Most people don’t know than half the energy used in homes is used for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. With rapidly rising energy costs, consumers are looking for any way to save their pennies. Minor changes and wise decisions made now can pay off far into the future. Let’s look at some easy ways you can help your customers transition to be greener with every installation and maintenance visit.
Choose Energy-Efficient Equipment
This may seem like a no-brainer, but many clients will choose to save now on cheaper equipment and pay later with higher energy bills. Help them see these costs over time with comparisons of equipment cost and energy savings over the life of the unit while still keeping the same comfort level. From what we have seen recently, we can expect energy bills to keep rising. If you can prove to your customer that they’ll save over the long run, you have a better chance at steering them toward the right equipment now. Choose Energy Star model furnaces or air-conditioners with a SEER of 14 or more.
A Non-Electric Boost
A simple add-on, like this non-electric ceiling fan, such as this model from Jeden, is a money-saving HVAC accessory that adds to comfort and efficiency. It is an 8-blade fan that is hung under the multi-zone 4-way ceiling cassette of an air conditioning/heating unit or Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system. Working without electricity, the blades move air and heat to evenly diffuses air and heat from central air and heat conditioning systems. It produces zero carbon emissions and reduces the time to reach the desired temperature in a room by up to 20 percent, reducing electricity bills from central air heating and cooling and resulting CO2 emissions by 20 percent as well.
Insulate Ducts Where it Matters Most
Ductwork in attics or crawl spaces loses heat quickly as it passes through unheated areas. Choose the highest R-value insulation possible, wrap the ductwork, and seal well. The colder the climate, the more important this is for energy conservation. Seal all duct work joints with Low-VOC mastic to prevent air leakage. Replace any duct tape with mastic, which does not dry out and fall off like duct tape does.
Use HFC Foam to Seal Around Outlets
Small leaks add up. Each outlet or hole is an opportunity for an air leak, reducing efficiency and raising costs. A small dab of HFC (rather than HCFC or CFC-propelled) foam seals the type of small leaks that really increase energy usage over time.
Your Turn
What are you doing to help clients save energy? What are they most excited about?
