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Do Air Conditioning Systems Emit Greenhouse Gases?

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Does An Air Conditioner Emit Greenhouse GasesIs it true that HVAC systems emit greenhouse gases, which are depleting our atmosphere’s ozone layer? Could your air conditioner be contributing to global warming? Yes, both are true, but there are ways you can minimize your environmental footprint.

First, you should understand the science behind HVAC units, greenhouse gases, and global warming.

How Is Your Air Conditioning System And Greenhouse Gas Connected?

All air conditioning units emit greenhouse gases because of the way they are designed to function. Take your air conditioner, for example. Your air conditioner uses electric coils and an electric pump to transfer air between the interior and exterior of your building. A condenser moves hot air to the outside while an evaporator pushes cool air to the inside. The movement of air is facilitated by a refrigerant, which functions by transforming gas to liquid and vice versa. It is this refrigerant that is a source of greenhouse gases.

When air conditioners were first manufactured, they contained a liquid refrigerant composed of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were later found to emit greenhouse gases. In 1995, U.S. manufacturers began replacing CFCs with halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which have a reduced effect on the depletion of ozone. However, HCFCs still emit greenhouse gases, and the U.S. government is phasing them out of production by 2030.

How Do Greenhouse Gases Affect The Environment?

So how exactly do greenhouse gases affect the environment? Greenhouse gases deplete the ozone layer. The ozone layer is the layer in our atmosphere that protects the Earth from the sun’s UV radiation. This means that as more greenhouse gases are emitted, more of the ozone layer is depleted, and more radiation hits the Earth’s surface, increasing the Earth’s core temperature and causing global warming.

An Easy Way To Reduce Greenhouse Emissions

With this in mind, how can you protect the environment while still using your much-needed air conditioner?

One way to reduce your emission of greenhouse gases is to purchase heating and air conditioning appliances that are ENERGY STAR® qualified. ENERGY STAR is a program that was initiated by the U.S. government and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish national energy efficiency standards. Appliances that are ENERGY STAR qualified use approximately 10 percent less energy than non-qualified appliances, which means that they emit fewer greenhouse gases and also reduce your energy costs.

Next time you’re on the market for a new air conditioner or rooftop air conditioner, consider purchasing an energy-efficient model. Our HVAC service experts in Chandler at Bruce’s Air Conditioning and Heating can help you make a smart, cost-effective and environmentally conscious choice.

Energy Efficient HVAC Systems

Call the cooling and heating repair experts in Chandler today to learn more about energy efficient heating and cooling systems and how much these units can also benefit your pocketbook.

Call Your Heating And Cooling Experts Now!

What Is An Energy Management System?

Energy Management SystemThe term “energy management system” refers to the process of monitoring energy usage and improving energy savings in businesses and homes. To put it simply, business and home owners can observe how much energy is being used on site and then implement strategies to decrease this usage.

There are many benefits to saving energy, including lowering monthly electrical costs and reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

Learn what’s involved in implementing an energy management system.

Factors Involved In An Energy Management System

Monitoring Energy

Energy usage can come from such things as appliances, lights and equipment.

The first step in managing energy is to be aware of how much is being used. You can check your meters weekly or monthly to obtain data regarding your energy usage. This process is rather laborious, however, so a better option is to use interval-metering systems.

These systems automatically record energy usage at specific intervals, such as every 15 or 30 minutes. This data lets you know how much energy is being used at certain times of the day and certain days of the week, which makes it much easier to determine how you can best find ways to save energy.

Controlling Energy

Once you’ve gotten a handle on how much energy is being used and when, you can begin to make changes. You may need to replace old appliances or install time-controlled light switches.

An easy way to lessen energy in an office building is to get employees in the habit of turning off electronics after the workday is completed. You can also install better lighting systems, and replace outdated insulation.

An important way to control energy from heating and cooling systems is to make sure that an empty building isn’t being heated or cooled after workers have gone home, or over the weekend if the offices are closed.

Optimizing Energy

Naturally, when energy is controlled, it is also optimized. However, energy management systems are a process that is ever evolving. It’s important not just to implement measures to lessen energy usage, but also to revisit your usage on a regular basis in order to ensure that nothing has changed.

For instance, sometimes during power failures, heating, cooling and lighting that is on any kind of automated track can reset back to the default. In these instances, you would need to manually reset the system to the desired schedule.

Commercial And Residential Heating And Cooling Solutions

At Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating, we offer solutions for both commercial and residential clients, including greater efficiency heating and cooling systems, programmable thermostats and more. Call us now to learn more about the options we have to save you money while keeping you comfortable!

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Heat Pump Freezing Up: What Do You Do to deal with a Frozen Heat Pump?

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Heat Pump Freezing Up-What To DoYour heat pump can freeze up any time of the year, not just during the cold winter months. Under normal operation, frost develops on the outdoor coils. When the frost begins to build up, the unit automatically shifts into defrost mode to melt the frost.

If this defrosting mechanism malfunctions, ice can build up to a point that the heat pump freezes and ceases to function.

Learn what you can do and when a qualified HVAC tech is needed.

What You Can Do If Your Heat Pump Is Freezing Up

Sometimes the unit itself is not the problem. One of the first things you can do if you notice ice buildup is to see if the water is coming from an external source. A leaky gutter above the unit or freezing rain can cause ice buildup that blocks airflow past the coils.

Blocked air vents, clogged air filters, and debris build up around the unit may restrict airflow. Clear away all debris surrounding your outside unit and move any items inside the home that are blocking your air vents. Change the filters every few weeks or months according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

What An HVAC Tech Should Do If The Heat Pump Freezes

A qualified HVAC technician can troubleshoot a more complicated problem with your frozen heat pump.
In some cases, water accumulates inside the condenser because of the slab underneath the unit shifts or settles. A technician can offer solutions for improving drainage.

Technicians can check the unit’s automatic defrost controls for faulty or worn components. Repairs may include replacing a faulty sensor, thermostat, defrost relay or reversing valve.

Your heat pump is vulnerable to icing if the refrigerant level drops too low. If this is the case, the technician will have to determine the source of the leak and repair it before refilling the system with refrigerant. Technicians must be certified by the EPA to work with refrigerants, so this is definitely a task you cannot do without help from the professionals.

Rely On The Heating And Cooling Experts

Ice build-up on your outdoor unit is the most obvious sign when your heat pump freezes up in winter or any time of the year. You can rely on the experts at Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating to offer effective and affordable solutions for all your residential HVAC system maintenance and repairs.

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How Can I Reduce My Energy Costs In The Winter?

How Can I Reduce My Energy Costs In The WinterWhen winter sets in and temperatures start to drop, you can expect your heating bill will go up

However, there are various ways you can reduce the cost of electricity without necessarily having to sacrifice on comfort.

Make sure to follow these tips to help you and your family reduce energy costs in the winter.

Ways To Reduce Energy Costs In The Winter

Here are some effective ways you can control your winter energy costs.

Unplug Electronics When Not In Use

For instance, turning off electronics when they are not in use will ensure less electricity goes to waste. You should need to note that even when these items are turned off, they still drain electricity. Idle gadgets will still slowly suck electricity, increasing energy bills. A good way to go about this would be to unplug gadgets such as computers and TV sets from their outlets to ensure no electricity goes to waste.

If you don’t want to sacrifice the convenience of having your gadgets ready to go when you need them, then you can always invest in power switches which will give better control over your electronics.

Seal House Leaks

Sealing gaps around window’s, door’s and duct’s to prevent heat loss is a common winter fix that helps lower energy bills.

Lower Usage During Peak Hours It is very common for most electric companies to raise prices by up to 60% during peak hours, which is usually between 3 and 7pm and/or 6am and 10am. Limiting usage of electronics during these hours can help you control electric bills. For example, doing your laundry or operating the oven during off-peak hours helps you save. Note, that different electric companies have varying definitions of peak hours and it would be best to find this out from the company itself.

Invest In Energy-Saving Devices

Energy-saving gadgets such as Energy Star appliances will not only help you keep electric bills low, but can also qualify you for rebates, saving you even more money.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways you can lower the cost of electricity during winter. All you need to do is look around your home or business and determine what changes need to be done.

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2nd Generation Nest Smart Thermostat Now Manages More Heating & Cooling Stages

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2nd Gen Nest Smart Thermostat Now Manages More Stages-BrucesAC.comHVAC technologies have come a long way over the years with continuous innovations moving the industry forward. Thermostats are no longer only a way to merely adjust your temperature setting.

Now they are sophisticated components that can sense the environment and learn from the data gathered. These smart circuits use different algorithms to fine-tune its response to various conditions.

A good example is the Nest Smart Thermostat which is now in its 2nd generation. Nest is a trusted name when it comes to smart thermostats. This new product reinforces its status as a leader in innovation. Let’s take a closer look at this device.

The 2nd Generation Nests’ Improved Capabilities

The latest Smart Thermostat from Nest is able to provide support for as much as three stages of heating and two stages of cooling if attached to conventional models, as compared to the two heating and one cooling for the 1st generation.

It also has the capacity to support 2 stages each for both cooling and heating when paired with heat pumps. These give it better ability to control the outcome and the speed at which the goal is attained. Its decision-making process is guided by algorithms that help come up with the approximate period required to attain the desired temperature. This feature is aptly called Time-to-Temperature, a vital metric when trying to get the timing right for stage activations.

The device will first try to make an estimate of the Time-to-Temperature and then evaluate whether this is a reasonable waiting period. In case it concludes that things are taking too long, then it will begin to activate the next stage of the HVAC system to hasten the process. If the first stage is inadequate, then the thermostat will induce stage two to come to life. If stage two is unable to meet the goal, then stage three will be tapped for assistance.

The aim of such a system is to make certain that those inside the premises are always kept comfortable. The active stage will always be displayed prominently to make the user aware of the situation and react accordingly.

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