Solar Incentives Heating Up In Congress

As I have mentioned before, solar/green energy is having a huge impact on the way America and the rest of the world is saving money and the environment.  In the spirit of keeping up with the latest news on the environment and society's impact on it, I stumbled across a great little article discussing less dependence on fossil fuels and adopting more of a dependence on renewable resources like solar energy.  It also discusses how the government is involved in this process.  I encourage you all to take a quick minute to read this article, it's fairly short so it won't take much of your time and it's a good little read.  I added the link below, check it out:

http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/solar-energy-news-recap-022111/

--Nickadeemus
919-535-8422
www.enviro-nc.com

Benefits of Maintenance Agreements

Whether you hear it referred to as planned maintenance, customer loyalty program, yearly service agreement, or preventative maintenance plan, the overall premise of maintenance agreements is fairly simple: you sign up for a once or twice a year tune-up/cleaning of your heating and a/c system.  Many homeowners ponder on whether or not this agreement is worth the money.  Here at Environmental when you sign up for a Preventative Maintenance Plan, you not only get two visits a year by a trained and certified technician who methodically checks everything from the electrical connections to the air filters, you also get a 10% discount off any parts and labor that may be required during the year of your contract as well as preferred scheduling for any appointments you may need.

A Preventative Maintenance Contract can more than pay for itself in fewer emergency repairs and lower utility bills alone.  There are a multitude of things that can cause your heating and a/c unit to fail as well as take years off it's life, and most of these things can't be found unless you are proactive and have someone with a trained eye who can spot the immediate warning signs.  Whether it's low refrigerant in your heat pump(which can cause your heat strips to stay on all the time during the winter = high energy bill) or a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger(which produces the deadly gas Carbon Monoxide), there really is no downside to signing up for a Preventative Maintenance Contract.  If nothing else it will be to have the peace of mind knowing that you don't have to worry about your heating and a/c, as we keep a detailed record of your system's specifications and tendencies.  To learn more about Environmental's Preventative Maintenance Plan or if you have any questions about anything else we can help you with, please visit our website or give us a call!

--Nickadeemus
www.enviro-nc.com 
919-535-8422

Indoor Air Pollution Facts

Air pollution contributes greatly to most respiratory illnesses and conditions, with lung disease claiming close to 335,000 lives in America every year and is the third leading cause of death in the United States.  Now more than ever, it is time for people to evaluate what they are breathing in and what they can do to better these conditions.  Indoor air quality is way more important than most people think.  Things such as headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue are some examples of the effects of poor indoor air quality.  Biological pollutants including molds, bacteria, viruses, pollen, dust mites, and animal dander promote poor indoor air quality and may be a major cause of days lost from work and school.  Keeping your home's air filters regularly changed with pleated filters, not the cheap poly kind, is one of the easiest and most effective methods of battling these airborne hazards.

People that live in environments with high humidity are especially at risk for problems associated with molds and bacteria.  Simple things such as  making sure bathrooms and kitchens have good air circulation and are cleaned regularly can have a big impact.  If you use a humidifier or dehumidifier, make sure the water is changed often and the container is cleaned regularly to prevent mildew forming.  Another fairly new method of achieving cleaner air is the use of UV lights in your heating and air system.  UV lights are used heavily by hospitals and other facilities that rely on a clean sterile atmosphere.  They are easy to install and are also relatively cheap considering the amazing job they do.

Finally, last but not least is the silent killer carbon monoxide.  Any appliance involving fuel burning stoves, furnaces, fireplaces, heaters, water heaters, and dryers is considered a combustible appliance.  Any one of these items I have just named is very capable of producing the odorless and colorless gas.  It is of the utmost importance that you own a carbon monoxide detector, it can save your life!  You can give us a call here at Environmental any time and we can get you what you need, whether it's just a suggestion or any one of the various incredibly effective Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) products we have on hand.

--Nickadeemus
919-535-8422
www.enviro-nc.com

Split System or Package Unit?

You may have heard the terms split system or package unit before, but do you know exactly what that means?  There is actually a big difference between the two, and as always the more you know the better off you are.

Split Systems have 3 main components:

• an outdoor metal cabinet that contains the condenser and compressor
• an indoor cabinet that contains the evaporator coil 
• an indoor air handler, that in most cases is part of the furnace or heat pump, that sends the cool or warm air through the duct system

Package units have the air handler and furnace(if applicable), evaporator coil, condenser, and compressor all located in one cabinet, which usually is placed on a concrete slab next to the house's foundation.  Air supply and return ducts come from indoors through the home's exterior wall to connect with the outdoor packaged unit.

As far as price is concerned, the outright cost of the package unit is a little more expensive than the cost of a split system.  But after the cost of labor is added in, the price difference between the two systems is minuscule.  Labor tends to be a little more with the split systems because you are installing a unit outside the house and also in the attic or crawlspace, depending on the type of air handler.  Also, the package systems normally come pre-charged from the factory, whereas split systems cannot be charged until they have been set in place and the refrigerant lines have been brazed together.  Additionally, a leak check and a proper vacuum has to be put on the line set in order to achieve the proper charge.  So after all of this, the overall cost ends up being about the same between the two different systems.   

--Nickadeemus
919-535-8422
www.enviro-nc.com