With Bulletproof Heating & Cooling, you can make your home green and slash your energy bills at the same time! Here’s how:
1) The province of Ontario offers rebates as an incentive for people to buy energy efficient heating appliances. This includes a furnace and air conditioning, as well as light bulbs, smaller appliances and more.
2) Homeowners should consult with heating and cooling companies to find out how to achieve a more energy efficient household.
For example, experts recommend installing a programmable thermostat. These thermostats are useful for people who are away most of the day. Individuals can keep the temperature at an even level when no one is home. The thermostat saves an average of about $200 a year on energy bills.
3) Another idea that heating and cooling companies can help with is sealing ducts. Heating and cooling ducts that move air to and from furnaces and air conditioners are big energy wasters. Sealing the ducts can improve a home’s energy efficiency by up to twenty percent.
4) Experts recommend that HVAC systems ten years or older be evaluated by heating and air conditioning experts in Hamilton, Ontario.
It’s also a good idea to replace an older unit with a new EnergyStar system. ENERGY STAR are certified high-efficiency and the equipment saves homeowners on their monthly utility bills.
When is it time to replace furnaces, central air conditioners and other HVAC systems? It may be time to replace a unit if:
- the heat pump or air conditioner is more than ten years old
- the furnace or boiler is more than fifteen years old
- some rooms in the home are too hot or too cold
- your energy bills are rising and the equipment needs frequent repairs
- the home has excessive dust
- the home has humidity problems
Furnaces and Boilers
Ask the contractor about the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of a product before purchasing it. The AFUE is found on the yellow Energy-guide label and describes how efficiently the appliance operates over the course of a year.
Indeed, the government generally requires new furnaces or boilers to display the AFUE so consumers can comparison shop. The minimum AFUE rating for an oil, propane or natural gas burning furnace is 78%.
The AFUE rating for older furnaces and boilers range from 56% to 70%. On the other hand, modern heating systems have AFUE ratings of up to 98%. The Canadian government also mandates that new furnaces meet certain AFUE minimums.
It really makes sense for the environment and one’s pocketbook to consider an upgrade. ENERGY STAR qualified gas and propane furnaces have minimum AFUE ratings of 83% to 90%.
Air Conditioners
In addition, homeowners should buy the most efficient air conditioning unit they can find. One thing that helps an air conditioner be efficient is buying the right size.
For example, sometimes people buy over-sized units and they don’t need them. The result is wasted energy because the a/c cycles on and off more quickly. Ask your HVAC contractor for suggestions on a cooling unit.
Top brands like Lennox and Goodman offer affordable and durable high-efficiency AC units for the home, with good lifespans.
Technology has come a long way and it makes sense to heat and cool the home using as little energy as possible.
Give us a call for more information or to book a free consultation!