How Green are you?

Our planet is important...and on some level each and every one of us want to do or part. Here's some information from a blog post we wrote in 2009 abut the mechanical systems in your home that might 'Green' your home.

The true cost of your Heating and Air Conditioning and Electrical Systems

We hunger for more information an ways to bring advice to New Jersey homeowners and business owners. Still, the best suggestion for most of us in our quest for saving the planet, saving money and saving NJ's position as a leader in "Green Solutions" still remains the evaluation of your electrical usage, the operating inefficiency and cost of your heating and cooling systems impacted by the age of this equipment (older inefficient systems= higher energy costs) resulting in a large impact on your carbon footprint. Overwhelmingly, the consensus of opinion remains the same. Here's the opinion of the folks at New Jersey's Clean Energy Program.



Green Technologies - Whether it's compact fluorescent light bulbs or Solar Panels for your home or business, New Jersey's Clean has the resources and information you need to save money on your energy costs and improve the safety, comfort and durability of your home for many years to come. We show you how to use state-of-the-art technologies effectively, and at the same time we provide financial incentives to help your home improvements. Our goal is to save you money, energy and the environment by encouraging the wise use of energy and supporting the installation of clean, renewable sources of energy.



Heating -As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. Through utility company WARMAdvantage Program, consumers are provided rebates when they purchase high efficiency "Energy Star" qualified natural gas home heating systems and/or water heaters. As part of the program, you are eligible to receive rebates for the purchase of furnaces, furnaces with electronic commutated motor (ECM) or equivalent, boilers, and/or water heaters. By purchasing high efficiency heating systems you will also save on energy costs and improve comfort in your home. Did you know that the appropriate humidity levels allow you to lower your thermostat settings and save energy?

Air Conditioning - Central air conditioning has become the standard in comfort in the United States. A/C units are more efficient today and with new green technologies save you money on cooling your home as well as implementing EPA standards for ozone-free refrigerants.



Furnaces - Furnaces are the most commonly used heating system in the United States, running more often on gas and sometimes oil, and delivers heat through a ducted system. One in four furnaces in the USA is older than 20 years of age. ENERGY STAR equipment uses advance technologies to deliver higher efficiency than standard furnaces today.



Boilers - A boiler heats your home by burning gas or fuel oil to heat water or steam that circulates through either radiators or baseboard, or radiant floor systems. Boilers that have earned the ENERGY STAR have higher efficiency Annual Fuel Utilization (AFUE) ratings which is a measure of heating equipment efficiency.



Domestic Water Heaters - New Jersey's Clean Energy Program also provides incentives for the purchase of high efficiency water heaters.