Category: Energy Savings

The 2012 Residential Energy Consumption Survey data from the Energy Information Administration has shown a 10% decline in household energy consumption dedicated to heating and air conditioning. This decrease is attributed partly to more efficient systems growing in popularity, and partly household practices like maintenance and AC repair. This consumption rate is expected to continue to decrease as more people are taking conscientious steps toward a more energy-efficient future. You can easily calculate just how much your home’s air conditioning unit is costing you in monthly utility bills by following the steps outlined below. SEER Rating Your air conditioning unit has a set SEER rating. You can ask your heating and AC repair technician for more information about the SEER rating, but in summary, it’s a measure of its efficiency in terms of energy consumed versus the cooling effect produced. The higher the rating, the more efficient it is in energy consumption. Older models will have a rating of 6 or lower. Heat Capacity Heat capacity is measured in British Thermal Units-hour or BTU-h. This is a measure of how much heat the unit can process. Higher capacity units tend to have higher rates of consumption but can cool much larger spaces. You can

Chances are, if you want to save money, you are doing everything you know how to do. Do you know how to save money on your electric bill? In the paragraphs below, we are going to give you some energy efficiency ideas that can go a long way.Here’s our home energy efficiency tips … Check the Energy-Efficiency Ratio Before You Buy an Air Conditioning Unit Before you go out and by an air conditioning unit, check to see what its energy-efficiency ratio is. You can find out the energy efficiency ratio by taking the unit’s cooling capacity and dividing it by the energy requirement. If it comes out with an EER of 10 or more, that is great, while 6 or 7 is fair.Go for the Smallest Air Unit Possible So many people are under the impression that bigger is better. Don’t go out and buy the biggest system out there — go for the smallest one that will meet your needs. Energy Efficiency Tip for Doing Laundry When doing laundry, wash full loads. By doing this, you will be using the machine less and saving energy. Energy Saving Tip for Your Refrigerator When it comes to saving money on

The evolving geothermal heating and cooling technologies could be the wave of the future in cutting the cost of operating commercial and other non-residential buildings once businesses can get past the initial cost, according to a study by Frost & Sullivan, a market research and analysis firm in San Antonio, TX. The market already is expanding. It received revenue of $120.8 million in 2012, and the Geothermal Market is expected to reach $147.6 Million by 2017, thanks in part to laws in Canada and the U.S. promoting geothermal and other renewable energy sources. Laws already on the books include the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the earlier Energy Policy Act of 2005. The study looked at the period between 2009 and 2017 and identifies geothermal heat pumps, both open and closed loop designs, as primary segments of the geothermal market on the North American continent. The Higher Energy Efficiency of Geothermal Heating and Cooling has long been apparent. The ground at about 10 feet deep is warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than the air above it, with a constant temperature of between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Geothermal heat pumps take advantage of

Winter is just around the corner, which means that it’s time to enjoy the holiday season. There’s nothing better than spending time with family and friends while making new holiday memories. One thing that you probably won’t be thinking about is your energy consumption… that is until you get the energy bill at the end of the month. The holidays are the one time of the year when homeowners tend to use more energy than usual. Between hosting guests, cooking up a storm, and keeping the heat on, it’s no surprise that your December energy bill will be slightly higher than normal. The good news is that there are a few simple ways that you can work to save energy throughout the holiday season so that you aren’t too shocked by the bill at the end of the month. Best Ways to Save Energy During the Holidays Here are just 3 ways that West Los Angeles homeowners can work to save energy this holiday season: The more people you have in your home, the warmer it is likely to get. This means that if you are having a holiday party or plan on hosting guests, you can turn down the thermostat and