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 

  

New Podcast

Environmental Heating and Air has decided that to further reach out to our customers we should try something new and informative, and the podcast is that something!  With this new podcast, we will cover areas such as interviewing representatives from Lennox and Carrier, as well as giving info and tips about getting the most from your household heating and air system while saving money.

Podcasts are an amazing way to be able to share information  and provide entertainment to people all over the world via the internet.  It allows basically anyone to be able to make a 'radio style' program from anywhere at any time.  There are now literally thousands of podcasts made every day across the nation and the number is rapidly increasing.  Imagine waking up every morning and now turning on a podcast that will cover exactly what you want to hear about instead of turning on a regular broadcast radio program and having to sit and listen to the stuff you don't care about just to hear the little portion at the end that you were waiting to hear.  Podcasts are the future and as usual, we here at Environmental are already on it!  So stay tuned in to the blog and our web page for information on when our first podcasts will become available!

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

Chapel Hill Revision

The lovely town of Chapel Hill NC has recently made a change to its policies on construction and the installation of Carbon Monoxide detectors.  The new revision will affect all newly constructed homes and the replacement or addition of a gas furnace system.  The new revision is as follows:

1. R313.1.1  In new construction dwelling, units shall be provided with an approved carbon monoxide alarm installed outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedroom(s) as directed by the alarm manufacturer.
2. R313.1.2  In existing dwellings where interior alterations, repairs, fuel-fired appliances replacement or additions requiring a permit occurs or where one or more sleeping rooms are added or created, an approved carbon monoxide detector shall be provided.
3. R313.1.3  The required carbon monoxide alarms shall be audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed.

I will continue to post any revisions for the Triangle area as they are released and become available.  We here at Environmental are always striving to do the best possible job we can whilst adhering to all local laws and ordinances.  If you have any questions regarding hvac rules and regulations, just give us a call!

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

Furnace Filter MERV Ratings

The quality of air filter for your furnace is a very important aspect of your heating system, and hopefully you want the best grade filter as it directly impacts the air you are breathing in your home.  Air filters are rated according to MERV, which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value.  Here are some quick facts about MERV:

1. MERV ratings range from 1 - 16 and measurements are in microns. Some of the common particles related to MERV ratings are household dust, pet dander, viruses, tobacco smoke, mold spores, bacteria and pollen.
2. The most common filters found in homes today have a MERV rating of 1 to 4. Typically these are disposable fiberglass filters purchased from a big box store and do not do a good job of air filtration because they don’t stop particles smaller than 10 microns. Improper air filtration can lead to air conditioner and/or furnace problems as well as poor indoor air quality.
3. Merv 5 to 8 rated filters are a better choice. These filters will not only keep your equipment running clean and efficient when properly maintained, they also do a better job of filtering smaller dust particles (as small as 3 microns) that trigger symptoms with allergy sufferers.
4. Filters with a MERV rating of 9 to 12 are considered high-efficiency filters and capture particulate in the 1 to 3 micron range. These filters are a great choice for home owners who want the best air filtration at an affordable price. Much like the higher rated MERV 5-8 filters, these filters should also be replaced at regular intervals to avoid wasted energy, premature repairs or breakdown to your heating and air conditioning equipment.
5. The most efficient filters have MERV ratings of 13 to 16 (HEPA air filter) and will stop particles as small as .3 microns. These filters are hospital grade and have been adapted for use in residential applications. Super high efficiency air filters should be installed by a professional heating and air conditioning contractor. Improper installations could lead to severe damage to your furnace or air conditioner.
6. Merv Griffin hosted his own talk show and created the game shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

Always remember, no matter which kind of filter you choose to have in your system, they all need to be changed regularly.  The best possible filter will do you no good if it never gets changed and gets all clogged up with dust and other such particles, SO KEEP THOSE FILTERS CHANGED!!

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