by on June 16, 2014

New Air Conditioning Units

jeremy bednarsh new acIf you are in the market for a new HVAC system for your home, it may be the time to consult with a professional installer to see what would work best for your home and habits. You want to make sure that you have explored all of your options before purchasing an entirely new HVAC system. One of the most important things to consider is how energy efficient your system is, it is important for both the environment and your wallet to seek out a system that uses energy as efficiently as possible. To make sure you find the best system that is the most energy efficient in your living space, consult an HVAC service expert.

To vet your options when looking for an appropriate expert, make sure your HVAC contractor is licensed in your state and that the company they work for has a good reputation. When you feel like you have found a reliable representative, make and appointment for them to consult with you and have them look at your home and discuss your options. When you are thinking of buying  anew air conditioning system, be sure to ask the following questions. Make sure you check the Service Energy Efficiency Rating, also known as SEER on any product you are considering. Current law requires new AC systems to have a 13 SEER rating or higher. Be sure to also ask your HVAC expert about where to place the air conditioning unit, because it should be located in a place where you can conduct maintenance easily. You will also want to discuss a maintenance plan for your new unit and any warrantee provisions. When all of this is sorted you can purchase and install your new AC unit for the summer season. This investment will lower your heating and cooling costs and make your home more comfortable.

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by on May 9, 2014

Save Energy with Lights

jeremy bednarsh lightTo really save money and energy, the key is to integrate your lighting control system into your HVAC system. This is not done very frequently because it is complex, however it is possible and it will save you a lot of energy. Additionally as technology is advancing it is become more frequent that people will integrate these systems for the aforementioned benefits.

More often in new buildings there is a trend towards making the energy performance of the space very high. The U.S. Green Building Council has instituted a rating system to help categorize how energy efficient a building actually is. This rating system takes into account that buildings should be getting better and some jurisdictions even mandate these new standards even as lighting is becoming more and more complex. At the same time, though, HVAC monitoring and controls is now more formalized and standard across the board. This means that as these advanced lighting systems are released out into the market, it will become more common for these light and HVAC systems to be integrated in the future. Design and construction are still obstacles for this goal, but there is so much saved in energy and money that it is worth exploring how this could benefit your building. The efficiency of a building does not just refer to the consumption of energy, but also if the inhabitants are thermally comfortable and can see comfortably. It used to be that these systems were on a timing basis as people might be in the area. There is a better way with an integrated system. Some shy way from tying together their lighting and HVAC system because of the high initial cost. However, as the code develops and it become easier to link them, more and more applications are being completed. The integrated system offers many benefits to the users. A few of these benefits include improved efficiency because of common scheduling, occupancy control, and optimization of both thermal and visual systems. What could be better than tying them together?

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by on April 11, 2014

Prepare Your Home for Summer

jeremy bednarsh spring hvacAfter a long, cold, exhausting winter it’s finally spring and soon will be the glorious sunny days of summer. Your summer prep probably includes buying a new bathing suit and sunscreen, but this is also the time to get your home ready for the warm months ahead.

First, make sure you clean your front door. Summer is the time for outdoor barbecues and food-filled porch picnics, make sure your front entry way is ready for all of your summer guests. Your front door is the first thing visitors will see so it is important to make it shine. The winter has probably covered your front door with salt and other grime and refinishing, sanding, and painting your front door will give it a nice makeover for the summer. Using exterior polyurethane with ultraviolet inhibitor will make the improvements you’ve made to your door last.

While you’re preparing for that outdoor barbeque or grill-session with family and friends, make sure you clean your grill. There may be dust and cobwebs inside from lack of use over a few months. Clean the grill surface with grill cleaner and use a wire bristle brush to scrape off any unwanted residue. Other deck and lawn items may also need to be cleaned for your backyard garden/grill parties. It is worth the investment to rent or buy a power washer. This can be used to clean lawn furniture, siding, gutters, fences, and driveways. It makes cleaning fast and easy and will make you feel quite powerful!

Before summer is in full swing and in the transition from heating to cooling, make sure to check your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. With harsh winter weather, your home is shut up and your HVAC system works very hard to keeps you comfortable. The spring transition is the perfect time to replace or clean all your air filters so that they are working efficiently for the summer.

Spring is also time to ready your yard and landscaping. Rake away any left over leaves from the fall, trim trees and bushes, and clear out gutters. This is also a great time to make sure you have all of the gardening supplies you need like hoses, shovels, and gardening gloves. Spread some mulch on your flowerbeds and get ready for a glorious summer!

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by on March 7, 2014

HVAC Efficiency Ratings in Australia

jeremy bednarsh efficiencyAustralia is the first country to introduce energy efficiency ratings for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units. Sustainability Victoria is overseeing the development of the ranking systems for energy efficiency. The rating tool that they are developing will use quantitative and qualitative data assessing design, the installation and operational phases, and the performance of the various units. Hopefully the outcome of this ranking system will encourage manufacturers to strive to offer the best practice products on the market.

While Sustainability Victoria is overseeing the project, there are other major players involved in the development of the standards. The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air-conditioning, and Heating (AIRAH), the Property Council of Australia, the Facilities Management Association of Australia, and the Air-conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association are the industrial leaders that are helping to develop standards for energy efficiency.

The resulting HVAC criteria will hopefully put pressure on companies to improve the efficiency on their products, resulting in greater efficiency and sustainability in facilities throughout the country. Amazingly, HVAC systems make up half of the energy usage/consumption in buildings and also account for over fifty percent of potential improvement in energy efficiency. The standards that are being put together will result in an online tool that will be easy to access. This ‘Calculating Cool HVAC Tool’ will be used for data collection, long-term monitoring, and comparative analysis.

Australia is the first in the world to creative energy ratings criteria specifically for HVAC systems. Hopefully, other countries will take notice and adopt the ratings system or develop one of their own. The Australia system will be compatible with the NABERS and Green Star Design suite of rating tools. The new HVAC rating system is currently still in development, but should have a public review by the end of 2014.

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