23 August 2010

Current Oregon State Energy Rebates & Tax Credits

Below of are a list of tax credits apply to Oregon and Washington

These Tax Credits focus Heating & Cooling Equipment

Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit: Up to $350

Oregon Residential Gas Furnace Tax Credit

Federal energy tax credit: 30 percent of cost, up to $1,500
Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency
Washington Customers of NW Natural

Energy Trust Incentive: Gas furnace—$100
Minimum 90 percent or greater AFUE; incentive available for primary heat source only. Incentive available through December 31, 2010.

Oregon Department of Energy – Conservation Division
Heat Pumps and Air Conditioning Systems Tax Credit

Premium Efficiency Furnaces, Boilers, and Air Handlers
www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/RES/tax/HVAC-Furnaces.shtml

If you live in the Portland Oregon area and have questions about any current Rebates and Tax Credits related to Heating & Cooling equipment give us a call, 503.636.5371

The links below refer to Rebates & Tax Credits for a Range of Energy related products

Green Building Incentive

PACE Financing

Local Option – Local Improvement Districts

Performance-Based Incentive

Personal Tax Credit

Residential Energy Tax Credit

Property Tax Incentive

Renewable Energy Systems Exemption

State Grant Program

Energy Trust – Large-Scale Renewable Energy Program

State Loan Program

State Rebate Program

Utility Grant Program

Lane Electric Cooperative – Residential and Commercial Weatherization Grant Program

Utility Loan Program

Utility Rebate Program

23 August 2010

Reduce Heating Costs this Winter

There are many things you can do to keep the heat in here are a few you may not of heard before.

Plant trees or shrubs around your home to reduce wind chill factor.
Upgrade to a variable speed furnace, this will allow the furnace to adjust the temperature of your home without having to run the blow at full power. A non-variable speed furnace is like having a car that only had to speeds, stop and full power, not very efficient even if feasible to drive such a car.
Have an annual maintenance check and cleaning of your furnace performed. Furnaces do need annual cleaning and maintenance to keep it running efficiently and keep it under warranty.
Insulate floor that are over unheated areas such as a basement or crawl space. This can be a major area of heat loss.
Open your outside vents in the summer and close them in the winter.

These are not all the thing you can do reduce heat loss in your home but it represents some major areas of heat loss.

For a more complete list of energy saving tips go to www.chiff.com/a/cut-heat-bills.htm

22 August 2010

Attic Fans and Your Homes Cooling System

Heat collects in your attic and is trapped by the walls and roof then the trapped heat back heats the air in your living spaces making your air conditioner or heat pump work harder. Other than your cooling system an attic fan is probably the single most effective thing you can do to help cool your home.

Attic fans run automatically, they run when the temperature of your attic becomes to great and shuts off when it has cooled it down just like your heating and cooling system in your home it does its job without having to think about it.

Solar Attic fans keep your attic cool for free, because they can be mounted on the roof they have access to the sun and photovoltaic power producing unit that is big enough to produce the electricity necessary to power the unit easily fits on the top of the vent cover .

We highly recommend using an attic fan and if you are in the Portland Oregon area and would be interested in attic fan give us a call 503.636.5371

Available Tax Credits

Homeowners are eligible for tax credits for qualified photovoltaic systems purchased and installed before December 31, 2016*.

For solar photovoltaic (PV) systems the allowable tax credit is 30% of the qualified PV system expenditures including product and installation costs.

There is no credit cap for residential photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Existing homes & new construction qualify for both a primary residence and second homes qualify, rentals do not qualify.

A tax deduction is subtracted from income before total tax liability is computed. On the other hand, a tax credit is subtracted directly from the total tax liability.

To qualify tax payers need the following information:

Receipt with the cost of the system (including labor)
When it was placed in service
Manufacturer Certification Statement

09 August 2010

Should You Have A Tankless Waterheater

Tankless water heaters are designed to provide a endless stream of hot water.

That means that the hot water doesn’t run out because a storage tank has been ran down!

Here are the Tax Credits and Rebates currently available

Up to $1500 Federal Tax Credit (This credit is scheduled to end on 12/31/2010)
$350 Oregon State Tax Credit (check your state for possible credits or rebates)
$340 Energy Trust of Oregon Rebate, They have rebates for Oregon and Washington residence

Tankless water heater are useful for situations where the hot water usage exceeds the ability of a storage tank to keep up and rather than buy a larger tank or multiple tanks it would make more sense to install a tankless water heater especially with current tax credits and rebates the cost is not an issue.

Remember though that tankless water heaters to not produce instant hot water the cold water in the pipes between the valve and the tankless water heater will be filled with unheated water so when you first open the valve of your sink or shower the unheated water will have to drain out before the heater water flows out the open valve.

Use the links below to see rebates and credits for all the

Energy Trust of Oregon Rebates for water heating

Oregon Department of Energy – Conservation Division

Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency

For more information on Tankless water heaters click here.

31 July 2010

Heating and Cooling System Filter Types

Types of Air Filters for your Heating and Cooling System

Polyester or Fiberglass Filters

These are the standard disposable and 1″ filters that should be changed monthly. Their main purpose is not to provide clean air for breathing but rather to protect your heating and cooling system from damage they only catch the relatively large particles.

Flat and Pleated Filters

These 1″ filters should be replaced every 2-3 months, they are made of polyester or cotton. These two materials are denser than fiberglass so they will capture smaller particles than fiberglass o reusable filters and they come both in pleated and flat form.

Reusable Filters

Reusable filters are 1″ filters that can be washed out monthly and will last for years before replacing. They don’t trap the smaller particles very well so they are intended to improve the respiratory quality of the air.

Deep Pleated Filters

These filters are 5-6 inches deep and can only be used in a heating and cooling system that are designed to accept them. These filters are available in a broad range of effectiveness ranging from just slightly better than a fiberglass filter to that of a permanently charged electrostatic filter.

Permanently Charged Electrostatic Filters

These are the standard 1″ filters that are designed to be replaced every 2-3 months, the difference is that these have electret fibers that are electrostatically charged so they magnetically trap the smaller particles which makes them more capable than the other types of filters although some of the deep pleated brands are as effective.

Electronic Air Cleaner

An highly effective air cleaner such as the American Standard AccuClean Whole Home Air Filtration System cleans the air of 99.98% of allergens from the indoor air. A good unit should be able to trap particles smaller than 1 micron. Systems like this are important to people with asthma or serious allergies.

31 May 2010

What is a Heat Pump?

A heat pump is a device that uses a small amount of energy to move heat from one location to another. Heat pumps are usually used to pull heat out of the air or ground to heat a home or office building, or they can be switched into reverse to cool a building. If you know how an air conditioner (A/C) works, you already know a lot about how a heat pump works, because heat pumps and air conditioners operate in very similar ways.

Heat pumps are a unique kind of heating system, because they can do the work of both a furnace and an air conditioner. Thus, there’s no need to install separate systems to heat and cool your home. Heat pumps can also work extremely efficiently, because they simply transfer heat, rather than burn fuel to create it.

Heat pumps work best in moderate climates like Portland, Oregon. Using a heat pump instead of an air conditioner may help you save money on your utility bill. So if your looking for an Air Conditioner installation or a Heat pump installation, Call Portland’s heating and cooling experts.

28 May 2010

Air Conditioning 15 Point Precision Tune Up

1. Lubricate all moving parts (including blower motor and condenser fan).
2. Install gauges, record operating pressures and temperatures.
3. Clean or Replace Filters.
4. Measure refrigerant.
5. Flush condensate drain system to protect against overflow.
6. Clean outdoor condenser coil.
7. Check blower motor (and belt if applicable).
8. Test temperature at return and supply air, adjust blower speed if necessary.
9. Monitor voltage and amperage in all motors.
10. Test operation and condition of compressor and components.
11. Test all controls for proper operation
12. Inspect start and run capacitors.
13. Test all wires and connections.
14. Check thermostat and confirm proper operation.
15. Clean up area to customer satisfaction.

Call or click now to schedule before the summer heat arrives.

09 May 2010

Energy Star is a sign of efficiency

Choosing an American Standard air conditioner or heat pump with an Energy Star logo is an important step to saving money on your utility bills—along with consuming less energy. What can you expect from a unit carrying the Energy Star logo? Air conditioners or heat pumps that have this symbol are at least 20 percent more efficient than the federal government’s current efficiency standard. Purchasing an American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning unit with the Energy Star label ensures that you’re getting the highest efficiency available.

The Energy Star program was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce the nation’s energy consumption. Be sure to ask your American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning dealer about local incentives that are offered by many utility companies and financial institutions for the purchase of Energy Star products.

The Furnace

Sunday September 5th, 2010