Category: Energy Savings

When Will the HVAC Efficiency Standards Be Raised?

Many people know that it is important for the U.S. to adopt some measures to help reduce the amount of energy consumed each year. In order to address this problem, back in 2009, the Department of Energy worked with experts in both the utilities and HVAC industries to come up with an effective way of increasing HVAC efficiency standards. The goal was to implement higher standards that would raise annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings from an AFUE of 78 to a new minimum of 90. This increase in HVAC efficiency could make a major impact in reducing energy consumption. The problem, however, was that these new minimum AFUE requirements would inflict a heavy financial burden on many homeowners. In order to comply with the minimum 90 AFUE HVAC efficiency standard, homeowners would need to install a condensing furnace as this is currently the only type of combustible heating unit capable of meeting the required minimum standard. Unfortunately, installing a condensing furnace is not as easy as one might think. This type of furnace has its own unique requirements and would mean homeowners would need extensive retrofitting in order to modify their homes for this type of heating system. Not

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Carrier Infinity System

What is Carrier Infinity Greenspeed® Intelligence™ Technology?

The inventor of the air conditioner just keeps on innovating! We are proud to offer the next generation of home comfort: Carrier Infinity Greenspeed Intelligence™ Technology. Carrier’s Infinity 26® air conditioner or Infinity 20® heat pump featuring Greenspeed® are the perfect fit for your family. They offer you the newest innovations in efficiency, dehumidification, and ultra-quiet operation. What Makes Greenspeed Intelligence Products Different High Efficiency The new Infinity series offers industry leading energy efficiency ratings up to 26 SEER or a heat pump with efficiencies up to 24 SEER/13 HSPF. Let’s put that in perspective: an older air conditioner may be around 9 SEER in efficiency. Some “high efficiency” models you’ll see on the web will be around 16 SEER. 24 SEER is unheard of – that’s almost twice as much as other air conditioners marked as high efficiency. That’s the same amount of cooling for half the cost! Dehumidification Controlling humidity levels is an important part of your indoor air quality (IAQ). Nearly all commercial HVAC systems can operate in dehumidification mode, but only a few residential HVAC systems can offer the same feature. The Carrier Infinity series runs longer on lower-speed modes. That means better dehumidification, filtration, and

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5 Things Business Owners Need to Know About Lowering HVAC Energy Costs

As a business owner, every penny matters. This makes efficiency, especially energy efficiency, a major priority for entrepreneurs. However, there are constantly dozens of different stimuli, along with a mile long to-do list that keep you from monitoring your HVAC energy costs as closely as you would like to. That’s why we have compiled this resource of energy saving tips to maximize your dollars spent on keeping your business comfortable this spring. #1 Routine maintenance can save you thousands With so many things going on at once, it can be easy to neglect your HVAC system. This unfortunately means that your system may not be operating efficiently and may even have underlying issues that could lead to major repair or total replacement. Choose two months of the year (one in the spring and one in the fall) to have an HVAC specialist in MightyServe come out to replace your filters, inspect your unit and service your system to prevent inefficient operating or major system damage. #2 Your system has its own preferences Your system may have different optimal settings for best use that differ from you or your customers’ preferences. What this likely means is that you will want to

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Tips for Putting Together Your Summer Energy Savings Plan

The invention of air conditioning made life immensely more comfortable for all of us. It is very pleasant to be able to come home to a cool house on a hot summer day. We pay for that comfort, however, in the form of higher energy consumption and increased utility bills. A house’s A/C unit utilizes 15 to 25 percent of the total energy the house uses monthly. To begin to put together a homeowner’s Summer Energy Savings plan, the first item to address is efficient use of your air conditioning system. Most people can be comfortable with a thermostat setting of 78°F to 80°F, so set your temperature up some. You will save seven to ten percent on cooling costs for each degree you set it above 78°F. If you have ceiling fans, run them along with your A/C and your will feel four to five degrees cooler. Just be sure to turn the fan off when you leave the room, as the fan cools you and not the room. Set the thermostat up several degrees when you will be away from home for several hours. Better yet, invest in and install a programmable thermostat. Close air vents in rooms

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DoE Regulations for HVAC Systems

The Department of Energy is Updating the Regulatory Requirements for HVAC Systems

If you’re planning to upgrade your heating or cooling system in the next year, it’s important to understand changes that will impact heat pumps and air conditioners. Starting on January 1, 2023, the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) energy efficiency requirements will increase, meaning more efficient units, more savings and less impact on the environment. However, the new rules will require changes throughout the HVAC industry. At MightyServ, we are already preparing for the new rules and we want our clients to have the information needed to make the right choice for their residential and commercial heating and cooling needs. What Are the 2023 Changes for Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners? The new standards mark the second increase in efficiency requirements in five years. Now, the North, Southeast and Southwest (CA, NV, AZ, NM) will have different efficiency standards and stricter installation requirements for central air conditioners. The efficiency ratings for heat pumps will also increase, as follows: Efficiency ratings for air conditioning systems will increase by one Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) based on current requirements: North HVAC SEER will increase from 13 to 14. South and Southwest: HVAC SEER will increase 14 to 15. Heat pumps have common efficiency

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How to Reduce Your Monthly Bill on Your Commercial HVAC System

People whose electric bill gives them sticker shock every month should take a good look at their existing commercial HVAC system to see what improvements can be made in efficiency and performance. As many people know, heating and cooling systems can account for up to 40% of the electricity used in commercial buildings. In addition, the global effect of commercial energy consumption is a major concern. Whether you lease or own your building, you need lighting, power for office equipment, air conditioning, heating, and other services to stay in business. A good way to help the environment, while also saving money, is to improve the energy efficiency of your building. In the modern business environment, all businesses are charged with finding innovative ways of improving upon quality service while reducing or containing costs. MightyServ, a business that has been in operation for more than 51 years, is dedicated to identifying, designing, and implementing strategies aimed at providing local businesses with effective energy saving solutions. How to Reduce Commercial HVAC Costs Monitoring a building’s energy use is very important. This means checking and updating the building’s energy consumption on a regular basis to ensure that one is not wasting or using

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How Is Heating And Cooling Equipment Efficiency Measured?

A lot of people are becoming aware of the need to reduce their carbon footprint and help in efforts to combat global warming. Accordingly, it is important to make sure that your AC system is as efficient as possible. An efficient HVAC system does not only operate better but also saves energy. So, how is heating and cooling equipment efficiency measured? Here are a few ways that you can explore: EER The Energy Efficiency Ratio is designed to give you a rough estimate of how much cooling you will get on your HVAC system for every dollar you spend on energy. The rating is often based on the season’s hottest day other than an average of the entire season. EER is calculated by dividing the total output cooling energy with the incoming electrical energy. The Energy Star The Energy star is provided by the US Environment protection agency and is only awarded to an HVAC system that meets or surpasses the high energy efficiency guidelines. The guidelines are often based on how much the HVAC system contributes to the nationwide efforts to save energy, the difference in cost between the system, and its less efficient counterpart and the performance of

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Summer energy-saving tips

Summer is back, and your electric bills are likely to go up during this time of year. However, your energy costs shouldn’t get out of hand just because the sun is at its most intense moments. If you plan ahead, you can keep your electric consumption to a minimum without sacrificing comfort. For starters, use these tips: Upgrade to an ENERGY STAR®-Certified Air Conditioning System If your current heating and air conditioning system doesn’t have the ENERGY STAR seal, now is the time to get one that does. Your purchase might set you back a few dollars, but it would certainly pay for itself. According to ENERGY STAR, having an energy-efficient unit could save you nearly $120 every year. Instead of paying for higher electric bills monthly and spending more on maintenance, replacing your inefficient unit with an ENERGY STAR-certified product makes financial sense. Schedule Routine Checkups If your cooling equipment already bears the ENERGY STAR label, you can still improve its performance by addressing minor inefficiencies at their infancy. Working with an experienced HVAC specialist to give your AC the care it needs is a mark of a responsible owner. Switch to a Programmable Thermostat Compared to manually controlled ACs, units

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5 Ways to Be More Eco-Friendly Without Disrupting your Life

Going “green” is a fantastic way to help the environment, but sometimes the idea of being more eco-friendly can seem a bit daunting. You hear stories of people living off the grid or giving up modern day luxuries in the name of the environment. But, there’s other ways to be more environmentally conscientious without totally disrupting your life. Read on to find out how you can become more eco-friendly without making drastic changes. How to Become More Eco-Friendly No need to collect rain water in basins, compost with earthworms in your kitchen, or only buy organic. We’ve gathered together several smart–and simple–solutions to make your home more environmentally friendly. Schedule your HVAC service today with our incredibly convenient online scheduling tool. Feel free to also call us and speak directly to a friendly representative (818) 348-4768.

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Myth Busters: 3 Ideas About Energy Efficiency Debunked!

There are many energy efficiency myths that people believe to be true. Unfortunately, these misguided beliefs are costing the average consumer a lot of money in high utility bills. Below are some simple truths about energy efficiency to bust the myths. Myth 1: More Energy is Consumed When Lights are Switched on and off Several Times than when They are Left on The truth is that energy is used to power light bulbs to produce light, so they do not consume anything when they are switched off. Turning the lights back on simply completes the circuit needed to turn on the light. As far as incandescent, LED and other types of modern light bulbs are concerned, the statement is simply a myth. However, fluorescent lighting tubes usually take a couple of minutes to turn on, so they may consume more energy to turn back on. Therefore, it may make sense to leave them on throughout. Myth 2: An Electric Space Heater can Help Save you Money In some countries, this can be true because other heating fuels like natural gas, propane gas and heating oil are much more expensive compared to electricity costs. In the United States, however, natural gas

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