Bryant Evolution Heat Pump

Install Bryant’s highly efficient Hybrid Heat system and you will not only substantially lower your heating bills but the energy savings can cover the cost to cool your home in the summer time.

Many of our Vernal area customers save so much on their utilities that their hybrid heat system has actually paid for itself!

Say good bye to outrageous propane and natural gas prices and cool your home for free in the process.

Top 5 reasons to go Hybrid now!

1. Free Air Conditioning!
2. Amazing savings on your utility bills.
3. Interest free financing.
4. Save Thousands with rebates, incentives and tax credits.
5. Free maintenance for a year.

Tax credits for energy efficient residential heating and cooling equipment have been modified and extended through 2011.   Gas furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps and boilers that meet certain efficiency requirements still qualify.  However, amount available to home-owners has changed as follows.

Tax Credit Updates

• $50 for an advanced main circulating fan.
• $150 for qualifying gas furnaces and boilers.
• $300 for qualifying air conditioners and heat pumps.
• $300 for qualifying wood stoves and fireplaces.
• $300 for qualifying water heaters.
• Rebates for geothermal/ground source systems remain at 30% of the total installed cost through the end of 2016!

Bottom Line

Tax credits combined with state and local utility company incentives, and manufacturer rebates make 2011 a great year for home comfort improvements.

Note: These statements are for informational purposes only and should not substitute the advice of your tax professional

Think you want the cheapest comfort system you can find?  Watch this video before you invest.

If these tips seem insignificant take a step back and look at the bigger picture. When followed together, this list of energy saving tips can add up to substantial monthly savings.

There are many simple ways to reduce your home energy consumption.

1. Awareness

Perhaps the simplest way to conserve is by being aware. Be aware of things you can do daily to conserve, like: showering instead of bathing, turning lights off when you leave a room, shutting off the water while you brush your teeth, and washing dishes only when the dishwasher is full.

Try it, I’m sure you’ll come up with dozens more. When you do, share your ideas with us.

2. Set or Program Your Thermostat

What is the temperature setting on your thermostat? Turn the temperature down a few degrees in the winter and up in the summer. Turn it back a few degrees more at night and even more while you are away from home especially when you are gone for extended periods of time.

If you don’t have one already, consider a programmable thermostat. You can program it to automatically change temperature settings on a schedule that fits your lifestyle.

According to Energy Star a typical single family home can save as much as $180 per year through proper use of a programmable thermostat. These conservative figures don’t include vacation settings with which you can save even more.

3. Check Your Attic Insulation

Attic insulation can settle over time which causes a loss in R-Value. Insulation may not be a do it yourself project for everyone but having your attic insulation upgraded by a professional is typically inexpensive and often free with utility company sponsored programs.

How thick is the insulation in your attic? According to the Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association “CIMA” sprayed/blown cellulose insulation has an R-Value between 3.6 and 4.0 per inch.

Assuming a worst case scenario of R-3.6 per inch here’s how to determine the R-Value of your home’s ceiling insulation.

1. From your attic measure and note the thickness of the ceiling insulation using a ruler or tape measure.
2. Divide the thickness, in inches, of your cellulose insulation by 3.6. This is the R-Value of your ceiling insulation.

To improve accuracy measure with a thin ruler and try to disturb the insulation as little as possible. Measure the distance from the top of the drywall ceiling to the top your insulation. Following the old adage — better safe than sorry — I prefer to measure in a location where the insulation is shallow.

The International Energy Conservation Code or “IECC”, which is the code adopted by all building departments in Uintah County and Duchesne County (including Vernal City and Roosevelt City), indicates the minimum standard for ceiling insulation in our zone (zone 6) is R-49. R-49 is nearly 14 inches of cellulose.

Stay tuned for part two and I’ll share more tips for conserving energy and lowering your utility bills. In the mean time you may also enjoy this article regarding thermostats.

Don’t forget to share your energy saving ideas by commenting below. We’d love to hear them!

Proper maintenance involves much more than just changing filters and hosing down air conditioners.

Proper air conditioner and heat pump maintenance will pay you back in:

• Higher operating efficiency.
• Lower operating cost.
• Increased home comfort.
• Fewer repairs.
• Longer equipment life.
• Healthier indoor air.
• Peace of mind.

I’m not referring to the quick clean and check that many air conditioning companies offer at an incredibly low price. Proper system maintenance takes much longer than 30 minutes to perform, and a good technician will help you find potential issues before they become huge problems. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you — you get what you pay for, but before you commit to an air conditioning company make sure you know what you are getting.

Here are some tips to help you choose the right contractor for your air conditioner and heat pump maintenance.

1. Ask questions - Some questions may seem obvious but how do you know unless you ask. Questions to ask a prospective air conditioning contractor:
   • Are you a licensed contractor?
   • Are you insured?
   • Are you certified to handle and recover refrigerant?
   • What is included with the cost of your tune-up?
   • What is not included?
   • Do you guarantee your work?
2. Check references - A contractor with a good reputation in your town should have no problem providing a few names of happy customers you can call.
3. Verify – When in doubt verify a contractor’s license with the Utah Department of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL). It’s easy and it’s free.
4. Observe – So you were careful in selecting the right air conditioning contractor, now what? It’s your house, so leave your technician room to work but observe the process. If he/she knows what they are doing they won’t mind. How else are you going to verify that you are getting what you’re paying for?

If everything went well — congratulations! Now that you know the benefits of regular and proper maintenance consider investing in a maintenance agreement with your air conditioning contractor. Many companies offer perks such as, no overtime service charges and priority emergency repair scheduling for clients who with maintenance agreements.

Bryant Evolution Thermostat

Recall the widely used, round dial type thermostats, popularized by Honeywell.   While they still serve their purpose,  simple dial thermostats have taken a back seat to temperature controls with modern, advanced features and for good reason.

Available options not only improve functionality but also help us save energy and increase the comfort of our homes. Here are some of the available features and functions you may want to look for:

1. Digital thermostat displays range from small and simple with only two digits that display temperature, to full color high definition LCDs that not only show you temperature and comfort settings , but also weather forecasts and more.

   Look for models with large, displays and a backlight for easy viewing.

2. Programmable thermostats automatically change the temperature in your home and can be customized to fit your lifestyle.  For example: set it to automatically turn the heat down a few degrees while you are away at work, and then turn it back up to the perfect temperature when your return. A programmable thermostat helps you save energy by allowing you to setup custom programs for — every day of the week, weekdays, weekends, sleep times, wake times, and more.

   Look for models with a vacation function that keeps your home at a predetermined temperature while you are away for extended periods. Energy Star rated programmable thermostats are pre-programmed for energy savings.

3. Humidity is a great subject for another post which I won’t get into here. However, thermostats with the ability to control and monitor the amount of humidity in your home are a great choice when paired with a whole house humidifier. With this type of thermostat there is no need for separate humidity controls or a humidistat.

   Look for models that use an outdoor temperature sensor or frost control setting to eliminate the formation of frost and condensation on your walls and windows.

4. More useful features include: ventilation control, fan on without space conditioning (great for use with your air cleaner of high efficiency air filter), clean filter reminder, humidifier and equipment maintenance reminder, network connection, internet connection, system fault diagnostics and warnings, and outdoor temperature display.

Before you purchase a thermostat, carefully review it’s features and assess the benefits of each. There is no sense in buying a thermostat with all the bells and whistles if your comfort system doesn’t facilitate their use. That said, though, you may want to choose a thermostat that will work with system upgrades and enhancements that you plan to add in the future and avoid the added cost of replacing your thermostat when you do.