’ll be comfy wherever you happen to be. Crawling babies are warmer. Bare feet are warmer. It’s nicer to snuggle up on the floor in front of an old movie. Radiant
heat feels better all around.

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underfloor_heating

http://www.uponor-usa.com/Header/Systems/Heating/For-Homeowners/Resources.aspx

EWEB’s Weatherization Plus Program Makes Home Comfort Possible

It has been said that you have to make money to save money, but sometimes that feels so unfair!  In home energy, for example, you can save big money by upgrading your outdated system-but that costs money many of us simply do not have in these tough economic times.

Eugene Water and Electric Board introduced the Weatherization Plus Program to assist limited-income customers with upgrading their heating and air conditioning systems so they can start saving money right away.  It is a win-win!

The eligibility requirements are simple: be an EWEB customer, rent or own a home with electric heat, and meet certain income requirements.

First, contact EWEB to let them know you are interested in the program.  You will be assigned an account manager who will help you through the process.

Next, use their list of approved contractors to collect at least two bids for the work to be done.  Home Comfort is one of these contractors, so please call us for a free estimate.  We work frequently with EWEB in the Weatherization Plus Program.

Then provide your account manager copies of each bid.  you will then receive a grant authorization letter to confirm the contribution amount to be given by EWEB, either in the form of a grant or loan approval.

You may then authorize the contractor to schedule the work.

It’s that easy!  Call EWEB’s Energy Management Services department at (541) 685-7000 to apply today.

The income requirements are listed below:

Household size	Annual income	Monthly income
1	$22,493.00	$1,874.43
2	$29,414.00	$2,451.17
3	$36,335.00	$3,027.92
4	$43,256.00	$3,604.67
5	$50,177.00	$4,181.41
6	$57,098.00	$4,758.16
7	$58,396.00	$4,866.30
8	$59,693.00	$4,974.40
Each additionalmember	$1,298.00	$108.17

Put Money in Your Pockets Every Month: Savings Tips

Utility increases and rising gas prices have all put a dent in our wallets but there is one way to fight back and save money every month:  with energy efficient Energy Star equipment in your home.

Energy Star gives dozens of tips to homeowners looking to offset increased monthly budgets.  Their website outlines each and every room in your home and the many places, some unexpected, that you can save money.  Home Comfort is a full-service business capable of helping you to save money in each of the following areas of your home or business:

Heating and Air Conditioning

Plumbing

Electrical Contracting and Service

Plumbing for Commercial and Residential, New Construction or Retrofit

Here are the areas you can save money every month by upgrading to Energy Star equipment installed by Home Comfort:

Your Air Conditioning Unit

When buying new heating and cooling equipment such as a central air conditioning unit, proper sizing and quality installation are critical to your home’s energy efficiency and comfort. Remember: Bigger doesn’t always mean better.  Oversizing also can shorten the life of the equipment by causing it to cycle on and off more frequently than a properly sized unit. However, undersized equipment can reduce the efficiency and accelerate wear on system components, leading to early failure.

Upgrading Attic Ventilation

Proper ventilation of the attic with natural air flow keeps the roof deck cool and dry, extending the life of roof shingles and preventing ice dams without using the energy needed to run an attic vent fan.

Sealing Ducts

Look for holes, tears, and other signs of leaking ducts and seal them. Ducts are used to distribute conditioned air throughout houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems. In typical houses, about 20% of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts. The result is an inefficient HVAC system, high utility bills, and difficulty keeping the house comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set.

Air Registers

Make sure that the connections at vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet the floors, walls, and ceiling. These are common locations to find leaks and disconnected ductwork. Also make sure that all vents are clear of any furniture or rugs to improve air flow and comfort.

Sink Faucets

Repair any faucet leaks. A leaky faucet can waste gallons of water.

You could waste up to $35 in electricity or in natural gas with a leaky hot water tap. Fixing drips is a cost-effective and easy way to save energy.

Electrical Outlets

Seal holes around outlets with an inexpensive outlet gasket. So simple!

Power Strips

Use a power strip as a central “turn off” point when you are done using equipment.

Even when turned off, electronic and IT equipment often use a small amount of electricity. U.S. households spend approximately $100 per year to power devices while they are in a low power mode, roughly 8 percent of household electricity costs. Using a power strip for your computer and all peripheral equipment allows you to completely disconnect the power supply from the power source, eliminating standby power consumption.

Light Fixtures

Install ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures or replace standard light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that have earned the ENERGY STAR. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting provides bright, warm light while using 75% less energy, generating 70% less heat and lasting up to 10 times longer than standard lighting.

Water Heater

By heating water only when you need it, tankless water heaters that have earned the ENERGY STAR save the typical family more than $80 per year on gas bills compared to a standard storage model. Larger families can save even more.

Choosing a gas storage water heater that has earned the ENERGY STAR instead of a standard model can save $20 a year. That’s a $290 savings over the 13-year lifetime of the water heater.

If you have an older water heater, you can improve its insulation by wrapping it with an insulating jacket and save more than $30 per year in excess heat loss. To help keep your hot water from cooling off before it gets to the tap, you can insulate the hot water piping, leaving the water heater for additional savings. Don’t forget to turn off electric water heaters and turn down gas water heaters when going away on vacation.

Reference:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.es_at_home_tips

Programming Your Thermostat-Maximize Your Home Efficiency

It can be easy to overlook that little panel on the wall that controls your home’s heating and air conditioning.  Homeowner’s be warned-that thermostat could be costing you hundreds of dollars every year if it is not properly programmed.

Programmable thermostats can help make your home feel more comfortable and allow you to save energy as well. In order to get the most out of your digital thermostat, it helps to have some advice on how to properly use it.

Programmable thermostats respond to changes in the house’s temperature, so you do not want to install it anywhere near a window or a vent. The air blowing directly on the thermostat could give it a false reading.

When you program your thermostat, be sure to set it to energy efficient temperatures for extended periods of time. Set it for its lowest point during the eight hours you and your family will be sleeping and the eight hours you are at work and your children are at school. Set it at the highest points for the times when you and your family are home in the morning and evening. To make your home a little warmer during the day on weekends and holidays, use the manual adjust to raise the temperature slightly.

Many homeowners also find programmable thermostats convenient for keeping the house comfortable for pets, and warm enough to prevent water pipes from freezing and bursting, when the homeowners are away on vacation. Your digital thermostat may have a vacation feature that allows you to create a temperature program for use during these times. Be sure to use it to maximize the efficiency of your thermostat.

During a routine maintenance, Home Comfort technicians are happy to take a look at your thermostat’s programming and help set it to be more comfortable and energy efficient.  The savings you get from a proper thermostat control system can more than pay for the cost of maintenance.  We also carry a line of thermostats on our trucks with a variety off features and we can help you choose the best model for you.  Call us today to schedule a money-saving appointment!