How big is my footprint?

Changing a few everyday habits can change the size of your carbon footprint. Little steps add up over time, like growing some of your own vegetables or nudging your thermostat up a degree or two on summer evenings.
Using the sun's power can help reduce the greenhouse gases needed to run your home comfortably, as well as your utility bills. That may mean adding skylights or installing an air conditioner or heat pump that is solar-ready, like the new SunSource™ Home Energy System from Lennox. These systems use roof-mounted solar modules to harness clean, sustainable energy from the sun and use it to run the home's central cooling and heating system.
If you'd like to calculate your current carbon footprint, try this online calculator from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Energy Savings Calculator from Lennox can show you other ways to walk more lightly on the earth.

Considering Solar…?

Some thoughts from our friends at Lennox:

It can't get much cheaper than free.Solar-energy systems allow you to capture free sunlight and convert it into usable power in your home.

It’s clean.Solar energy can be used to heat and cool your home, but it has almost no impact on the global climate. By comparison, electricity generated by power plants produces carbon dioxide emissions that scientists say pose serious threats to the environment.

It’s infinitely renewable.While nonrenewable energy sources like oil, gas and coal are becoming increasingly scarce, the sun’s energy is limitless. Wherever sunlight shines, electricity can be generated.

It can reduce your utility costs.Having a system that creates solar energy means you use less electricity from your utility company, and that can contribute to lower heating and cooling costs. This is significant, especially when you consider 56% of energy use in a typical U.S. home comes from heating and cooling*. (*U.S. Department of Energy statistics)

It increases your energy self-reliance.The more sunlight harnessed by the system, the less electricity you need from your utility supplier.

It can also increase your home’s value.An investment in a solar-energy system may improve the value of your home, thanks to its ability to lower the cost of heating and cooling. Surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have shown that home values rise an average of $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills.

It’s extremely reliable.The sun has been around for billions of years and is likely to burn on for billions more to come. And when you consider how a trusted name like Lennox is putting it to economical use in the home, it’s easy to see solar energy’s future is bright.

Air filter change… How often really?

For your health as well as the life of your HVAC system changing your filter every month is a good plan. Not only are you reducing pollen, dust and other allergens, you are also keeping dirt and other particulates from building up in your system. This build up can lead to your system failing earlier than it should. Your air conditioner or heat pump will have to work harder to push air through a dirty filter. Keeping you cool this summer shouldn’t mean a higher than necessary electrical bill either.
Check on the filters every month. If it is dirty, replace it. Otherwise, replace that filter, at the very least, every 90 days.

Bigger is not always better.

So the addition to the home is complete and now it is time to address the cooling and heating system. Put in a system that is too small and it will not have enough power to keep your homes climate comfortable. Go too big and the system will cycle on and off frequently, wasting a lot of electricity as well as shortening the life span of the unit.

Getting the size right will help keep the electricity bills low and the home feeling just right. If a remodel is in your future, an HVAC professional can give you the guidance as to what size unit would be the way for you to proceed with. The dealer will also be able to test the air flow of the installed unit and adjust it accordingly. Tuning in the air flow will help make a difference in the performance of the unit as well as saving you money by doing so.

There are plenty of other ways to save money and we would love to answer any questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

10 Tips for a safer home this summer

1. Keep your garage door opener inside your home, instead of in your car, when it’s parked outside. Put it with your car keys so you don’t forget it when you leave.


2. Make a plan for summer storms. Assemble a disaster kit with first-aid supplies, water, canned food and a NOAA weather radio at a minimum. A backup generator will keep the lights on during unexpected utility outages.


3. Organize a neighborhood watch. It’s an effective way to prevent crime, and a good way to get to know your neighbors better.


4. Protect your home’s air from chemical vapors and other contaminants. Choose an air purification system with a MERV 16 filter to remove vapors, odors, mold spores, viruses, bacteria, pollen and allergens.


5. If you buy a new TV or computer, don’t leave the empty box out for trash pickup.Break down the package and turn the flat sheets blank side up, or take it to a recycling center.


6. Control ozone pollution inside your home. Some ionizers and air cleaners actually create ozone; choose one that doesn’t.


7. Trim bushes and trees away from windows and doors to reduce hiding places for vandals. Tree limbs and branches should be trimmed no lower than seven feet from the ground.


8. Close your garage door. Keep doors and windows locked and remember to activate your burglar alarm when you leave for vacation.


9. Control mold by reducing humidity. Mold can cause headaches, trigger allergies and turn your home into a serious health hazard. Humidity levels should be kept between 30 percent and 50 percent.


10. Keeping a large dog bowl at your back door may help fool intruders. It suggests the presence of a big dog in your home!

Top 10 Tips for spring storm preparation

1. Find your safest place to wait out a storm.

If you don’t have a basement or storm shelter, choose a small room without windows such as a bathroom or central closet. Discuss this location with everyone in your family.

2. Create a storm emergency kit. In a waterproof container, place flashlights, a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, blankets, a first-aid kit, non-perishable food and a large container of drinking water.
3. Invest in a generator. If your power goes out, a home generator can restore electricity safely in as little as 10 seconds.

4. Survey trees for weak branches. Remove loose tree limbs to keep them from falling on your home or car during a storm.

5.Buy a NOAA Weather Radio. Available online or from electronics stores, weather radios broadcast warnings, watches and other weather information from the nearest National Weather Service office 24 hours a day, even when the TV or other radios are turned off.

6. Put aside some emergency cash. If the power is out, ATMs and credit cards can’t be used.

7. Secure artwork and other loose items. Use v-hooks instead of nails to mount paintings, which will allow artwork to shift without falling off the wall.

8. Clear your yard. Keep bikes, shovels and other items in the garage so they aren’t flung around by windstorms.

9. Document your home’s contents. Walk through every room of your home to prepare a list of possessions, taking photos and videos, to help with insurance claims later.

10. Check your insurance policies. Make sure your home and auto policies provide adequate coverage for wind and hail storms.

There is $500 to save from five rooms in your home.

Smart energy efficiency will lower your utility bills.  Here are 5 places to start.

·       There is $215 in your living room – Start by replacing 5 bulbs on the most used fixtures.  Compact fluorescent bulbs can reach a savings of $65 each in one year.  Not only do they use less energy, but they have a life span reaching 10 times longer than the incandescent bulbs you are now using.  That means savings for years to come.  Follow that up with a Lennox ComfortSense 7000 thermostat and add another $150 per year to the living rooms savings.  In the summer, for instance, this unit will managing your cooling dollars by lowering the temperature while you are at home and let it alone while you are at work or sleeping.

·       $145 is sitting in the bathroom.  By replacing your shower a 2.5-gallon per minute model and keeping your shower time to 10 minutes you are going to be saving 5 gallons and up to $145 per year.

·       You can gather up another $74 from the laundry room.  Buying cold-water laundry detergent will save $24 - $40 in fuel costs to heat water each year.  $34 is stuck in the lint trap.  Cleaning this trap out each load will help increase the drying efficiency of your dryer.

·       Find $36 in your basement.  Take the temperature down on the hot water heater a little to 120 degrees.  This small adjustment can reach as high as $61 each year in savings.

·       Check the kitchen for another $35.  Just one drip per second from a leaking hot water fixture equals 1,661 gallons of water in just one year.  Fixing these leaks is an easy way to save electricity or natural gas.

This list can go on and on.  Some homes will even be able to save more per room than our estimates.  The point is that every little bit helps.  Starting room by room makes it easier to get hold of things and start heading down that road of energy efficiency.

Source: James & Morris Carey

Top 10 ways to control allergies - From our friends at Lennox

1. Turn on your A/C. Your air conditioning system not only filters the air inside your home, it helps remove excess moisture that can lead to allergy-triggering mold and mildew. Buy a humidity gauge at a home improvement store; if your home's humidity registers above 50% with the air conditioner on, your system may not be sized properly.

2. Change your furnace filter. Inspecting and replacing your furnace filter regularly helps your HVAC system filter out allergens more efficiently.

3. Leave your shoes at the door. And change your clothes after spending time outdoors. Otherwise you're simply tracking in pollen and other outdoor allergens and distributing them throughout your home.

4. Wash sheets and pillowcases weekly in hot water. Encasing pillows, mattresses and box springs in plastic covers will also help control the growth of dust mites.

5. Install an air purifier like the PureAir™ Air Purification System from Lennox.Air purifiers remove small, breathable particles of dust, dirt, pollen and allergens to improve your home's air quality. The PureAir system also removes airborne mold spores, bacteria, viruses, odors and chemical vapors to help you breathe a sigh of relief.

6. Kill mold now. If you're allergic to pollen and pet dander, you're probably sensitive to mold spores, too. Mold loves to grow where it's warm and damp (like the bathroom), so each week clean bath mats in hot water and clean the corners of your shower or tub. Always turn on the ventilation fan while you're taking a shower.

7. Use a germicidal light to kill contaminants. Ultraviolet lights like the Healthy Climate® UV Germicidal Light attach to your home's furnace or air handler, destroying contaminants at their source and removing them before the air is recalculated into your home.

8. Target pests. Cockroaches and mice have allergens in their saliva and droppings that can make you sneeze. Be sure to clean regularly under your stove and refrigerator to remove crumbs, and don't leave dishes in the sink.

9. Vacuum using a HEPA filter system or double-layer bags. Dust mites take up residence in your living room, bedroom, anywhere there's upholstery and carpet. Use the vacuum's upholstery attachment to remove pet hair from furniture, and keep pets off chairs as much as possible.

10. Remove clutter. Knickknacks, books, magazines and stuffed animals collect dust. Store them away in plastic bins to keep your home cleaner.

Residential Energy Savings

Take a summer vacation from high-energy bills with these tips.

• Swimming pools are a wonderful part of summer but you should take a loo at some potential savings that get ignored.  Trim the hours of pump operation back to a minimum.  Figure out the bare minimum needed to keep the pool clean and grab the savings.  Also, the cover will keep the heat in.  Keep the cover on the pool when it is not being used and keep the heat in.
• Plating trees now for the summers ahead will provide energy saving shade in the near future.  Deciduous trees will also lose their leaves in the winter allowing the sun to shine through and help add a little heat to the home as well.
• Do the laundry… all at once.  It may sound silly but it will actually save money. By doing load after load you don’t let the dryer cool down completely.  To really save some cash, hang clothes to dry outside.
• Pull the curtains away from vents and make sure furniture is not covering them as well.  Along with lamps placed too close to the thermostat these issues force your air conditioner to work more than it needs to.
• Consider a chimney cleaning.  Sounds crazy, we know.  However by doing it now you will avoid the wait that comes in the winter and may even see a savings due to off season rates.
• Your air conditioner and your conventional oven do not get along.  Consider summer BBQ’s, slow cookers, and even the microwave to make dinner.  Firing up the oven could add up to 30% more to energy bills.*

Keep your eyes peeled for these and other types of savings out there this summer. Enjoying the weather is just that much better when you are saving money at the same time.

*Source: Progress Energy

Warning Signs Of Home-Improvement Scams

•	Avoid contractors who say they “were working in the neighborhood” and noticed some problems with your home, like driveway cracks or missing roof shingles. Even if there are problems, don’t allow yourself to be pressured into making immediate repairs. Watch out for an offer of a “special” that’s good for one day only.
•	Ask friends and neighbors for their recommendations and ask any contractor for the names and contact information of satisfied customers in your neighborhood. If they won’t give you a referral, watch out.
•	Some scam artists may offer to inspect your HVAC system or clean your chimney at a price that sounds much too good to be true. Once they’ve started, they might claim, for example, that your chimney is in immediate need of structural repairs and show you bricks and mortar removed from it as “proof.” If this happens, contact your local energy utility or a contractor you trust to inspect your system.
•	Watch out for companies that go door-to-door to find customers. Here’s a flashing warning sign: their vehicle lists no company name or phone number, or it has out-of-state license plates. Make sure the contractor can provide a business card and a street address where the company does business. (It may be the contractor’s home address, and that’s ok, as some small-business owners work out of their homes.)
•	Ask for proof of qualifications, such as membership in a professional organization like NATE, North American Technician Excellence. This is the only national testing and certification program accepted by the entire HVAC industry.
•	Don’t settle for a hasty price quote to cover a complicated repair. Legitimate contractors won’t scribble on a scrap of paper: they’ll provide you with a detailed written quote – breaking out labor and parts costs – after thoroughly examining the problem. One exception is a small, basic repair, which may have a standard fee.
•	While legitimate contractors may expect a down payment before beginning a job, scam artists will often insist that you pay in full before they start any project.

Make sure equipment is the right size for your home

A bigger diamond is better.  A bigger bonus is better.  Isn't bigger always better?  Not exactly.  When it comes to your homes HVAC system the fact is that bigger isn't always better.  It is important to get an air conditioner, furnace or any type of HVAC unit that fits your homes demands.  A system that is too big will cycle on and then off again frequently.  That is going to waste energy and run the unit ragged.  Also it will not run long enough to get the humidity removed from the air.  That will have a negative impact on the comfort and health of your home.  Be sure to call one of our HVAC professionals out to your home.  They can take a look around and give you some advice on just what you may be interested in.   We are available and are glad to help.

Did you know:

In 1939 Packard Motor Car Company markets an automobile with air conditioning offered as an option for $274. The refrigeration compressor runs off the engine, and the system has no thermostat. It discharges the cooled air from the back of the car.

Spring Tune-Up

Summer is just around the corner and will be here before you know it. And while you air conditioner worked last season it requires regular maintenance in order to run at its optimal efficient and prevent major breakdowns when it’s the hottest out.

Having a spring tune up on your air conditioner is a great idea. The benefits are great and the pieces of mind you will have help you sleep sound at night.

You will enjoy:

• Lower energy bills
• Prevents sudden breakdowns
•  Cleaner indoor air quality
•  Extends the life of your system
•  Increase overall efficiency

A yearly tune-up includes an inspection all working parts of the system and includes checking your air filter, ducts, vents and blower motor for good operation and cleanliness.

Contact Cool-o-Matic today to talk to us about a spring tune up for system!

Humidifiers. All you need to know.

Maybe you have noticed your home being a little more dry then usual. Well having a whole-house humidifier is the solution to dry air in your home. There are a couple of solutions that can fix the problem.

You could use a portable humidifier but that only helps a single room. You will still have dry air lingering around the house. This is where a whole house solution is the best bet to keep your home at the right humidity.

Having the advantage of being mounted directly inside your heating ducts, a whole house humidifier adds water vapor to the entire air system in your home to evenly disturbed moisture in the house. Using a system like this will keep you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.