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Local Government Helps Advance Energy Efficiency

With considerable advances in modern technology being made daily, it comes as no surprise that many people are turning their attention towards lowering energy costs and helping do their part to help conserve resources. Local state governments, in particular, can play a crucial role in aiming to help consumers lower their energy costs by passing laws and decrees that encourage people to be more energy-minded. Often, it is individual states that play the most essential roles in helping advance energy efficiency, or so says a new paper issued by the NGA, the National Governors Association. Individual governors can help promote efforts for advanced energy efficiency by reducing local state expenditures, allocating appropriate resources into projects that feature a beneficial energy plan, strengthening pre-existing heating and energy system reliabilities, and reduce general environmental impact with small projects. All of these things can be useful in improving energy efficiency rules and standards, as the governors have the power to begin legislature on updating energy efficient ideas. In particular, An Energy Efficiency Primer for Governors may be used as a reference point to help inspire ideas that can help make efficient energy more cost-effective for the consumer. Many local governors have begun to

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HVACR Industry Instructors Try to Keep Pace With Technological Advancements

Currently, the HVACR industry is undergoing many technological advancements. As a result, HVAC instructors are struggling to devise new methods to ensure that the new era of service technicians has the relevant expertise. In the past, even when new furnaces were introduced, there were only a few different kinds of control boards that were used by all manufacturers. Thus, while there was lots of different equipment to repair, it was all basically controlled in the same way. Hence, in the old days, maintenance and repairs were reasonably straightforward. Nowadays though, manufacturers have adopted the use of high end equipment. This is based around data highways, rather than thermostat wires. Such proprietary technology is much harder to service, if you are not the dealer for the equipment. With the design, controls and virtually everything related to HVAC systems becoming more complicated, many teachers are going back to basics to train the current crop of tech students. The physics of electrical theory and applied thermodynamics never changes. Warm air flows to become cold, subcooling and superheat are vital principals, and psychrometrics is essential. Students faced with the task of repairing a new, complicated system will find their ability to implement the fundamentals

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Title 24 – 2006 – California Code of Regulations for Energy Efficiency

Title 24 is a portion of the California Code of Regulations that pertains to energy efficiency standards in the construction of residential and non-residential buildings. It was enacted in 1978 (Warren- Alquist Act) in response to a legislative mandate to reduce California’s energy consumption. The California Energy Commission (CEC)put this ruling into effect to reduce energy bills, to increase energy delivery system reliability and to contribute to an improved economic condition for the state. Since 1978, several amendments were made to update energy standards as a reflection of improvements in energy technology and energy conservation. Effective October 1, 2005, the CEC updated Title 24 standards to further reduce California’s energy consumption. Starting on this date, when a CA homeowner is changing out the heating or air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment (the air handler, the outdoor condenser of a split air-conditioner or heat pump, cooling or heating coil, or the furnace heat exchanger) in an existing house, contractors in certain climate zones will be required to test the ducts for leakage and seal the leaking ducts. Third-party field verification by a certified home energy rater (HERS – Home Energy Rating Service) is also required to insure that the duct sealing is accomplished according

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What is two-stage heating?

As you start to explore heating options for your home or office, you may need to think about the types of furnaces on the market. A two-stage heating furnace may work best in settings requiring improved efficiency and a subtler heating experience. This is what you need to know to decide if a two-stage furnace is right for your space. What Two-Stage Heating Actually Means Furnace stages refer to the amount of heat allowed to pass through the system. A valve controls the burner, and different settings change the position of the valve to influence the heat output. Most furnaces (single-stage furnaces) have one setting: you can turn them on or off. When using a single stage system on milder days, an owner may notice the system cutting on and off frequently to maintain the desired indoor temperature. Two-stage heating systems, on the other hand, have a setting in addition to the on/off position. In a two-stage system, thermostat settings can completely or partially open the valve to allow heat to pass through. At the fully open stage, the furnace operates on high. At the partially open stage, the furnace releases a reduced level of heat (at about 65% of

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What Size Heat Pump Do I Need?

There are several important steps in the process of selecting the right heat pump for your home. You need to determine the best type of heat pump for your home and climate (air source, water source or ground source), decide on your desired efficiency rating, and select the installation method and features of your new heat pump. Finally, you need to size your heat pump properly to make sure that you are heating your home effectively and efficiently. Correctly sizing your heat pump is very important, and fortunately there is a standard sizing method used nationwide. This method, created by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, is known as the Manual J method for sizing heat pumps. The Manual J method considers eight variables to help you size your heat pump with confidence. The Right Size Saves Money Getting the right size heat pump really does make a significant difference to the efficacy, reliability and efficiency of your HVAC system. Heat pumps that are too small or too large for a home can have a number of negative consequences, including higher energy costs, drastic temperature differences inside, poor humidity control and frequent on-and-off cycling that strains the system. Consulting an experienced and

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Can I Just Replace the Outdoor Unit on an Older Air Conditioning System to Save Money?

Air conditioning systems are very expensive to replace, and it’s tempting to try to save costs wherever possible. When one unit of your air conditioning system fails, replacing one unit while keeping the older, still-functioning unit sounds like a practical cost-saving measure. However, mismatched air conditioning components can have a negative effect on the efficiency, reliability and life-span of your system. The indoor and outdoor units of a residential air conditioning system function together despite the fact that they are split into two units. As a result, the system suffers stress when the two units have dissimilar components that were designed to work at different levels of efficiency. You Can’t Teach Old Coils New Tricks When mismatched air conditioning components are forced to work together, it can put stress on the older unit and seriously compromise the function of the new unit. Newer condenser coils are more efficient, have a larger, grooved surface area, and employ other enhanced features that improve their performance. Older coils do not have these features, and are often incompatible with new condenser coils. New air conditioning units use thermal expansion valves with a hard shut-off to control their use of refrigerant. However, older units were not

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The Major Differences Between Commercial and Residential HVAC Systems

While residential and commercial HVAC systems have similar methods of heating and cooling, there are significant differences between the two types of systems. Therefore, when you need to get your HVAC system repaired, you’ll want to choose a technician who specializes in the type of service you need. Location Residential HVAC systems are located on the ground near the home. Commercial systems, on the other hand, generally reside on the roof of the commercial building. Commercial HVAC systems are usually quite larger than residential ones, and the rooftop provides ample space for each part of the unit. The rooftop location also allows technicians to work on these systems without disrupting those inside the building, and it keeps the system safe from interference and vandalism. Packaged vs. Splits Residential HVAC systems are generally in splits. The unit inside the home houses the blower, evaporator and condensate drainage, while the unit outside the home houses the compressor, condenser and condenser fan. Commercial systems, by comparison, are in one complete package inside of a single cabinet. Only the ducts and zone dampers are inside the building, while the rest of the system remains outside. Modular vs. Standalone Units installed in a residential space are standalone

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What Does The Air Handler Do For My HVAC System?

An air handler is a unit within the HVAC system which serves to monitor, regulate and circulate air within a residential home or commercial building structure. It contains different components which push and regulate air. It improves system efficiency in a bid to maintain and enhance comfort. The good thing is that, we MightyServ, provide all solutions in heating and cooling to meet all your needs. Basics Of An Air Handler The HVAC system provides conditioned air which must be circulated. Air handlers regulate and pushes the conditioned air with the aid of vital components like the blower, controls, heating and cooling elements as well as the mixing chamber, evaporator coils and humidifier. An air filter is fitted to trap dust and dirt so as to ensure efficiency and high quality air is in circulation. Air handlers connect the furnace and the duct work. Types Of Air Handlers At MightyServ, we offer a wide range air handlers which come with unique features. For instance, a single speed air handler has a fan and motor which operates at a constant speed. A five speed is similar to the single speed only that it works faster providing more accuracy and optimal efficiency.

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Heat pumps vs. furnaces for heating

Has the time come to choose a new heating system for your home? Chances are, you will need to decide between a furnace and a heat pump. Almost all American homes use one of these two systems, and while both work well they also have many differences. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each system will help you to choose the very best heating equipment for your home. Fuel And Power Furnaces get their energy from either electricity or fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil or propane. Urban homes use electricity or natural gas (provided by utility companies), while homeowners outside the utility supply range may opt for tanks of oil or propane. Any kind of fuel-based furnace comes with a small risk of carbon monoxide exposure and of fuel ignition resulting in a fire or explosion. Heat pumps run on standard residential electrical power. Since they do not run on fuel, they produce no carbon monoxide (which is a byproduct of fuel combustion) and have no risk of ignition. How They Work Furnace systems use thermostats to detect the indoor temperature of a home and turn the furnace on the temperature falls below a set level. The system

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How Can You Control Your Business HVAC Costs?

HVAC costs can be a huge expense for businesses and large facilities, but there are many no-cost and low cost ways to increase HVAC efficiency and lower your energy bills. Some may require a bit of effort, but all of them should help you to save money in the long run. Ways To Control Your HVAC Costs Programmable Thermostats Help Avoid Wasted Energy If your building’s HVAC system is connected to a standard thermostat, upgrading to a programmable thermostat can make a huge difference. These thermostats allow you to program temperature setbacks so that your system is not operating during off-hours. They may also allow you to program a wider range of allowable temperatures, so that areas where climate control is not so important may grow warmer or cooler than other areas without engaging the HVAC system. Avoid Heating Or Cooling Loss Through Pipes, Ducts And Dampers Another inexpensive—although potentially labor-intensive way to increase your HVAC efficiency, is to make sure pipes and ducts are well-insulated where necessary. Replace damaged insulation with higher efficiency material, and make sure all ducts and pipes that pass through unheated areas are all covered with high-quality insulation. Heated or cooled air can also escape

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