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Tag: Energy Efficiency

Generators

What size power generator do I need for my house?
Power outages due to storms, flooding, cold and heat are now more and more common in the United States. So, it is no surprise many people, especially in the Midwest, are starting to recognize emergency power generators are a necessity rather than a luxury item. “Our generators power sump pumps during flooding events, power medical equipment for sick family members and power refrigerators in the event of power loss,” according to Daniel (Dan) Sondej who has been working on air …
Air Conditioning

Programmable Thermostats (Opportunities and Limitations)
Programmable thermostats are known to help create a comfortable in-door environment while saving money. The trick is to come up with an efficient pre-set schedule during the day. Depending on your daily routines (and thermostat model), you may choose six or even more temperature settings per day. There are digital, electromechanical and mixed system available. We recommend the digital one for tech-savvy individuals who appreciate a variety of setting. The electromechanical thermostat offers fewer features, but it is easier to …
Energy Efficiency

Myth Busters: Heating Edition II
Heating your home efficiently can be tricky which is why we addressed four heating myths back in February. Now it is time to address myths #5 through #8!     Myth #5: Space Heaters Are an Effective Alternative to Your Furnace   Solely relying on space heaters can become costly during the wintertime, because they are less efficient than a gas furnace. They are even less affordable than a wood-heated fire in most cases. This does not mean there is …
Air Quality

How to Prevent Negative Impacts of Dry Winter Air on Your Family and Home
Your loved ones are most likely to suffer from the consequences of dry air in semi-arid climates and during the cold of winter when the furnace’s heat eradicates most of the humidity. The latter, especially impacts most Quad Cities Area households. Dry air may… Cause sore throats and dry skin which may be confused with COVID-19. Trigger itchy eyes, increasing the risk of catching infections by rubbing the eyes. Make you more susceptible to catching cold and flu viruses according …
Insulation

Insulation: Out With The Old, In With The New
If you have a high energy bill or have a problem controlling your home’s temperature there’s a good chance it’s time to replace your insulation. Insulation has many benefits for your home. First, insulation regulates your home’s temperature. Having the right type of insulation and installing it properly will ensure your house stays cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Needless to say, this helps reduce your energy bills! If your house is well insulated, the cold or …
Geothermal Energy

Does Geothermal make sense for your home?
There is no doubt that installing a geothermal heat pump is an environmentally friendly method to heat and cool your home, including water. Instead of relying on oil, geothermal generates warm or cold air in your home through pipes buried in the ground. This process operates in a slightly different way than your standard HVAC system. An electrically powered heat pump cycles ground water through a loop of pipes buried deep beneath your home. During the summer, the ground water is …
Energy Efficiency

Energy Saving Tips
June has finally arrived and unfortunately, so have its hot temperatures. With the weather around 90 degrees, it’s hard to avoid inevitably high energy bills. Here are a couple tips on how to save energy while still enjoying a cool, refreshing house. Don’t over react to the heat After being in the sun all day, a cool, air-conditioned room is a relief.  But, don’t fall in to the common mistake of cranking your thermostat down to cool your house faster. …
Air Conditioning

The Inside Scoop on HVAC: Common Myths Debunked
Myth I: I Only Need to Replace My Filter Every 90 days Reality: Filter maintenance is one of the easiest and most cost effective things you can do to help your system run efficiently and last for years to come. Often, customers will purchase a 90 day filter and leave it in their system assuming they are good to go. One of our expert staff, Ben Bocox, recommends checking your filter every 30 days, regardless of how long it is …
Energy Efficiency

Energy-Savings Tips for the Fall and Winter Time
Winter is approaching and turning on the heat is slowly becoming a daily routine. We at Doug’s Heating & Air Conditioning have already talked about the importance of Furnace Maintenance in our October blog, so now let’s focus on how to keep your utilities bill low without having to abstain from the cozy warmth. Insulation Keep the heat inside by making sure you home’s insulation is up to date. Check your windows and doors for drafts and consider upgrading to …
Geothermal Energy

Geothermal
Did you know the temperature of the earth/soil increases the further you dig? Did you know the temperature just a few feet below the ground barely changes throughout the year?  This underground temperature is between and 45 and 75 Fahrenheit depending on your location. Ground source heat pumps, direct use geothermal technologies, and enhanced geothermal systems are taking advantage of these facts to provide clean and affordable energy. Constant ground temperatures and a system of buried pipes makes all of …
Energy Efficiency

Does energy efficiency matter?
Yes, it does! Energy efficiency not only makes sure your utility bills remain as low as possible, it also has far reaching implications for the environment and the future of our kids. Energy efficiency starts with the production of energy. Energy plants use coal, gas, sun, or water to produce energy. Making sure they produce the most energy with the least amount of resources makes sure natural resources will last for generations to come and decrease the price of energy. …
Energy Efficiency

Is my Utility Bill too High?
This is actually a tricky question, because you can only answer it if you know what is normal or average. The first step is to look at past bills over the years and note any changes. Did the bill increase because you have an additional roommate? Did you install new equipment that needs plenty of electricity or are you now using a room you didn’t heat/cool previously? If the answer to these and similar questions is no, you should look …
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