Tag Archives: Energy Effeciency

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 You can also install better lighting systems, and replace outdated insulation.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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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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How Is The Efficiency Of Heating And Cooling Systems Measured?

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Efficiency Of Heating And Cooling Systems-BrucesAC.comThe desire to find the most energy efficient heating and cooling systems has caused many consumers to search the Internet for the latest HVAC units. What most people don’t know is that efficiency also differs in new HVAC systems.

To identify the most efficient system, consumers need to learn how to measure HVAC efficiency.

Learn more now:
 

How Efficiency Of Heating And Cooling Systems Is Measured

Usually the efficiency of heating and cooling systems is given as ratios. Learn the common efficiency ratings below.
 

Common Efficiency Ratings

MERV

MERV stands for the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. It measures the efficiency of air filters based on the size of the holes. The most efficient air filters have a MERV rating of 16, while the least efficient filters have a rating of 1.

Energy Star Rating

The EPA has set minimum requirements that must be met or exceeded by HVAC equipment. Consumers should know that any heating or cooling system that has an Energy Star label or sticker is energy efficient. The rating is based on a wide range of factors including; energy consumption, cost and performance of the device compared to existing products in the market.

SEER

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) is a measure of the average cooling power provided by an HVAC system for every unit of electricity consumed. To calculate SEER, the energy consumption and cooling power of the HVAC system throughout the season must be taken into consideration. Modern heating and cooling systems have SEER ratings ranging from 13 to 22. The higher the value, the more energy efficient the system.

EER

EER stands for Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is one of the most important efficiency ratings for HVAC systems. It measures the amount of cooling an AC can give you for every dollar you spend on electricity. The EER rating takes only the hottest day of the season in consideration. SEER is a variation of EER that takes into consideration temperature variations throughout the season.
 

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Ways To Increase Your Air Conditioner Efficiency

Increase_Air_Conditioner_Efficiency_Bruces Air ConditioningA large portion of the household energy bill can be attributed to heating and cooling of the home — especially in the extreme seasons of winter and summer. With the amount of energy that homeowners spend just on air conditioning and heating system energy costs, it only makes sense to search for ways to increase your air conditioner’s efficiency and save more money on monthly energy bills.

The following are tips to help you achieve this goal in a cost effective manner:

Ways To Increase Your Air Conditioner Efficiency

The following are several ways to increase the energy efficiency on your AC unit.

Clean The Outdoor Unit On A Regular Basis

If you have a split air conditioning unit or a central air conditioning system with the main unit outdoors, it is important that you clean the area around the outdoor unit. Removing any debris that may obstruct air flow to the unit is very important for not only day-to-day efficiency, but also for prolonging the life of your HVAC system. Restricted air flow normally forces the fan motor to work harder, which will lead to increased energy consumption and wear on parts. This is a simple measure that can be implemented by the average homeowner. However, a more thorough cleaning should be done by a professional.

Replace Your HVAC Filters

Clogged filters can cause a number of problems. For one, it will force fan motors to work harder to push air through the filters. If you find that your air filters are getting dirty very quickly, you may need to have a professional come out and take a look at your indoor air quality situation; you may have extenuating factors that should be addressed to further your indoor air quality as well as your efficiency.

Insulate Your Air Ducts

If you have a central AC, you can improve the efficiency of your system by simply insulating exposed ducts. You can also seal all holes and gaps that may leak cool air, leading to reduced energy efficiency. UL 181 – rated duct sealing tape is perfect for the job. If your ductwork is not adequately sealed and insulated, you may need to call the professionals to get a whole home audit, duct cleaning, and insulating your ductwork.

Close Blinds And Curtains During The Day

When the interior of your home is exposed to direct sunlight, indoor temperatures will rise and your AC will be forced to work extra hard to cool your home. While this will make only a small effect on the overall bills for cooling your home, every little bit counts and adds up to big savings if you take advantage of every bit of energy conservation.

Keep Heat Sources Away From The Thermostat

To ensure that your cooling system works as required, you must keep heat-emitting devices away from the thermostat. Things like furnaces, electric heaters and iron boxes should never be kept anywhere close to the thermostat, as it can give the system false readings of the ambient temperatures. Ensuring that your thermostat is taking correct readings of the internal temperature will help to improve energy efficiency.

While the above referenced tips will get you started on trimming back your monthly energy costs, there are always even more ideas that can help save homeowner money and energy. Follow our blog for all of the best money-savings tips and tricks and call Bruce’s Commercial and Residential Services today for all your heating and air conditioning needs.

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Understand Air Conditioner Coolant or HVAC Coolant

Understanding HVAC CoolantIf you are own an air conditioning system, you’ve probably heard the word Coolant. But, do you know what it is and how it’s used?

Coolant is the cooling agent or refrigerant in many air conditioners or rooftop air conditioners. Coolant is necessary for your air conditioning system to cool your home.

The HVAC Coolant, R22

R22 is one of the most popular types of refrigerants used in cooling systems. However, it was found to have the potential of causing depletion of the ozone layer in the atmosphere. Because of the risks to the environment, R22 is being phased out. The United States is one of 190 countries participating in this phase-out.

What does this mean for Arizona homeowners with air conditioners that use R22?

January 1, 2015: There will be a ban on the sale and use of R22. There is an exception to service the needs of existing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.

January 1, 2020: There will be a complete ban on the production and import of R22 refrigerant, and it will no longer be available to homeowners.

After January 2020: Refrigeration and air conditioning systems that use R22 will have to depend on any stockpile of existing refrigerant available to them.

Homeowners will either have to continue to deal with rising costs of R22 as stockpiles become more depleted until it is no longer available or switch to an air conditioner that uses more environmentally-friendly hvac coolant.

Energy-Efficient Air Conditioners

Because today’s air conditioners are more energy-efficient than ever and are designed to use the newer type of air conditioner coolant, we at Bruce’s Air Conditioning highly recommend homeowners with older systems to consider replacement before the ban, which is on the horizon. If you are considering the purchase of a new air conditioning system, we highly encourage you to call us today.