Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, Jul 19, 2010
Still Time To Get Cash For Clunkers
If you’ve been putting off purchasing a new energy-efficient home appliance, you’re in luck! There’s still money available in Ohio’s Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program and the state is anxious to hand that cash out to qualifying Lorain County residents. Of the $11 million originally set aside for Ohio’s cash for clunker appliances program, $9.8 million has been distributed since the program began in March. Fortunately for procrastinators, nearly $250,000 is still left in the fund and available to Ohio residents who decide to upgrade their energy-gobbling home appliances to new energy-sipping Energy Star appliances.
Save Money With Rebates
Lorain County residents can get Ohio rebates on energy-efficient refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers, electric heat pump water heaters and high-efficiency gas storage water heaters. Rebates range from $100 to $250 and vary by appliance. Details can be obtained from the state website at www.OhioApplianceRebate.com or by calling 1-888-686-8896. To obtain a rebate, Lorain County residents must reserve a rebate online or via phone, purchase an energy-efficient appliance within three days, recycle their old appliance and submit required information to the rebate center. Eight to 10 weeks later they’ll receive their rebate check.
Combine Rebate With Your Tax Credit
By the beginning of July, the state had mailed out 51,481 rebate checks to energy-savvy Ohio residents. Many Lorain County residents who are purchasing high-efficiency gas water heaters and heat pump water headers are combining their Ohio rebate with the Federal Stimulus Tax Credit to maximize their savings. Of course, the money these energy-efficient appliances will save them on their monthly energy bills stands to at least triple their savings!
If you’re ready to start saving energy – and cash – the energy experts at Raymond Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning can answer your questions and help you select the energy-efficient appliances that will best meet your needs. Give us a call today for a free installation estimate!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, Jun 21, 2010
Solar water heaters are one of the new energy-efficient home comfort appliances making their debut in Lorain County, Ohio. Running on free energy from the sun, solar water heaters may be the ultimate cost-effective and eco-friendly method of generating hot water for your Lorain County home or business.
Which Solar Water Heater Suits You?
There are two different types of solar water heating systems: active and passive. Active systems include circulating pumps and adjustable controls; passive systems do not. Both require well-insulated storage tanks and employ solar collectors. Dual tank systems use solar power to heat water in a separate tank, then channel the heated water into a conventional water heater for storage and use. Single tank systems combine both processes, using a single tank to heat and store hot water.
- Passive solar water heating systems, while generally less expensive than active systems, are less efficient. Passive systems, however, have a longer life than active systems and are considered more reliable.
- Active solar water heating systems, which circulate water through the solar collectors, are more efficient than passive systems in transferring solar heat to water. Active systems use a somewhat more complicated technology than passive systems.
In most climates, and certainly in Lorain County, solar water heating systems require backup water heating systems for cloudy days and episodes of unusual demand. Traditional water heaters, water-driven heat pumps or additional solar collection tanks can be used to supply backup hot water.
Learn More About Solar Water Heaters
Several different types of active and passive solar water heating systems are available. Contact your Lorain County plumbing professional for more information on this energy-efficient alternative to traditional hot water tanks. Your plumbing professional can discuss your hot water usage and recommend the most effective hot water system to meet your needs.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jun 17, 2010
Use These Top 5 Energy-saving Summer Tips
Summer in Lorain County has already reached “sizzle” and it’s only June! Record hot and humid weather is predicted this summer which has energy-conscious Lorain County home and business owners thinking SMART.
SMART is the energy industry’s helpful way to remember its top five energy-saving summer tips. Using these tips to save energy in your Lorain County home is guaranteed to take the sizzle out of summer and cool off your wallet too!
- S – Set your A/C thermostat to the highest comfortable setting.
- M – Move air in occupied rooms with ceiling fans.
- A – Adjust your water heater to a lower temperature.
- R – Repair “hot spots.”
- T – Turn on the outdoor grill and take the heat out of the kitchen.
Air conditioners typically use more energy than any other appliance in Lorain County homes. Setting your A/C thermostat to 78 degrees maximizes energy savings. For every degree above 78 you set your thermostat, you’ll reduce air conditioning costs by 3% to 5%. Switching from a manual to a programmable thermostat saves you money too, as much as $180 a year.
The gentle breeze created by a ceiling fan can make your body feel several degrees cooler for a fraction of the cost it takes to power your air conditioner. If you don’t have ceiling fans, use floor fans to help circulate the air. To save energy, turn fans off when you leave the room.
Set the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees. Decreasing hot water temperature from 140 to 120 degrees saves up to $85 in energy costs annually.
Do what you can to reduce any “hot spots” in your home by installing high-performance, energy-efficient windows and repairing window and door caulk.
Give the kitchen a break this summer. Outdoor cooking is a welcome change in the summer, and grilling outdoors doesn’t heat up the kitchen.
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 Fri, Mar 05, 2010
Ready to take advantage of Ohio's Cash for Clunkers appliance rebate program? Raymond Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning carries the Energy Star-rated water heaters and heat pumps that qualify for this new program. Check out the great features on these money-saving, energy-efficient home appliances, then call Raymond to schedule your purchase and installation so you're all ready to go when Ohio rolls out its energy-efficient appliance rebate program on March 26. Because the state doesn't expect rebate funds to last long, you'll want to get all your ducks in a row early. See our last post for instructions on how to reserve your rebate.
Energy Star Rated Water Heaters Earn a $100 Ohio Rebate
Energy Star rated high-efficiency gas water heaters will earn a $100 Ohio rebate. Among several qualifying the models available at Raymond is the Tankless Water Heaters from Rheem, an innovative, new gas tankless water heater that provides a continuous supply of hot water from an energy-efficient and space saving design. Imagine never running out of hot water again.
Energy Star Rated Heat Pumps Earn a $250 Ohio Rebate
Energy Star rated electric heat pumps and water heaters will earn a $250 Ohio rebate. Among the qualifying models available at Raymond is the Geo-Saver Series Florida Heat Pump geared to provide superior home comfort and energy efficiency even during extreme hot and cold weather. Lorain County residents can realize 50% to 70% savings on their heating bills and up to 40% on cooling bills with this energy efficient heat pump. Add a Waste Recovery Unit and this heat pump unit will also provide enough free hot water during summer months to meet all your home hot water needs!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Mar 04, 2010
Ohio Cash for Clunkers Starts March 26
Taking a page from the popular federal Cash for Clunkers auto program, Ohio has unveiled its own Cash for Clunker Appliances program. Starting at the end of the month, Lorain County residents can earn rebates when they purchase Energy Star-rated water heaters, heat pumps and other specified energy-efficient appliances. Ranging from $100 for high-efficiency gas water heaters to $250 for electric heat pumps and water heaters, the rebates are being offered to encourage Ohioans to replace energy-guzzling appliances with energy-efficient models and recycle their old appliances. The rebate program starts March 26 and will continue until the $11 million available to fund the program are gone.
Here's how the program works:
- Starting in early March, Lorain County residents can reserve their rebate either online at www.OhioApplianceRebate.com or by calling 1-888-686-8896.
- Lorain County consumers will have three days after registering to purchase a new Energy Star rated appliance.
- To receive their rebate, Lorain County consumers must send their purchase receipt and verification that their old appliance has been recycled to the program's rebate administrator, Parago Inc. of Texas.
Rebate Funds May Not Last Long - Don't Miss Out on Ohio's Cash for Clunkers
The recycling of old energy-guzzling appliances is an important component of Ohio's rebate program. Proof of recycling is required to receive the Ohio rebate. Some appliance suppliers and installers (like Raymond Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning in Lorain County) will remove and recycle your old appliance when they install new energy-efficient appliances. Otherwise, look for appliance recycling programs at local utility companies and community recycling centers.
Demand for Ohio's energy-efficient appliance rebate program is expected to be high. Officials estimate that rebate funds may only last 6 to 8 weeks. Lorain County residents who don't want to miss out on Ohio's Cash for Clunker Appliances rebate offer are urged to contact Raymond today to schedule purchase and installation of a new energy-efficient water heater or heat pump as soon as the rebate program ramps up in March.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Feb 26, 2010
Fight Rising Energy Cost with a Heat Pump Water Heater
If you are one of the customers of Ohio Edison or First Energy, then you have seen the increases in your electric bill with the changes in discounts. Although this is being reviewed by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and there is a class action lawsuit currently filed, rates will not fall back to current levels.
Cut your water heating costs in half! Heat pump water heaters (HPWH) can reduce water heating cost by 300.00 a year and not sacrifice hot water usage. These systems are not new to the market and major players like GE and Rheem have introduced models that incorporate this technology. If you have a newer existing tank then add-on systems are available. Heat pump water heaters are more than twice as efficient as standard electric models and protect the environment.
To understand the concept of heat pumps, imagine a refrigerator working in reverse. While a refrigerator removes heat from an enclosed box and expels that heat to the surrounding air, a HPWH takes the heat from surrounding air and transfers it to water in an enclosed tank. A low-pressure liquid refrigerant is vaporized in the heat pump's evaporator and passed into the compressor. As the pressure of the refrigerant increases, so does its temperature. The heated refrigerant runs through a condenser coil within the storage tank, transferring heat to the water stored there. As the refrigerant delivers its heat to the water, it cools and condenses, and then passes through an expansion valve where the pressure is reduced and the cycle starts over.
Replace your aging electric water heater before it fails. Consider this exciting technology before your next purchase. Every ENERGY STAR qualified heat pump water heater 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 Tue, Feb 09, 2010
New Heat Pump Water Heater Qualifies for the Tax Credit!
Rheem’s new Heat Pump Water Heater installs in a snap so you can start saving money right away – and it qualifies for the government’s income tax credit! Double bonus! Available now from Raymond Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning in Lorain County, Ohio, the Rheem heat pump water heater marries state-of-the-art water heater technology with green energy-efficiency to create a superior water heater that will supply the hot water needs of a family full of teenagers without making a dent in mom and dad’s budget.
Energy-Efficient Water Heater
The new Rheem heat pump water heater installs similar to a standard electric water heater. This energy-efficient heat pump water heater makes use of the same standard connections as your old energy-gobbling water heater making it easy for your professional Lorain County plumbing contractor to switch out your old energy hog and install a new energy-conserving Rheem heat pump water heater. The narrow 21-inch diameter trim-line design allows your plumbing contractor to easily install your new Rheem heat pump water heater precisely where it will guarantee maximum energy efficiency.
Save Money with Rheem's Heat Pump Water Heater
The most advanced, energy-efficient water heater on the market today, the Rheem heat pump water heater extracts heat from the air, then intensifies that heat with a compressor before delivering it to the water. After the process, cooler air is exhausted back into the atmosphere. Instead of expending electricity or gas to heat water, the energy-efficient Rheem heat pump water heater makes use of warm ambient air, nearly halving your hot water costs. In Lorain County the annual cost to operate a standard 50-gallon electric water heater is about $520. The annual operating cost of a Rheem heat pump water heater is just $234! Even without the federal income tax credit for new energy-efficient appliances, that’s a pretty nice savings!
This heat pump water heater qualifies for the energy-efficient tax credit of up to $1,500. Click here to get the facts on the tax credit.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jan 15, 2010
Ohio’s Cash for Appliance Clunkers Rebate Program
Energy hogging appliances are about to get the Cash for Clunkers treatment. Instead of gas-guzzling autos, this time the Clunkers program will be directed at energy-wasting appliances. When the program goes into effect sometime this quarter, Lorain County residents will be eligible for money-saving rebates when they replace out-dated, energy-consuming water heaters with new, energy-efficient Energy Star water heaters. Refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers are among the other appliances included in the new Cash for Clunkers program.
Install Energy-Efficient Appliances in Your Home to Qualify
To encourage consumers to install energy-efficient appliances in their homes, last summer the U.S. Department of Energy set aside $300 million in federal stimulus money to provide rebates for the purchase of Energy Star appliances. At a news conference announcing the program, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said, “Appliances consume a huge amount of our electricity, so there’s enormous potential to both save energy and save families money every month.”
To Qualify Your Water Heater Must Carry the Energy Star Label
Ohio’s application for federal stimulus funds to finance an appliance clunkers program was approved in December. The state will receive $11 million to distribute nearly 90,000 rebates to Ohio residents who purchase qualifying energy-efficient water heaters, refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers from Ohio retailers. To qualify for a rebate, the purchased water heater or other appliance must carry an Energy Star label. Depending on the type of appliance, rebates will range from $100 to $250. Rebates will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are gone. The Ohio Department of Development is in the process of notifying water heater installers and appliance dealers about program specifics. Ohio’s Cash for Appliance Clunkers rebate program is expected to launch within the next few months.
Lorain County residents who want more information about the energy-efficient Energy Star rated water heaters that will be eligible for Ohio’s Cash for Appliance Clunkers rebate program, should contact Raymond Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Dec 18, 2009
Save Water with an Energy-Efficient Energy Star Water Heater
With global warming, saving water has become a group effort. Having your plumbing professional install water-efficient low-flow and dual-flush toilets can cut a family’s water use by as much as one-third. Trading in your old hot water heater on an energy-efficient Energy Star water heater can also result in significant savings in both water and energy. But not all water-saving efforts need to be major changes. There are also plenty of things you can do around your home to save water. Most take little effort and will result in a nice savings on your water bill. Good for you and the planet!
Water Saving Tips at Home
- Install twist-on aerators on sink faucets to reduce water use.
- Install a low-flow shower head in the shower. Practice the art of the quick shower or turn off water while you suds up, turn on to rinse off.
- Turn off water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Wait until you have a full load to run dishwashers and clothes washers.
- Instead of washing fruits and veggies under a running tap, wash them in a pan of water.
- Buy a rain barrel and use collected rain water to irrigate your garden.
- When you wash your car, don’t let the hose run. Park your car on the grass so water soaks into your lawn.
- Use a broom, not a hose to clean your driveway.
- Turn off automatic lawn sprinklers when it rains and use a timer to regulate watering.
- Use a soaker hose to water plants. Overhead sprinklers waste water, but soakers direct water right to plant roots.
- Mulching garden beds will decrease evaporation and help soil retain moisture.
- Plant native plants that require less watering.
Contact your plumbing professional to install an energy-efficient Energy Star water heater or for more water saving advice.