So there we were last week…cold, snow, wind and then darkness! There were 1000’s of us that lost power last week and let’s face it there is NOTHING enjoyable about being without power!   We were all out looking for a near by hotel where we could keep warm for the night or bunking up with parents, family and friends.  I mean I like my friends and family as much as the next person but there comes a time when you really just want to be in your OWN HOME! People…there is such a simple solution to this problem!

Install A Residential Generator!

A residential generator is installed permanently outside your home and is available in different sizes. After a power outage occurs the generator starts up automatically, usually within 10 seconds, and will continue to provide power to your preselected circuits.  A smaller generator will supply plenty of power to your refrigerator, lighting, television, computer and furnace or air conditioner. A larger residential generator can handle pretty much everything in the home including large wine cellars, security system and multiple air conditioners or heaters. You will have to talk to your H.V.A.C. provider about the size that best fits your home.

At the office we use and recommend the Lennox Home Generator. The Lennox Home generator performs a 20-minute full speed, self diagnostic test each week to ensure it is performing correctly. Please be aware when shopping for and installing a generator that you have something that is safe and reliable. We always recommend consulting with an electrician or your H.V.A.C. company for advice on what is best for your home as well as having one of them install the equipment correctly!

Summer is around the corner and if another power outage does occur instead of no heat it will be… NO AIR CONDITIONING… and I don’t know one person in Dallas that is ever comfortable with those three words!

The first question many of our client’s ask after we suggest they look at Geothermal systems is, “How much does it cost?” There seems to be a misconception out there that Geothermal is only something that very wealthy people can afford and if you don’t fit in that category then Geothermal is not something to consider. Well, I am here to set the record strait and let you know that Geothermal is something that many homeowners can afford and the idea that Geothermal is only for the wealthy is just plain WRONG!

I will say that the initial cost of installing a Geothermal system is more than that of a conventional system and when some people see the cost of the initial install it can be a bit of a jaw dropper but when they sit down and look at the numbers and the amount of time it takes to get a return on your investment then it all starts to make sense.

I’ve created and example of a price analysis that we might include in a proposal to a perspective Geothermal client. The analysis was created for a new, 2,500 sf home.

1. Install of a conventional 15 SEER system – $12,500.00
2. Additional cost for Geothermal – $19,500.00
3. Total Investment to install Geothermal – $32,000.00
4. 30% Federal Tax Credit – $9,600
5. Total additional cost for Geothermal after tax credit – $9,900.00

After the tax credit the total additional investment in a Geothermal system is $9,900.00. Yes, that still seems like a bit more but now let’s look at how fast you will receive a return on that investment. On average a Geothermal system has a life span of twenty years compared to a conventional system which on average of 15 years. So above you saw what you have to pay out but let’s take a look at what you will get.

1. Average monthly savings in your electric bill  - $325.41
2. First year savings – $2,361.86 (or 33 trees)
3. First year ROI – 23.857%
4. Estimated lifetime savings – $78,097.29 (or 661 trees)

After the third year you will have saved $7,445.78 by using Geothermal and by the fourth year $10,179.93, which means that you have seen a 100% ROI by the fourth year of using your Geothermal system. So now not only are you doing what is best for the environment you are doing your wallet a favor too!

One of the bigger financial benefits of installing a geothermal system is the tax credit that you will be eligible to receive. When the Energy Improvement Act of 2008 was passed it offered a one time tax credit of 30% of the TOTAL investment for homeowners who install residential ground loop or ground water geothermal heat pumps. So let’s say for instance you install a geothermal system at your home and the total cost is $32,000.00 the tax credit that you will receive is $9,600.00! That’s not bad! Doing what is best for the environment and getting money back from Uncle Sam to do it!

To qualify for the credit the system must meet or exceed EnergyStar requirements and be installed after December 31,2007. Units that were installed in 2008 are subject to a $2,000.00 cap on the credit. If the unit was installed from 2009-2016 then the homeowner can take advantage of the full 30% uncapped credit. Covered expenditures include labor for on site preparation and assembly or original system installation and for piping and wiring to connect the system to the home. The structure must be located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer, although primary residency is not required.

Homeowners can file for the credit by completing tax form 5695, which has yet to be published for the 2009 tax year. The tax credit can be used to offset both regular income taxes and alternative minimum taxes. If the federal tax credit exceeds tax liability, the excess amount may be carried forward into future years. The tax credit will be available until December 31, 2016.

This tax credit “The Energy Credit” can also be applied to solar-electric systems, solar water heaters, and wind turbines. If you are thinking about using alternative energy sources then this is a good time to move forward. The tax credit gives you a little bit more incentive to “Go Green” with your energy systems.

For more information and to see a draft of the Form 5695 you can visit the IRS website.

Above: Picture of Josue and a MERV 13 Pleated Filter

Two of the very first steps when trying to improve indoor air quality is to make sure you are using the most efficient filters on your equipment and the second is to make sure your filters are changed regularly.

First you need to find out which filters are the most efficient ones that will work with your equipment.  You do this by researching what the MERV rating is on the filters you are using. The MERV system, which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, is an industry-standard system for rating the minimum efficiency of air filters. The MERV system rates the filters on a scale of 1-16, with one being the least efficient and 16 the most efficient. Many times the simple, cheap throw away filter you pick up at the grocery store only has a MERV rating of 1-4 which means it is only catching the largest of the airborne particles. For example a filter with a MERV rating of 3 traps larger particles  like dust mites, standing dust, and carpet fibers.  If you want your filter to catch 75% or more of the particles in the air then you will want to look for a filter that has a MERV rating of 14-16. A MERV 16 rated filter will trap things as tiny as bacteria and smoke.

Once you have found the most energy efficient filter for your home the second thing you must do is properly maintain your system. When you buy a filter with a higher MERV rating you must regularly change the filter. As the filter becomes loaded with particles, the available space for air to flow through becomes smaller. When this happens the result is cleaner air but also less air movement, which causes your furnace to have to work harder to move the air. The filters must be replaced on a regular basis in order to ensure proper air flow. Many companies offer a Planned Service program that you can enroll in. A technician will come to your house every few months and check and change your filters as well as clean all of your equipment.  We like to think of it as an”oil change” for your H.V.A.C. equipment. Just like a car needs an oil change and a tune up to run at its peak efficiency so does your heating and air conditioning equipment!

Germicidal lamps work along side other indoor air filtration systems to keep your indoor air quality healthy. The lamp uses intense rays of ultraviolet light to kill and control things like bacteria and mold that grow inside your home.  Research has shown that the air in your home may be up to five times more polluted than the air outside and considering how much time we spend in our homes we should do everything possible to make sure the air we are breathing is clean. 

How do germicidal lamps work?The lamp uses the short wavelength of UV that is damaging to forms of life at the micro-organic level. The light  penetrates the cell walls of the micro-organisms, which includes pathogens, viruses and mold,  so their DNA is disrupted causing them to no longer be able to grow or multiply. The lamp is installed in the air-duct system and sterilizes the air coming into your home. You will want to talk to your H.V.A.C. contractor about the size and the wattage of the lamp to be used in your home. The lamps are similar to a fluorescent lamp in that they do not produce much heat. Germicidal lamps do not produce any dangers to humans. Obviously, at high levels UV light can be damaging to humans but because of the low levels of light and of where the lamp is installed in the home the homeowner rarely comes in contact with the lamp. 

Once the lamp is installed it is usually good for close to 10,000 hours of continuous use. It is recommended that the lamp be replaced once a year. The lamp will most likely always be lit but the UV effectiveness of the lamp is reduced after about 10,000 hours of use. If you want the lamp to continually be effective then you do not want to wait until the bulb goes out to replace it. It is also a good idea to clean the lamp every few months. If you have a service contract with your H.V.A.C. company they will be able to clean the lamp during their quarterly visits. Making sure the lamp is clean is another way to help maximize the life of the lamp. Many companies also offer a warranty on certain components and so if something does go wrong it is many times covered under warranty. 

Using UV Germicidal Lighting as a way to sterilize air and water has been around since the mid-20th century. They are most often used in water tanks, sealed rooms and forced air systems. Many times you will see them installed in someone's hot tub or fish tank.  Germicidal lamps are not only  beneficial for humans but also for the performance of your home's heating and air conditioning systems. The contaminants that the lamp kills also have a negative impact on your indoor air equipment. Therefore the lamps not only have health benefits but also benefit the equipment in your home. 

Weather you are living in a newly built home or an older one you and your family are at risk of suffering from poor indooor air qulaity. There are three types of contaminants that can cause the air quality in your home to be poor. First there are particles which include things like pet dander, pollen and dust, and then airborne mold spores which are microscopic living organisims that grow and reproduce in warm, humid places and last there are odors and chemicals which include things like cleaning supplies, paints, and pet odors. If you are in a new home there is a higher likelihood of chemicals and in an older home you are at more of a risk for mold and mildew. There are many different air purification systems on the market. We use and recommend the Lennox PureAir Air Purification System. The PureAir system helps reduce the amount of everything from dust mites and mold spores to infectious bacteria and viruses. It is also one of the only indoor air quality systems that safely removes and destroys odors and chemical vapors. The PureAir Air Purification System is made up of three different parts. A MERV 16 Precision Pleat filter, two 55-watt UVA lamps and a metal insert that is coated with a catalyst that’s activated by UVA light. The system reduces concentrations of pollutants through a process called photocatalytic oxidation which combines three powerful air purfiiers. The filter captures particles and bioaerosols, removing them from the airstream, then as the chemical and odor filled airstrem flows over the UVA lamps, the airstream is exposed to the catalytic surface and then the light energy and water vapor in the air activate the titanium dioxide catalyst, which generates hydroxyl radicals. These hydroxyl radicals attack the carbon compenents of the odors and chemical vapors, breaking them down into carbon dioxide and water. Bad indoor air quality can effect the health of you and your family. The more odors and chemical vapors that are in your home the more likely you or a family member might suffer from shortness of breath or diziness, especially if there is already an underlying ailment such as asthma. It is beneficial for everyone in your home to breathe good quality air. The benefits of installing a Lennox PureAir Air Purification System include not only cleanliness and comfort but most importantly the health of you and your family.