It’s not easy being green. However, the payoffs are worth it. Utilizing air conditioning services in Greensboro will make your cooling system more efficient, reduce high energy bills, improve comfort and promote a cleaner environment. Environmentally-conscious homeowners are continuously searching for ways to reduce the carbon footprint in their homes. Going green sounds great, but what exactly can we do to so there are fewer greenhouse gas emissions from our home? The bottom line is: reduce energy use through energy efficiency. Berico has some suggestions on how to accomplish this.

1. Use an Energy Star Heating and Cooling System in Your Home

The ENERGY STAR label was founded to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by inefficient use of energy. Berico offers installation, repair services and maintenance on a variety of Energy Star HVAC systems, with high-efficiency ratings and beneficial energy savings.

According to www.energystar.gov, the label goes to products who meet the following:

“Product categories must contribute significant energy savings nationwide.
Qualified products must deliver the features and performance demanded by consumers, in addition to increased energy efficiency.

If the qualified product costs more than a conventional, less-efficient counterpart, purchasers will recover their investment in increased energy efficiency through utility bill savings, within a reasonable period of time.

Energy efficiency can be achieved through broadly available, non-proprietary technologies offered by more than one manufacturer.
Product energy consumption and performance can be measured and verified with testing.

Labeling would effectively differentiate products and be visible for purchasers”

2. Maintain Regular Heating and Air Conditioning Services in Greensboro

Annual maintenance for your heating and cooling systems is essential to keeping them working at maximum efficiency. The better prepared the systems are for the hot and cold seasons, the great their performance levels will be throughout the year. With minimized leaks and optimal air circulation, your Energy Star HVAC system will provide your home with comfortable temperatures and utility bill savings.

3. Insulate Your Home by Sealing Cracks and Gaps Around Windows and Doors

A recommended task for the spring and fall seasons is to do a visual inspection of your doors and windows to look for gaps or leaks. When you discover one, seal it with caulking or adding strong weather stripping, to prevent outdoor air from coming in and making your heating and cooling system work harder. Create a tightly sealed home for optimal energy efficiency.

Going green is a smart lifestyle choice, and with the right products, you can help the environment and experience savings on your bills. Making wise decisions about your home’s heating and cooling system can have a large impact on your utility bills, your comfort and the environment. When your older air conditioner or furnace needs to be replaced, look for Energy Star systems to provide you the best efficiency available. Berico’s heating and air conditioning services will help to maintain that high-efficiency level in your home so you can go green and stay green throughout the lifetime of your system. Enjoy a healthier home, greater comfort and cost savings with our heating and cooling systems and service. Contact Berico today to begin your journey towards a cleaner and energy efficient home: (336) 273-8663

(Source: How a Product Earns the ENERGY STAR label, www.energystar.gov, 2015)

In the middle of the summer season, are you afraid to look at your utility bills? Since you are running your Greensboro air conditioner every day in the hot summer months, there may be some reasons why your bill is higher than your neighbor’s energy bill. At Berico Fuels, we can help you find the causes of these higher payments, and help you on the path to cost savings. Here are 5 top reasons you may be paying so much each month for your air conditioning:

Your AC Unit is Older and Not as Efficient

Older cooling systems are not as effective at cooling, and the efficiency is much lower than today’s newer systems. This lower efficiency results in higher energy bills since the HVAC system requires more energy to get to the desired indoor temperature for your home. It may be time for a replacement system, which will be an initial investment that carries excellent cost savings over the years with significantly lower energy bills.

The Cooling System’s Fan is Set on the Thermostat to Constantly Run

If there is a fan setting on your programmable thermostat, it should be set to “Auto” instead of “On” for greater efficiency. If family members are constantly going back and forth with the temperature setting changes on the thermostat, they probably have also moved the fan switch to “on”. Achieve the best performance from your air conditioning unit by setting one main temperature setting for the hours that you are home and a few degrees’ warmer setting for when you are away from the house. Frequent changing of the temperature, even by a few degrees, not only creates an inefficient energy flow but puts more stress on your equipment as it constantly tries to adjust to these frequent changes. Agreeing on the most comfortable indoor temperature for everyone in your household and maintaining that level throughout the summer will help your system run more efficiently.

Your AC Unit is Inefficient as a Result of Skipped Maintenance

Regular annual maintenance is necessary to keep your air conditioner running efficiently. If you skip a year or two, it can result in a heavy collection of dust, dirt and other debris that will cause your system to not work at its best and most effective level. Contact Berico to schedule your HVAC maintenance visit in Greensboro, and we will check parts and connections while providing a complete cleaning.

Duct Blockages and Leaks in Your Cooling System Can Cause Higher Utility Bills

Trying to send air through blocked areas in your ductwork creates more pressure, and your cooling system needs to work harder to circulate the air, therefore using more energy. The quality of your ductwork is important because it provides the outlet to send cooled air throughout your home. When the ducts have holes or leaks, or connections are blocked off, this could result in higher energy bills. Regularly checking the ductwork in your home will help fix these issues before they become costly repairs and help to keep your energy bills down.

Keep Cool Air inside with Good Insulation

Your AC system may be working overtime to not only cool the inside of your home, but also the outside. Properly fitted windows or adding weather stripping around the windows will help the cool air from leaking to the outside and keep the hot air from coming in. Adequate insulation and weather stripping will help keep your HVAC system from running unnecessarily to accommodate the loss of cool air in your home. Keep the nice, cool air inside of your home and let the outside stay warm with added insulation. When you need service for your air conditioner in Greensboro, Burlington or Eden, contact Berico Heating & Air, Alamance Oil and Carolina Fuels at (336) 273-8663.

Have you ever thought about having an HVAC expert evaluate your home’s energy efficiency? Air conditioning systems are becoming more energy efficient and Eden, NC homeowners are learning about various ways to save energy after completing a home energy audit. On www.energy.gov, the professional energy assessment is explained,

“Professional energy assessments generally go into great detail to assess your home’s energy use. The energy auditor will do a room-by-room examination of the residence, as well as a thorough examination of past utility bills.”

Home Energy Audits Include a Review of Utility Bills

Checking through previous energy bills will provide a very clear idea of your home’s energy efficiency. Careful inspection of each room will also allow the auditor to analyze your Greensboro home in detail. Carolina Fuels offer home energy audits in the Eden and surrounding areas to help homeowners save money and find the best solution for optimal efficiency. What is the best way to prepare for the home energy audit? At www.energy.gov, the following steps are recommended:

“Before the energy auditor visits your house, make a list of any existing problems such as condensation and uncomfortable or drafty rooms. Have copies or a summary of the home’s yearly energy bills. (Your utility can get these for you.) Auditors use this information to establish what to look for during the audit. The auditor first examines the outside of the home to determine the size of the house and its features (i.e., wall area, number and size of windows). The auditor then will analyze the residents’ behavior:

• Is anyone home during working hours?
• What is the average thermostat setting for summer and winter?
• How many people live here?
• Is every room in use?

Your answers may help uncover some simple ways to reduce your household’s energy consumption.”

An Energy Audit is a Preventative Step to Better Energy Efficiency

Prevent energy loss by scheduling a home energy audit today. Your savings will start to appear on your utility bills after steps are implemented to increase efficiency. At a home energy audit, the professional service expert will look for signs of energy loss in your home. Using diagnostic equipment, they can find areas that could be improved and be able to make recommendations for your overall energy use within your home. Some suggestions may include using insulated curtains or room darkening window treatments to maximize energy efficiency. The condition of existing vents, doors and walls will be inspected as well.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

There is cost saving reasons for having a professional conduct a home energy audit. According to www.energy.gov., you can save a significant amount of money by making the recommended upgrades, following an audit:

“A professional energy audit gives you a thorough picture of where your home is losing energy and what you can do to save money.
You can save 5%-30% on your energy bill by making upgrades following a home energy assessment.You may be eligible for state, local, or utility incentives to assist with your home energy audit.”

Create an energy efficient home environment and enjoy savings this year. Carolina Fuels provide thorough home energy audits to help you know exactly how to save more money on utility bills in your home. Carolina Fuels performs air conditioning repair service and installations for the Eden area. Have a comfortable summer with great cost savings, by calling us at 336-273-8663

(Source: Professional Home Energy Audits, energy.gov, Nov. 6, 2014)