Top 10 Energy Bill Slashers For Fall 2011

    Fall is a great season to save money. We just had school bills and supplies to buy, holiday shopping bills are coming up, and of course, new winter clothes. So, let's find out areas in your life that can actually SAVE you money. Take a moment now to see how you can cut your energy bills with these helpful techniques...

1. Set back your thermostat. This seems so simple. It takes just 5 seconds, and it could shave $30 a month on your energy bill. Adjust it to the coolest level that's comfortable. Caution: Don't set the thermostat more than 5 degrees cooler than the normal rating when you're away because of the amount of energy you'll need to heat it back up. Even better: Call us to get a new Ecobee Programmable thermostat with the IPhone/Droid app so you can setback your thermosat anytime, anywhere.
2. Clean warm air registers, baseboard heaters and/or radiators. Make sure that carpeting, furniture or draperies are not blocking them. Putting furniture over registers, or in front of radiators blocks the amount of energy that register/radiator can emit into the room, thus causing your system to run longer cycles, and thus (you guessed it!) causing you more money to operate.
3. Close that flue! Does this really even need to be said!? Oh yes it does! Fall and winter fires in teh fireplace are warm, cozy and just plain wonderful, but an open flue damper draws warm air out of your house 24 hours a day. Your system will have to work overtime to heat up the house. If you do shut your flue on a regular basis, do a quick match test. Light a match, hold it around the seal of your damper to check for leaks. If the flame is drawn up to the flue then you have a leak. And now that you know you can get your chimney company to come seal it for you.
4. Consider a humidifier. The health benefits from a humidifier are known, but the Fall/Winter energy savings you can get from a humidifier can be as high as 20%. Humidity keeps your warm forced air trapped in the living area in the house longer, thus satisfying your thermostat longer.
5. Get a heating tune-up! This can save money, spot a danger, and make you more comfortable. What is the #1 cause of system failure? Dirt! Find out other Little Known Facts About Your HVAC System to see how much a tune-up could save you.
6. Have your ductwork checked for leaks. If you've got split, fallen, or perforated ductwork, then this can save you a bundle! You should keep all the warm air you are paying for inside your home. Call us to help.
7. Change your return air filters. How often do you change your air filter? Now that you have that number in mind....give me the real answer! Every 3 months, 6 months, what filter? It's ok, call us with your filter size and we can drop them off for you. A blocked return from a filter can cause your system to operate much longer than normal as well as not provide the temperature that you desire inside the home. Do the math, save more by spending a little to change your filter more often.
8. Lower your dishwasher and washing machine temperatures. They use hot water from your house supply and drain it in a hurry. That's much more costly in cold weather.
9. Consider storm windows or more efficient windows. Although sometimes expensive, these can pay for themselves. Just getting a quote and estimate of savings will help. Most estimates are free (except your time, of course!).
10. Seal all pipe penetrations into your house. Where is the warm air? ("Inside the house") Where is the cold air? ("Outside the house") You might as well consider your crawlspace and attic areas "outside" your house. These places are not conditioned and yet they have hundreds of penetrations for water pipes, sewer lines, vent stacks, etc. Take a can of spray insulation from your local hardware store and seal up all those penetrations. Much like a leaky flue (see #3), these small penetrations add up and can be extrememly costly year in and year out if left untreated.

Bonus: Want to know the best way to save money? Call me and send me all your extra money for safekeeping! Just kidding! I hope you found some ways to save.

Contact us for a Free Home Energy Survey and we can point out areas where you can start saving money on your energy bills right away.

Virginia Launches Limited $1,500 Home Appliance Rebate. Act Now!

Simple Way to Get a $1,500 Check

•  And 5 More Ways to Save a Comfortable Fortune This Holiday Season

Yes, I know, everybody's got some "deal" they're screaming about. Me too. Except I'll offer you proof....

The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) is launching a supplemental appliance rebate program for selected high-end, “super efficient” High Efficiency, Tier 2 and Tier 3 appliances and heating cooling equipment on October 24, 2011. These appliances have been rated by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), which has worked with energy-efficiency organizations and utilities nationwide to promote common specifications for systems and products that offer greater energy efficiency. High Efficiency, Tier 2 and Tier 3 equipment exceeds the energy conservation standards of ENERGY STAR, which has been the qualifying threshold for our current appliance rebate program to date. The new items will qualify for substantially higher rebate amounts, ranging from $275 to $1,500.
These appliances are more expensive to purchase, but they also are much more energy efficient, and will help to ensure that Virginia residents receive the maximum benefits in dollar and energy savings from the program. The new higher-tier appliance program will supplement, not replace the existing appliance rebate program.
Federal grant guidelines stipulate that rebates will not be available for any of the above products purchased prior to the program launch date, which for this program is October 24, 2011. Households may, however, apply for a rebate for more than one Super Efficient, Tier 2 and Tier 3 appliance if purchased after this date.

This is a limited availability program with limited funds. Which means once the funds are reserved they will close down the program. So Act Now.

We have just finished a report that will tell you 5 More Ways to Save as Much as $4,500 on a New HVAC System.

Take the Edge off Rising Energy Costs

“Breaking News: Energy Costs Going Up!”

Oh, what a shocker. Why don’t the news outlets just replay the same story from LAST time this happened? I mean, come on. Enough already.

This doesn’t bother me so much when supplies are genuinely interrupted, say a hurricane or even war unrest.

But sometimes the price rise is just a little “too convenient.” Like with changing of the seasons (“Heating oil going up this winter!”) or exactly when more people are travelling for vacations (“Gas prices surge this summer!”)

Do you agree?

I say we fight back. Honestly, there are TONS of ways you can hack your home energy bill down to size and QUIT overpaying. Here’s a report with some steps you can take that’ll keep your money where it belongs… in your pocket.

Hey, there’s a headline for you: Breaking News: People Want To Stop Losing Money! Remember, you heard it here first! Check out the report, “How to Take the Edge off Rising Energy Costs.” Enjoy.