Home Energy Audits

andrew / April 19, 2019

Water-Conserving Plumbing Fixtures: How You Can Reduce Water Waste

WATER-CONSERVING PLUMBING FIXTURES: YOUR RECIPE FOR REDUCING WATER WASTE

Plumbing fixtures are any device that interacts with water from your plumbing channels — whether it includes bringing in water or draining it. This means that our sinks, toilets, and tubs alike are all plumbing fixtures in our homes. From our pipes that bring water in, to the drains that remove them, there are many opportunities to go green by investing in eco-friendly plumbing fixtures. So, if you’re looking into how to reduce water waste, consider water-conserving plumbing fixtures.

LOW-FLOW SHOWERHEADS

Adding caps to your showers (as well as sinks) can add pressure to water spewing out. This aeration to the water builds pressure so that you can get the same (or even better) shower experience and save water — all without compromising the use of the water.

LOW-FLOW TOILETS

Another eco-friendly plumbing fixture to consider is a low-flow toilet. This is a great way to help reduce water waste. As we all know, each toilet flush uses a LOT of water. Low-flow toilets use a larger water surface area and aeration to water to decrease the overall amount of water used per flush. Comparing an old toilet that can use up to 2 gallons or even 5 gallons for very old toilets, the process in water conserving low-flow toilets can get the job done at a fraction of the water use, clocking at about 1-1.5 gallons of water per flush.

TANKLESS WATER HEATERS

Water heater tanks are those giant tanks typically stored in garages containing a vast pool of water. Keeping these large storage tank water heaters in a centralized location means that we have to wait the traditional minute or so for water from the tanks to get to our faucets and showers — wherever they may be in our homes. Not only that, the costs associated with keeping a large tank full of hot water has high associated costs as well. Tankless water heaters are an eco-friendly and more convenient way of getting you to access to warm water always while reducing electricity use. By decentralizing heated water, you get access faster leading to less water waste.

REVERSE OSMOSIS

Reverse Osmosis is the key to clean, refreshing water on demand. Say goodbye to the inconvenience to heavy 5-gallon water jugs and poor-quality tap water. RO is key in reducing water waste by giving you and your family a reason to say goodbye to unnecessary water bottle use. Investing in RO is cheaper than bottled water while also cleaning the quality of your water. Here is a recent article we wrote on the plastic use reduction available in Reverse Osmosis!

ECO-FRIENDLY & SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS

Opting for reusable products — such as reusable water bottles, metal, and reusable utensils, and more is key to reducing waste. Just processing when you toss something, think of how you can next time find an alternative to the item so that you’ll contribute less to waste. This may include bringing your own reusable bags, reusing a bag for other purposes (like a used grocery bag to pick up after your dog, etc.).

While some of these changes may be bigger investments (a new low-flow toilet for instance), some things such as shower caps or investing in sustainable products can be a cheap solution for you that saves money in the long-run, If you have questions on how your plumbing pipes and fixtures can be better optimized to reduce waste in your home, reach out to us today for some spiffy recommendations!

andrew / March 1, 2019

5 Benefits To A Programmable Thermostat | It’s Time To Upgrade

THE BENEFITS OF A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT ARE ENDLESS

First of all, what are programmable thermostats? In one quick sentence, I’d surmise them as the future of thermostats. The benefits of a programmable thermostat are lie in the fact that these thermostats are able to do 1 thing that the normal thermostat doesn’t do: these thermostats are programmable. But what does that mean? We’ll get into all of that in our listicle of the top 5 reasons to upgrade to a programmable thermostat today.

1. Saves Money

Any article you read on programmable thermostats will rank saving money as one of the top benefits of a programmable thermostat. These thermostats are programmable in that they will operate around your level of comfort, adjusting to turn down your HVAC system when you’re not home and pumping the pressure when you are to ensure you’re getting the optimized performance you’re looking for. There are various types of programmable thermostats. Most notably, the nest programmable thermostat is a smart product that since 2011, has saved up to 10-12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills. These smart programmable thermostats can pair with an app to give you an energy history report.

Really, smart programmable thermostats mold themselves around you. Turning down systems when you’re not home, in the middle of the night, and operates your home’s HVAC systems based on your preferences. There are a handful of ‘learning’ smart programmable thermostats that learn more about your day to operate as efficiently as possible.

But you don’t have to just buy the smart ones. There are a handful of programmable thermostats that are timed. The major benefit to smart devices is, of course, irregular schedules.

2. Zoning Your Heating and Cooling

Try as much as we might to get consistent heating and cooling in our homes, we will from time-to-time come across irregular second-floor and first-floor temperatures. This is where another key benefit of a programmable thermostat is hidden. Even if you live in a one-story home, if your home is able to provide zoned heating and cooling, programmable thermostats can offset your home to get more attention where you need there to be. This ensures standard air quality across your home so that you and guests won’t be subject to weird temperatures across the house. This allows you to get a consistent temperature output that you know is being optimized at the lowest cost possible for the greatest efficiency.

3. Ease Of Mind – Setting a Schedule

If saving money is of major importance for you (and let’s be real, is saving money not everyone’s priority?), programmable thermostats are for you. A benefit of a programmable thermostat is that they take all the hard work out of optimizing your home’s AC away from you. It’s the difference between using a calculator and doing math by hand. Sure, you can do it and you’ll get the answer a lot of the times (or relatively close to it), but a calculator is going to give you the right answer every time. In the same way, a smart programmable thermostat is going to work around your schedule and lifestyle to output the home efficiency that’ll work best for you. It works overnight as well so you don’t have to worry about going back and forth to save those few bucks. Even if you’re not the type to manually adjust your home every now-and-then, owning a programmable thermostat still provides the added benefit of knowing your home’s AC unit is being optimized at all times.

4. Energy Efficiency

It might not be the main reason you invested in a programmable thermostat but bragging rights never heart anyone, right? The EPA estimates that with the use of a programmable thermostat, you’re able to save anywhere between 10-30% on heating and electricity. While these figures lean more towards the 10% side, the savings are still highly significant. Of course, this means you save a lot on your heating bill, but also, you get the added benefit of contributing to energy use reduction!

5. Control All Day From Every Place

The added benefit of a smart thermostat is that they are highly integrated with other smart technology. While a lot of learning thermostats are able to recognize your day-to-day schedule, we may from time-to-time take a family vacation or a small day trip where our schedule takes us out of the house. When going on these trips, turning down the thermostat is one of the last things on our minds. Instead of leaving the thermostat as is and paying for an unused day’s worth of AC, you can simply go into the app when convenient for you and control your thermostat there.

All-in-all

Americans spend over $22 billion annually on air conditioning. AC accounts for over 70% of the electricity bill over the summer for, particularly warmer states. And on the spectrum, we’d probably put Arizona on the warmer side. With smart programmable thermostats being able to pay for themselves in less than 2 years, it’s only a matter of when you are ready for one in your home. Whether you reside in a multi-level home or apartment, or if you own a commercial building or vacation homes, or the likes, programmable thermostats could be the device you didn’t know you needed!

The Install

While the installation of a programmable thermostat may be daunting, the process itself doesn’t have to be! As a few DIY pointers, ensure that your HVAC system is turned completely off and that you follow all directions to a T. There are a few guides out there and for the most part, experienced HVAC DIY-ers are able to install different programmable thermostats — although the smart products may be trickier to handle and may require an HVAC professional. But don’t fear! Reach out and our comfort heroes can help you save the day (and some money)!

andrew / March 5, 2018

Reasons to Get a Home Energy Audit in Phoenix

ARTICLES

REASONS TO GET A HOME ENERGY AUDIT IN PHOENIX

MAR 05, 2018

A home energy audit can be the first step in ensuring your home is working as efficiently as possible. A professional auditor will assess everything from your appliances to your ductwork to your lights. But what are the specific benefits of a home energy audit and why should you get one?

HOME ENERGY AUDIT IN PHOENIX

The benefits of a home energy audit for homeowners in Phoenix are especially pronounced. The extreme climate means that most folks simply cannot afford for their homes to be operating like anything less than a well-oiled machine. A difference of even just a few degrees on the thermostat can mean heaps of money over the course of consecutive 100-plus-degree days. With summer and extreme heat just around the corner, check out these reasons to consider getting your home energy audit now.

WHAT IS A HOME ENERGY AUDIT?

A home energy audit is the process in which a professional conducts a thorough and holistic assessment of all of the systems in your home. This assessment allows for recommendations to improve the functionality of all of the systems that comprise your home. By understanding how much energy your home uses and where there is potential room for improvement, homeowners can make strategic decisions about upkeep and upgrades. At its most basic level, a home energy audit identifies areas that energy is going to waste — wasted energy is wasted money. The ratio of energy used by any element of your home must be proportional to its output, whether that be cool air, light or something else. If there is insulation that needs touched up, a thermostat that is not working correctly or an appliance that is not working as well as it could, a good auditor will find it and let you know in a detailed report.

While do-it-yourself home energy audits are certainly not a bad idea, they do not carry the same precision as an audit from a professional. Before the professional visits your home for an energy audit, be prepared with some information.

For instance:

Is anyone at home during the typical work day?

What are your typical thermostat settings?

Are there any rooms in the home that you do not use?

Gather the previous year’s energy bills for the professional to review as well.

Then be prepared to be home while the auditor does a walkthrough of your home. During the physical inspection, they will likely have questions that will require your input. Using different types of special equipment, the auditor will assess where your home is experiencing energy losses.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A HOME ENERGY AUDIT?

You have probably already guessed the immediate benefits of a home energy audit — a likely savings on your utility bills. Many homeowners could save hundreds of dollars every yearwithout even changing their lifestyles. But did you know that the money-saving benefits extend even beyond that? By ensuring maximum energy efficiency, you can extend the lifespan of expensive systems and appliances like HVAC systems and even your washer and dryer. Not only will these systems last longer, but they will be less likely to need repairs as frequently over the years.

And did you know that a home energy audit can help improve the comfort of your home?

Many homeowners have found that after following the professional recommendations gleaned from their assessments that their air quality improved inside their home, the home was quieter and that overly drafty or hot rooms were fixed.

Additionally, some utility companies provide different incentives for getting a home energy audit. Check with your local company (likely SRP or APS) to find out what incentives might currently be available to you.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING A HOME ENERGY AUDIT COMPANY

When choosing a professional to conduct your home energy audit, be sure you pick a company that is well-respected and accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

Ask questions such as:

How they will conduct your home energy audit?

What kind of equipment they will be using?

How often is the equipment calibrated?

If you are ready to start enjoying the energy and money savings that come with an intensive home energy audit, give us a call today. We have excellent reviews and all of our work is guaranteed. Furthermore, we can help streamline the total process of increasing your home’s efficiency by executing recommendations your home energy audit might yield. While other auditors only do audits, we do it all! After we have conducted a thorough assessment of your house, we will help you build a solid plan to start cashing in on your home’s newfound efficiency. But you are on your own when it comes time to plan out what you are going to do with all of that money you will be saving down the road!

Click here to contact us about a home energy audit.