Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Aug 19, 2010
More Lorain County residents are tuning into the benefits of installing a solar water heater in their home. Solar water heaters offer attractive environmental and financial benefits. Electric and gas water heaters are notorious producers of environmentally-destructive carbon dioxide (CO2), Environmentalists say the amount of CO2 produced each year by residential water heaters is equal to the total CO2 produced by cars and light trucks. If just half of U.S. residents switched to solar water heaters, America’s CO2 emissions could be cut in half.
Let’s compare the energy use and cost of electric and gas-powered water heaters to solar water heaters.
Energy use
- Electric water heaters require 6,400 kilowatt hours of electricity per year to heat the water used by a family of four.
- Gas water heaters do not use electricity.
- Solar water heaters do not use electricity. They get their energy from the sun.
Carbon dioxide output
- Water heaters that use electricity generated by a typical U.S. power plant with an average 30% efficiency create 8 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, twice that emitted by a car.
- Gas water heaters emit about 2 tons of CO2 per year.
- Solar water heaters emit no CO2 and do not harm the environment in any way.
Cost
- The purchase price of an electric or gas water heater ranges from $150 to $450, but you also have to figure in monthly fuel costs for the life of the appliance.
- Solar water heaters cost from $1,500 to $3,500 but pay for themselves in fuel savings in 4 to 8 years. After that, all your hot water is free. Considering the average 20-year life of solar water heaters, that’s quite a savings.
More than 1.5 million savvy U.S. consumers already use solar water heaters. To find out more, contact Raymond Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning today.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Aug 05, 2010
With elections in the offing, Congress appears to have tabled passage of a comprehensive energy bill until next year. Washington may still take a few politically-safe potshots at the nation’s energy appetite but a forced diet plan will have to wait for next year. That leaves individual consumers to continue doing their part to decrease energy consumption and embrace sustainable living one Lorain County family at a time.
Join Lorain County
What can Lorain County consumers do?
- Educate yourself about the energy situation.
- Learn how to make your home more energy efficient.
- Replace old appliance with energy-efficient appliances.
- Embrace sustainable lifestyle choices.
- Share what you learn with others.
Survey Shows Many Underestimate
Energy Crisis
Despite all the national news reports, cable pundit machinations and History channel doomsday documentaries, a recent survey of Chicago high school students found that the majority of Americans are woefully uneducated about the energy crisis that is affecting us all. Most people have only a vague idea of the issues surrounding the energy conundrum and the true status of America’s renewable energy. Few are conversant with the facts.
Yesterday we shared the energy survey results in our blog, Test Your Renewable Energy Smarts. Test your energy knowledge and find out if you’re smarter than a 10th grader!
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Fun At The Ohio State Fair
If you’re planning a trip to Columbus to enjoy the Ohio State Fair (going on now through August 8), be sure to stop by the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel booth in the Marketplace building. Kids will enjoy playing the Beat the Heat wheel game to test their energy knowledge. Make sure you pick up a handy info sheet; it’s filled with great energy-saving tips that will help you save energy and cash when you return to Lorain County.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Aug 04, 2010
Chicago high school students attending energy-related student leadership workshops sponsored by the Mechanical Contractors Association were surveyed to gauge their understanding of the energy problems and potential solutions that will guide America’s energy future. Conducted by Jerry Katz, president of the National Foundation for Energy Education (NFEE), the survey showed students to be optimistic about the country’s energy 
future and use of renewable energy. Unfortunately, Katz said much of the students’ optimism was based on erroneous perceptions about the current state of U.S. energy resources and not on facts. Katz noted that the student response reflects a nationwide failure to comprehend the energy issues and challenges that face the U.S. known as Mr. Energy, Katz is spearheading a national campaign called “The Great Energy Debate” to improve U.S. energy education.
Taking questions from Katz’ energy survey, we’re giving Lorain County homeowners a chance to test their energy knowledge. Here’s your opportunity to find out if you’re smarter than a 10th grader.
1. What percent of U.S. energy use is used to generate electricity?
2. How much of the petroleum used in the U.S. is imported?
3. In 20 years, what percent of U.S. cars will be powered by alternative fuels (non-gasoline)?
4. On a scale of 0 (no support) to 10 (high support), do you support drilling offshore and in Alaska? What if production royalties went earmarked for conservation and renewable energy programs?
5. How much of the country’s energy is being supplied by renewable energy sources today?
Answers
1. Students guessed 60%. The correct answer is 40%.
2. Students correctly estimated 60%.
3. Students guessed 49%. Industry analysts predict anywhere from 30% to 70%.
4. Students initially voiced just 4.9 support for offshore and Alaskan drilling, but increased support to 6.2 when royalties funded conservation and energy programs.
5. Students guessed 45%. Adults taking the survey said 14%. The correct answer is 8%.
For information on how to decrease your energy use, visit Raymond Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Jul 28, 2010
Increasing Global Temperatures Mean Colder Winters and Hotter Summers
If you think this year’s sweltering summer temperatures are an aberration, think again. The intense summer heat wave that has descended on the Northern Hemisphere and sent temperatures soaring into the 90s for weeks at a time is expected to become commonplace in our lifetime, warn climate researchers at Stanford University. Residents from unusually moderate Lorain County to typically cool Fairbanks, Alaska and Moscow, Russia should prepare to cope with increasingly hot summers and weeks of extreme heat.
Within 30 years, average global temperatures are expected to be 3.6 degrees higher than during the mid-1800s when regular temperature tracking was initiated. Global temperature change doesn’t equate directly into local temperatures; the effect is more far-reaching. Increasing global temperatures mean more severe weather on both ends of the temperature scale -- colder winters, hotter summers, longer droughts and more violent storms. Long heat waves are expected to occur 5 times more frequently in the 2020s than at any time during the past 60 years.
Green Energy is Key to Maintaining Your Comfort and Controlling Energy Costs
Sure dire climate predictions mean that Lorain County homeowners can expect to be running their air conditioners a lot more frequently this summer and into the foreseeable future. Ohio rebates on energy-efficient appliances and the federal tax credit for installation of energy star appliances make this an excellent year to replace your aging air conditioner with a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. As energy use goes up, Lorain County residents can expect their cooling bills to climb – and it looks like it’s just going to get worse. Moving to cheap, green, energy efficient air conditioning now is key to maintaining your family’s comfort and controlling your home energy costs in the future.
Looking to purchase energy-efficient equipment? Schedule a FREE estimate now on all installation projects
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Jul 14, 2010
The Advances of Solar Energy
Solar power is one of the hot new green energy sources being applied to everything from home comfort appliances to airplanes! A Swiss pilot just completed a successful night flight in an experimental airplane powered entirely by the sun’s energy! By 2013, scientists expect to have a plane that can circle the globe on solar power. Using the sun’s free energy to power home appliances, create electricity, even power cars and airplanes first postulated by early science fiction writers, but science is bringing the reality into Lorain County homes today. Solar Water Heaters are the newest innovation on the green energy front in Lorain County, Ohio.
Can This Work For Lorain County?
The ultimate energy-saving appliance, solar water heaters use the sun’s free energy to heat the water you use in your home. As Keith Raymond explains in an informative Solar Water Heating YouTube video posted on the Raymond Plumbing website, with a solar factor of 41, Lorain County provides plenty of sunshine to operate a solar water heater year-round. (For comparison, Miami has a solar factor of 51.)
Save Money With Your Solar Water Heater
On average, energy savings realized from installation of a solar water heater in your Lorain County home provide full payback of purchase and installation costs within the first 7 years of use. After that, all of your hot water is free! With solar panels having an average life of 20 to 25 years, a solar water heating system pays for itself in the first third of its life and continues to generate free hot water for the next 15+ years. That’s a real bargain, particularly if your family includes a couple of teenagers.
Not only will Lorain County homeowners shave a nice chunk off their energy bills by installing a solar water heater, but federal tax credits and state energy programs can cut that cost in half.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Tue, Jul 06, 2010
Save Money, Energy, and Benefit The Environment
Lorain County homeowners can save a nice chunk of change on their utility bills if they take a few moments to click off and unplug appliances before leaving on vacation. There’s no need to spend energy on unused appliances while you’re away from home this summer. Not only will you save energy – and money – but you’ll also cut down on the amount of polluting carbon dioxide your utility company would be creating to keep your appliances fired up in your absence.
Before leaving on vacation, take these energy-saving steps:
- Shut off the air conditioner. If it’s impossible to shut it off completely, raise the thermostat to 85 degrees or higher to prevent the A/C from running and switch the fan to automatic. For every degree you raise your thermostat setting, you’ll save 2% to 3% on your Lorain County electric bill. Use that extra cash for a little vacation splurge.
- Turn off your water heater at the circuit breaker. There’s no need to keep water hot when you won’t be using it and you’ll save $4 to $10 on your monthly bill.
- Set your refrigerator to a slightly higher temperature. With no one opening the door to let out the cold air, it takes less energy to keep food cold. If you’re planning to be gone for a month or more, clean out the fridge and unplug it. Remember to prop the doors open to prevent mold growth.
- Turn off all except security lights. Use timers and motion detectors on security lights to minimize their use.
- Unless you’re taping a favorite TV show while you’re gone, unplug the TV and DVD player. Ditto cell chargers, computers, microwaves, printers, alarm clocks. Unless unplugged, these electronic appliances continue to draw standby power which can add up to 10% of your electric bill.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jun 03, 2010
With the Lorain County schools closing for summer vacation soon, parents are already wracking their brains for projects to keep the kids busy. Why not start a summer project to reduce your family’s carbon footprint? Brainstorm with the kids about things they can do around the house to save energy and water. Most children learn something about environmental conservation at school so they’re sure to have some helpful suggestions. Let the kids learn by doing and keep it fun!
How to Reduce Your Family's Carbon Footprint During the Summer
To measure the real effects of your family’s energy-saving program, record water, gas and electric meter readings. Each week take new readings and let the kids practice their math skills to find out how much energy and water the family used. When consumption rates decrease, celebrate with a trip to the zoo or a walk to the local ice cream shop!
To get you and your Lorain County family started, here are a few simple ideas for reducing your family’s carbon footprint:
- Set your air conditioner thermostat up 2 degrees. A programmable thermostat makes it easy.
- Schedule your annual A/C Performance Check to make sure your air conditioner is running at peak efficiency.
- Use ceiling fans instead of or to augment air conditioning and turn the thermostat up another degree or two.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with twisty energy-efficient CFLs.
- Unplug appliances when not in use. Vampire appliances suck up 10% of your home’s energy even when they’re not being used.
- Park the car in the garage and walk or bike around town instead of driving.
- Recycle. Pick up trash and litter when you visit parks and playgrounds and bring it home to recycle.
- Replace your old air conditioner with a new Energy Star Carrier air conditioner for big energy and budget savings.
- Air dry the laundry.
- Turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, May 06, 2010
Decrease Your Home Energy Use and Lower Energy Bills By 40%
Buildings, particularly residential homes built more than 25 years ago, account for 40% of the energy used in the U.S., according to U.S. Department of Energy statistics. If Lorain County homeowners installed energy-efficient furnaces and air conditioners and implemented other energy-saving measures such as using low flow toilets and shower heads and replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving CFL lamps, they could decrease their home energy use – and utility bills -- by 40% or more, Department of Energy experts say. Using energy-efficient home appliances just makes good dollars-and-cents business sense. The more energy-saving appliances and practices you add to your daily life, the greater your savings. Some energy-savvy homeowners have managed to squeeze their utility costs down to a measly $10 to $20 a month!
In an article on rehabbing older homes to increase energy savings, Andrew McCoy, a building construction professor at Virginia Tech, told the Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch, “In the future people will worry less about how their house looks and more about how it performs.” McCoy is one of many predicting a “green revolution” in the construction industry. About the green building market, McCoy said, “It’s just exploding right now – engineering solutions, products and materials. We know the market’s there.”
The Department of Energy estimates that retrofitting residential and commercial buildings in Lorain County and across the United States with currently existing Energy Star furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps and using energy-efficient tools and techniques available today could cut national energy bills by $40 billion a year, that’s $130 for each and every American.
Federal tax credits and Ohio state rebates make this an excellent time to upgrade your Lorain County heating and cooling system to an energy-efficient furnace and air conditioner. The sooner you switch, the more you’ll save.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Apr 23, 2010
Decrease the Amount of Energy You Use to Protect Our Planet
If they have done anything, this winter’s bizarre winter storms have placed new emphasis on our need to protect our planet. Climatologists tell us the unusual storm patterns that have dumped record snowfalls on the East Coast, sent the temperature plummeting in Lorain County, turned California into a mud bath and forced usually snowy Vancouver to import snow for the Olympics are all signs of global warming. What’s more, we can expect fiercer storms and weird weather patterns to continue into spring and fall and, in fact, become the norm. Everything each of us can do to decrease the amount of energy we use and limit the harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere helps to relieve environmental stress and protect our planet.
Install Eco-Friendly Appliances and Make a Difference
Individuals can make a difference by choosing to have their Lorain County heating, cooling and plumbing professional install eco-friendly appliances in their homes. Some of the eco-friendly choices you can make to protect the environment include:
- Install an energy-efficient gas furnace to heat your home.
- Use an energy-efficient Puron air conditioner to cool your home. The next generation A/C refrigerant, Puron doesn’t release harmful ozone-depleting fluorocarbons into the atmosphere like Freon does.
- Consider using an eco-friendly heat pump to boost heating and air conditioning power by harnessing the Earth’s natural ability to regulate heat.
- Install an energy-efficient programmable thermostat to automatically reduce furnace or air conditioning use when you aren’t home.
- Make use of geo-thermal water heaters to harness the Earth’s heat to provide unlimited free hot water for your entire home.
Best of all, when you have your Lorain County plumbing, heating or air conditioning professional install certain energy-efficient appliances in your home this year, they may qualify for the federal government’s tax credit program which will save you money on your 2010 income taxes. Geothermal tax credits for heat pumps and heat pump water heaters continue through 2016.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Apr 21, 2010
April 22 is Earth Day! Helpful Tips to Conserve Energy at Home.
Tomorrow is Earth Day which is a good time to take a close look at the way you and your family use our planet’s resources. Rather than a one-day effort, though, Earth Day should be just the first day of a life-long commitment to using the Earth’s natural resources more wisely and more sparingly. Environmentalists warn that energy consumption and water consumption are two of the biggest challenges we face as stewards of our planet. There are many things – some big, some small -- that you and your family can do to help conserve energy and water resources all year round. Some things are simple and you can do yourself. Bigger projects may require a little help from your trusted Lorain County plumbing, heating and cooling expert.
Here’s a list of conservation measures to get you started:
- A 5-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons of water. Save water by turning off the faucet while you suds up, turning it back on to rinse off.
- Water flows from faucets at a rate of 2 gallons per minute. Cut water use by turning the water off while brushing your teeth and saving.
- Install aerators in faucets and a low-flow shower head to decrease water flow. When combined with not letting the faucet run, you can decrease water usage by 50%.
- 1 drip a second from a faucet uses approximately 2700 gals of water a year. Fix leaking faucets and toilets
- Run the dishwasher only when it’s full.
- Hold off on the laundry until you have a full load.
- Park your car on the lawn when you wash it and you’ll water the lawn at the same time.
- Have your Lorain County cooling, heating and plumbing expert install energy efficient appliances. An energy efficient furnace, air conditioner and hot water heater will save you money on every bill and help protect the planet at the same time.
"Green" your home on Earth day by replacing energy-guzzling appliances with energy-efficient appliances. Schedule a Free estimate on all energy-efficient installation projects.