Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Tue, Jun 29, 2010
Just think, if you had an energy-efficient geothermal heat pump with a waste recovery unit installed in your Lorain County home, not only would you be saving big bucks on your energy bills, you’d be enjoying FREE hot water all summer long. No more waiting for the dishwasher to finish cycling before you hop in the shower or worrying about how many showers your grooming-conscious teens are taking. Connecting a waste recovery unit to your geothermal heat pump ensures plenty of hot water for the whole family this summer -- and it won’t cost you a dime!
How A Geothermal Heat Pump Can Save Money
Geothermal heat pumps tap into the Earth’s natural temperature regulating capabilities to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer. Geothermal heat pumps offer savvy Lorain County consumers real cost savings on their energy bills. Properly installed by your Lorain County plumbing, heating and air conditioner professional, a geothermal heat pump can save Lorain County homeowners from 50% to 70% on winter heating bills and up to 40% on summer air conditioning costs. Plus, purchase and installation of a geothermal heat pump this year qualifies for Federal Stimulus Tax Credits which could save you a nice chunk of change on your income taxes. The geothermal tax credit is available through December 31, 2016 and provides a 30% income tax credit on installed costs with no maximum limit.
Geothermal heat pumps capitalize on the ground’s natural ability to conserve energy. At a dept of 30 feet, ground water maintains a constant temperature throughout the year. The units work by transferring heat and cold between your home and the ground via a piped water system. In the summer, a by-product of that heat transfer is plenty of nice, hot water, free for the taking when you have a geothermal heat pump!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Tue, Jun 08, 2010
Lorain County home improvement stores are showcasing supplies for summer projects, and homeowners have started to make to-do lists. With the cost of energy going up each year, it just makes sense to add increasing the energy efficiency of your Lorain County home to your summer to-do list. Reducing your home’s energy consumption will not only reduce your family’s carbon footprint (good for the environment), it will decrease your monthly utility bills (good for your family budget).
There are many home comfort appliances on the market today that are built to minimize energy use while maximizing energy output. Federal income tax rebates and Ohio appliance clunker programs make this an excellent year to upgrade old energy-guzzling appliances with new energy-efficient models. Consider the energy-efficient options below, then call your Lorain County plumbing, heating and air conditioning expert to schedule a free installation estimate. Knowledgeable Raymond professionals can discuss your family’s energy needs and recommend energy-efficient appliances that will reduce energy use while improving home comfort.
- Energy-efficient central air conditioners use eco-safe Puron refrigerant that won’t damage the ozone. Carrier’s two-speed air conditioners save 50% energy by running on low speed 80% of the time. The high-speed cycle is used only to bring your Lorain County home down to a comfortable temperature. Superior air circulation eliminates hot spots, providing even cooling throughout your home.
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Enter Raymond’s Facebook contest to win a FREE A/C Performance Check to keep your current A/C system running smoothly. While he’s there, ask your Raymond A/C professional to evaluate your cooling system and recommend energy-efficient improvements.
- Heat pumps harness the Earth’s natural temperature regulating ability to maintain a comfortable, even temperature in your home year round.
- Geothermal heat pumps provide free hot water all summer while improving heating and cooling comfort.
- Programmable thermostats save energy by cooling your house only when you’re home.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jun 04, 2010
Sounds like this summer in Lorain County is going to be a real scorcher. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which predicted 2010 to be one of the hottest summers on record, released first quarter temperature profiles indicating that its scientists are right on the money. January through April was the warmest quarter on record since reliable temperature records were begun in the late 1800s. The Earth’s surface temperature average was 58.1 degrees in April, 1.35 degrees warmer than the 20th century average. The planet hasn’t been this hot since 1998!
Brace for the Climate Change This Summer
One degree might not sound like much, but when you’re talking global temperature; scientists say it’s huge. Global warming means that everything on the planet got a little hotter -- oceans, land masses, air – and stayed hotter. But the bad news isn’t over for Lorain County home and business owners. The National Center for Atmospheric Research just warned the country to brace for what could be one of the worst hurricane seasons since 2005 when Katrina inundated New Orleans.
Meteorologists say wind patterns and warmer ocean temperatures are creating a perfect storm for hurricane development. They expect 15 to 20 major named storms to develop between now and the end of November. Even worse, storms are expected to incubate in the southeast Atlantic, home of 90% of the Category 4 and 100% of the Category 5 hurricanes that have battered the U.S. Just because Lorain County is hundreds of miles from the ocean doesn’t mean we’re in the clear. Hurricanes moving up from the Gulf or Atlantic blanket Loraine County with rain and insufferable humidity. This summer we could fry in our own juices!
There’s never been a better reason to schedule an A/C Performance Check with your Lorain County air conditioning professional and you might want to invest in an energy-efficient air conditioner since it sounds like we’re going to be cranking the A/C all summer.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, May 07, 2010
Heat pumps may be the new kid on the energy-efficient block and less well-known to the average Lorain County homeowner, but the savings they offer is finally getting heat pumps the attention they deserve. Heat pumps use either the earth under your home or an underground water source to absorb and dissipate heat. They work by continuously circulating water or refrigerant from a heat pump located inside your home through underground pipes, taking advantage of the fairly consistent ground temperature below the frost line to transfer energy. The liquid in the pipes absorbs heat from your home in the summer and cold in the winter. As the liquid circulates underground, that energy is released, cooling the liquid in summer and warming it in winter. When the liquid returns to the heat pump in your home, that energy is released again, cooling your home in summer and warming it in winter.
Heat pumps increase the heating and cooling efficiency of your Lorain County home. Cold and hot spots are eliminated, humidity levels are decreased and your home stays more comfortable all year round. Because heat pumps use less energy to maintain an even temperature in your home, you save money on your utility bills, a double bonus!
Geothermal heat pumps are the greenest heating and cooling technology available to Lorain County homeowners. They do not burn fossil fuels so do not add to air pollution, greenhouse gases or acid rain. With no outdoor components, heat pumps also decrease noise pollution. When you install a heat pump, you and your neighbors won’t hear any more noisy recycling whines like you do from traditional air conditioners.
With federal tax credits and Ohio energy rebates available, this is an excellent time to consider adding an energy-efficient heat pump to your Lorain County home. Heat pumps installed in 2010 will be eligible for a tax credit of 30%, up to $1500. Get the facts and find out if you are eligible for a tax credit!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Feb 11, 2010
Budget Energy-Efficient Upgrades This Year and Qualify for Tax Credit
Snowmagedon that buried the East Coast is just the latest in this winter’s string of extreme weather disasters. Usually snowy Vancouver had to helicopter in snow to cover Olympic ski slopes. Torrential rains resulted in massive mud slides in California. Children in Orlando got their first taste of snow. Bizarre weather has made this winter one of Alaska’s warmest and Florida’s coldest. Climatologists tell us it’s all the result of global warming which is disrupting long-standing weather patterns. In Lorain County, meteorologists say we can expect colder, snowier winters and hotter, stickier summers which means your furnace and air conditioner will be working overtime for years to come.
Maximize Energy Savings by Installing a Geothermal Heat Pump
Smart Lorain County homeowners are budgeting energy-efficient upgrades to their heating and cooling systems this year to take advantage of the Federal Stimulus Tax Credit for energy-efficient appliances. If you’re looking for a heating and cooling system that will maximize energy savings, consider having your Lorain County heating and air conditioning professional install a geothermal heat pump. A renewable energy source, geothermal heat pumps qualify for tax credit through December 31, 2016.
Geothermal Heat Pumps Qualify for a Tax Credit Through 2016
Credit for Energy Star rated geothermal heat pumps is equal to 30% of the purchase and allowed installation costs with no cap on expenses, making it the most generous tax credit available in the government’s program to encourage energy efficiency. Geothermal heat pumps make use of the Earth’s ability to conserve energy. The insulating properties of the Earth allow water to maintain a fairly constant temperature at a depth of 30 feet. Geothermal heat pumps exploit this temperature stability by creating a specialized heat exchange that draws warmth from the Earth in winter while expelling cold air from inside your house. In summer the same principal is used to draw in cool air and expel warm air. Geothermal heat pumps allow you to maintain a comfortable indoor home environment year round with minimal energy expenditure.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, Jan 25, 2010
Reduce Your Heating Bills up to 70% by Installing a Geothermal Heat Pump
Geothermal heat pumps tap into the power of nature to heat and cool your Lorain County home efficiently. Geothermal heat pumps provide comfortable even temperatures throughout your home in both winter and summer, With the Federal Stimulus Tax Credit providing up to a 30% income tax credit on the cost of installing geothermal heat pumps, this is an excellent time to have your Lorain County heating and cooling professional install a heat pump in your home. In Lorain County, energy-efficient geothermal heat pumps can cut your heating bills by 50% to 70% and air conditioning bills by 40%. If you add a hot water assist to your heat pump system, you can recycle hot water created during system operation and enjoy virtually free hot water all summer long.
Their superior efficiency and reliability has made geothermal heat pumps the heat pump system of choice in Lorain County and throughout the country. Geothermal heat pumps tap into the ability of ground water to absorb and retain heat at a constant temperature. At a depth of 30 feet, ground water maintains a constant temperature that varies by less than a single degree throughout the year. Geothermal heat pumps reticulate water via a sealed, non-polluting water system that is never exposed to the atmosphere.
Rather than creating heat like furnaces, heat pumps transfer heat between the ground water and your home. In the winter they pull heat absorbed and stored in ground water into your home. In the summer they pump heat collecting inside your home out into ground water. The fairly constant and more temperate temperature of ground water throughout the year allows geothermal heat pumps to work efficiently all year round.
Find out how you can qualify for the federal stimulus tax credit!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, Jan 11, 2010
Installation of an Energy-Efficient Furnace can Drastically Reduce Home Heating Bills
It’s mighty cold out there and frigid arctic air will be sticking around for a while. In heavy heating areas like Lorain County, installation of an energy-efficient furnace can drastically reduce home heating bills. To reduce energy use, last year the government introduced the Federal Stimulus Tax Credit to encourage the purchase of energy-efficient home heating and air conditioning equipment.
Under the stimulus plan, Lorain County residents can receive up to a $1500 credit on their 2009 and/or 2010 income taxes with installation of a qualified energy-efficient gas furnace or air conditioner. Through 2016, federal income tax credits will also be available on alternative energy geothermal heat pumps . (Click here to download a summary of energy-efficiency Federal Stimulus Tax Credit.) Additional information is available on the EPA website.
Furnace manufacturers have lowered prices on range-rated furnaces or brought new qualifying models in the mix spurring sales over furnaces with higher efficiency ratings. Lorain County residents who took advantage of the stimulus plan in 2009 quite likely could have afforded to make the switch without stimulus money. But we wonder about Lorain County residents living on fixed incomes due to retirement, unemployment or disability. Lorain County has been hard hit by the recession and collapse of the auto industry. Many of the folks struggling with decreased incomes are most in need of money-saving energy-efficient home heating and cooling systems. Shouldn’t there be a way these folks can take advantage of the energy-efficiency stimulus plan? Contact your Congress member and let him/her know how you feel.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Dec 09, 2009
Act Now for the $1,500 Tax Credit for Energy Efficient Appliances
The year is coming to a close which means time is running out for Lorain County, Ohio residents who want to cash in on Uncle Sam’s energy-efficient appliance tax credit and take that deduction on their 2009 taxes. The Federal Stimulus Tax Credit allows homeowners to receive tax credit for certain energy-efficient home improvements made between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. (Credits for renewable energy sources extend through 2016.) Raymond Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning has created an easy to understand fact sheet about the Federal Stimulus Tax Credit for interested Lorain County homeowners. Click here and receive your free copy of Raymond’s Get the Facts.
Qualifying Energy-Efficient Equipment
Purchases that qualify for the Federal Stimulus Tax Credit include various models of heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment in the following categories:
- Gas furnaces with an AFUE rating of 95 or higher
- Split air conditioners with efficiency ratings of 16 SEER/13 EER or higher
- Split heat pumps with efficiency ratings of 15 SEER/12.5 EER/8.5 HSPF or higher
- Packaged air conditioners with efficiency ratings of 14 SEER/12 EER or higher
- Packaged heat pumps with efficiency ratings of 14 SEER/12 EER/8 HSPF or higher
Heating, ventilation or air conditioning equipment that meets these requirements is eligible for a tax credit equal to 30% of the installed cost to a maximum tax credit of $1500. Naturally, the amount of tax credit residents may be eligible to claim will be dependant on their personal tax filing for the year the equipment is installed.
Geothermal heat pumps installed between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2016 may also qualify for a tax credit equal to 30% of the amount paid or incurred by a homeowner. You’ll find complete information and a comprehensive list of qualifying energy-efficient equipment on Raymond’s Get the Facts sheet.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Tue, Nov 24, 2009
Geothermal Heat Pumps Improve Air Quality
Similar to the more common air-source heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps use the natural heat storing properties of the ground or ground water instead of outdoor air to heat and cool your home. One of the most energy-efficient heating/cooling technologies on the market today, geothermal heat pumps are a clean, green technology that helps to prevent global warming and improve air quality by diminishing energy consumed by your heating/cooling system.
Geothermal Heat Pumps Provide Hot Water at a Lower Cost
In many installations geothermal heat pumps can also be used to provide your home with plenty of hot water at a considerable savings over traditional gas or electric water heaters, further increasing energy efficiency. The bonus to homeowners, of course, is that using less energy saves money on heating and cooling bills. You can maximize your savings by installing an Energy Star-rated geothermal heat pump. Energy Star appliances adhere to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s strict guidelines for energy efficient appliances and may qualify for a federal income tax deduction in 2009 and 2010.
Geothermal Heat Pumps Use 30% Less Energy
Because they tap into the natural heat stored in the ground which remains fairly constant year round, geothermal heat pumps transfer heat more efficiently, using about 30% less energy than air-source heat pumps that rely on fluctuating air temperatures. The low air temperatures and high humidity that can negatively impact the efficient operation of air-source heat pumps do not have the same impact on geothermal heat pumps, making them a better choice than air-source pumps in cooler climates. Geothermal pumps use the relatively constant temperature of the ground or of ground water stored several feet below the surface to effect energy transfer and create hot or cold air in your home.
Installation of a geothermal heat pump should be performed by a qualified, experienced heating and cooling professional. Proper sizing and installation are essential to ensure that geothermal heat pumps work properly. To find out more about energy-efficient, money-saving geothermal heat pumps, visit our website.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, May 06, 2009
If you’re aware of the recently signed U.S. Department of Energy’s Recovery Act and Stimulus Package, then you might be wondering, what does this mean for me?
Well, to put it simply, it means that you, as a taxpayer, can receive tax credits for your home and business expenses in 2009-2010. The tax section of the act provides greater tax credits for clean energy projects for homes and businesses.
For homeowners, you can receive tax credits up to $1,500 to help offset the costs of certain qualified energy property. Qualified spending includes various models of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Products meeting the requirements will be eligible for a tax credit equal to 30% of installed cost to a maximum $1,500 tax credit.
The act also provides Geothermal credits up to 30% of the installed cost on equipment, installation labor, loop material and loop labor in the year the system is placed into service. The geothermal credit has a longer term, from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2016.
Stay tuned for our Tax Credit Frequently Asked Questions blog! Please leave your questions below.