Archive for the ‘Specials’ Category

Announcing Rebates up to $1,000 with the City of Fort Lauderdale’s SMART WATTS Energy Efficiency Rebate Program

Monday, February 14th, 2011

Cash Back For Energy Improvements

Residents may qualify for up to $1,000 in cash rebates for energy efficient improvements under a new City of Fort Lauderdale program aimed at improving energy efficiency, protecting the environment and lowering monthly energy bills.

Rebates will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis for the purchase and installation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC), solar or gas on-demand water heaters, solar panels, Energy Star windows or doors and insulation. The program provides a 50% match of up to $1,000. The City plans to distribute $235,000 in federal grants.

How It Works

Residents submit a short application for program participation approval the includes an FPL Energy Survey Report, proof of owner occupancy, the type of improvement and a written estimate of the work. At the time of approval, the City will earmark the funds needed to issue your rebate check.

Approved applicants have four months to complete the work and submit a request for their rebate check along with the home improvement proof of purchase and permit documentation. If an applicant does not submit the rebate request within four months of approval, the unused funding will be reallocated to applicants who are placed on a waiting list.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must own and occupy the Fort Lauderdale property being improved.
• Applicants must obtain a free FPL Energy Survey (available online) and submit a copy of the FPL Energy Report.
• Home improvements must meet Energy Star qualifications and/or Florida Building Code (which will depend on the item selected).
• Applicants or their contractors must obtain necessary permits.
• Energy efficient systems must be installed by a certified FPL Participating Independent Contractor or Licensed Florida installer.
• Purchases and installations must occur after November 15, 2010

This program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program using funds allocated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. There is a limit of one rebate per household.

For more information and an application package, visit www.fortlauderdale.gov/rebates or contact the 24-Hour Customer Service Center at 954-828-8000

Tags: AC, Air Conditioning, conservation, energy, high efficiency, HVAC, South Florida
Posted in Go Green, Rebates, Specials | 2 Comments »

Hvac Air Conditioning Heating Federal Tax Credit Changes for 2011 Savings up to 10% $500.00 the new Maximum

Monday, December 20th, 2010

ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) have a new website feature helps contractors and Consumers Find Energy Efficiency Incentives – this wonderful page is worth a look here is the link:  http://www.acca.org/consumer/dsire

FP&L (Florida Power & Light) Residential A/C Rebate Schedule link: 

New Rebate Schedule (Effective March 2012), Rebate Schedule (Old Effective 2008).

Updated 04/26/12: The House Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to hear testimony today on various bills to extend the tax incentives that expired at the end of 2011 or will expire at the end of this year.

According to the Joint Tax Committee, there are approximately 70 tax incentives eligible for extension by Congress, many of them are targeted to help small business owners make capital investments in their businesses.

Members of the Congress will have the opportunity to testify in support of legislation to extend expiring tax provisions they have introduced or co-sponsored legislation this year. There is expected to be discussion of extending the tax credit for the installing higher efficiency HVAC equipment (Section 25C), construction of energy efficient homes (Section 45L), the 15 year straight line depreciation for qualified improvements to leasehold, restaurants, and retail buildings (Section 168), bonus depreciation for small businesses (Section 168), and increased expensing allowance to $500,000/$2,000,000 and expansion of Section 179.

As a member of the Residential Energy Efficient Tax Credit Industry Coalition, ACCA submitted testimony urging for the extension and expansion of the residential energy tax credit. The coalition is seeking a robust energy efficiency tax credit for qualified products, including furnaces, central air conditioners, and heat pumps, of 10 percent of the purchase price up to $1,000. The coalition believes that a $1,000 tax credit is generally the minimum incentive needed to motivate consumers to improve their homes by purchasing these higher-performing products, and to do so in sizable enough numbers to positively influence residential energy consumption.

To read the Member Proposals Related To Certain Tax Provisions That Either Expired In 2011 Or Will Expire In 2012, Click here. End of Update 04/26/12.

 Updated 2/29/12:   There is a bill circulating the Senate that, if passed, will create tax credits for consumers that reduce their energy usage by at least 20%. The bill establishes a $2,000 base credit for the first 20% decrease with a $500 stepend for each 5% reduction thereafter. The credit will be capped at $5,000 or 30% of the qualified expenditures, whichever is the lesser amount.

Experts have estimated that this bill will create about 19,000 jobs through contracting, supply, and manufacturing while saving 1.7 billion kilowatthours and 18 trillion Btu of fuel by 2016. This is enough energy to power 375,000 homes!

No one is sure if Congress will pass the bill as it does not identify where the funding will come from, but the fact that energy saving bills are still being considered in Congress is a good sign. This shows that the national mindset toward energy efficiency is changing, becoming more important to the everyday consumer. End of 2/29/12 update.

After hours of fitful debate, the House of Representatives passed the tax extender package last night by a vote of 277-148. President Obama is scheduled to sign it into law this afternoon. The new law will extend a number expired and expiring tax cuts and other incentives for individuals, families, small businesses, and investors.

 

If you listen to the news sound bites, everyone involved will says the bill is not perfect. Nearly every provision in the bill represents some form of compromise between Democrats and Republicans.

 

Included in the new law are the Section 25c tax credits, the official name for the energy tax credits available to eligible taxpayers who make qualified energy efficient retrofits to their homes. The tax credits are extended through 2011, but at a significantly reduced value and with changes made to some of the qualifying equipment standards.

 

Starting on January 1, 2011 and through December 31, 2011, an eligible homeowner can claim 10% of the costs, capped at $500, for the installation of qualified energy efficient improvements, subject to certain limits.

 

Under the new law, for HVAC and hot water equipment, the maximum a homeowner could claim is $300 for a qualified central air conditioner and heat pump, and $150 for a qualified furnace or hot water boiler, and $50 for any advanced main air circulating fan. The tax credit for qualified hot water heaters is limited to $300.

 

Beyond the change to the tax credit values, the new law will increase the qualifying standards for natural gas hot water boilers, propane hot water boilers, oil furnaces, and oil hot water boilers to 95% AFUE. The qualifying standards for natural gas furnaces and propane furnace remain at 95% AFUE.

 

The qualifying standard for central air conditioners and heat pumps, which were modified by the Stimulus bill in 2009, are not changed. Therefore, a central air conditioner must meet or exceed 16 SEER and 13 EER; and an air source heat pump must meet or exceed 15 SEER and 12.5 EER and 8.5 HSPF, in order to qualify for the tax credit.

 

Finally, the new law reinstates the lifetime credit caps, which disqualify any homeowner who has claimed more than $500 in 25c tax credits since January 1, 2005, from any further credits.

 

While the extension of the tax credits at a lower value is not ideal, it keeps the tax credits alive and leaves open the opportunity to change them in the next Congress and restore them to the $1,500 level. If the tax credits had not been included in the extender package, they would likely have disappeared forever.

Tags: AC, Air Conditioning, American Standard, Bard, Bryant, Carrier, Cooling, Dade, energy, florida, Fort Lauderdale, Frigidaire, Heating, high efficiency, HVAC, Lennox, rebates, Specials, tax credit, Tempstar, Trane
Posted in American Standard, Articles, Bard, Bryant, Carrier, Duct, Ductwork, Frigidaire, Go Green, Intertherm, Lennox, Luxaire, Rebates, Rheem, Ruud, Specials, Tempstar, Trane, Ultraviolet Light, Whirlpool | 17 Comments »

Aloha Air Conditioning and FPL Make Replacing Your Heating and Cooling System Easy and Affordable

Saturday, December 18th, 2010

 If your A/C system is over 10 years old, needs frequent repairs or just doesn’t cool or heat like it used to, it may be time to replace it with a new high-efficiency model.

1. FPL can help you by providing:

• Expert information and advice – since over half of all air conditioning purchases are unplanned; we understand that most consumers may not know what A/C products to buy or who to call to install them. That’s why we’re here to help you choose the system and be the contractor that’s right for you.
• By choosing Aloha AC an FPL Participating Independent Contractor. We can offer and provide an FPL rebate to help you pay – purchase and install a complete qualifying high-efficiency A/C system. You will receive an FPL rebate off the purchase price based on the efficiency rating and size of your new unit.
• A follow-up survey – buy your new high-efficiency system from Aloha Air Conditioning and FPL will contact you by mail when the job is done to find out how it went. How important is your opinion? It’s what keeps Aloha AC on FPL Participating Independent Contractor list.

2.  How to qualify:

• Replace the entire central AC system – both the condenser (outside unit) and air handler (inside unit)
• Replace individual room air conditioners with a new central system
• Select a new system that meets FPL’s efficiency standards, a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of 14.0 or higher
• Purchase and install the system with Aloha Air Conditioning an FPL Participating Independent Contractor.

3.  How you’ll benefit:

• Short=term savings of up to $1,100 on the purchase price of a new system.
• Long-term savings of $230 to $960 per year on your energy bill, depending on how inefficient your old heating and cooling system was, the efficiency of your new system and the size of your home.
• Confidence that you made an informed decision.

4.  How to start:

• Call Aloha Air Conditioning for a free replacement system estimate at (954) 772-0079 or request a free copy of the A/C Buying Guide from FPL 1-800-DIAL FPL (1-800-342-5375)

Tags: AC, Air Conditioning, American Standard, Bard, Broward, Bryant, Carrier, cash, clunker, conservation, Cooling, customer, Dade, feedback, florida, Fort Lauderdale, Frigidaire, green, Heating, high efficiency, HVAC, Intertherm, Lennox, rebates, South Florida, Specials
Posted in American Standard, Articles, Bard, Bryant, Carrier, Duct, Ductwork, Frigidaire, Go Green, Intertherm, Lennox, Links, Luxaire, Rebates, Rheem, Ruud, Specials, Tempstar, Trane, Ultraviolet Light, Whirlpool | 1 Comment »

A Simple Hvac Heating and Cooling System Duct Test Can Save You Money

Friday, December 17th, 2010

Two-thirds of all homes have leaky ducts that go undetected. These leaks can cause your energy bill to go up and affect the comfort and air quality inside your home. The good news is, repairing leaky ducts is often fairly easy and inexpensive, especially with FPL’s and Aloha Air Conditioning’s help. Here’s what you need to know about your ductwork to avoid wasting energy and money.

1. What are leaky ducts?

• When your cooling and heating duct system has leaks or holes in it, air is allowed to escape into the attic, which ends up wasting energy and costing you money.

2.  What can you do?

• Schedule an FPL Energy Expert to perform a fast, easy and affordable Duct System Test to determine if your dusts are sealed properly and if repairs need to be made.

3.  How does it work?

• Pay $30.00 for the first central A/C system to be inspected and $15.00 for each additional air handler.
• Receive a complete report of the repairs needed and then contact us at Aloha Air Conditioning (954) 772-0079 as we are a proud independent contractor who has been evaluated by FPL and have a record of good reviews from our customers.
• Get incentives from FPL to help cover the cost of repairs:

– Up to $154.00 per central A/C system for single-family detached homes.

– $60.00 for multi-family, single-family attached homes, manufactured and mobile homes.

4.  What are the qualifications for a Duct System Test?

• Single- and multi-family homes where the duct system is accessible qualify
• Multi-family homes with chimneys and gas appliances are not eligible unless there is a firewall.

5. How do you participate?

• To request a Duct System Test, simple call 1-800-DIAL FPL (1-800-342-5375), or visit them online at http://www.fpl.com/

Tags: AC, Air Conditioning, Cooling, customer, Duct, ductwork, energy, green, Heating, high efficiency, HVAC, South Florida
Posted in American Standard, Articles, Bard, Bryant, Carrier, Duct, Ductwork, Frigidaire, Go Green, Intertherm, Lennox, Luxaire, Rebates, Rheem, Ruud, Specials, Tempstar, Trane, Ultraviolet Light, Whirlpool | No Comments »

Maintain Proper Air Care throughout your central air conditioning and heating system

Thursday, December 16th, 2010

Maintain Proper Air Care

Your indoor air quality can be greatly affected by ventilation, dust, fumes from household products and smoke. To ensure the air inside your home is clean and safe, follow these simple tips:

1. Check your ductwork

• Look for rapid dust buildup around vents or in your home, because that’s usually a sign of leaky ducts.
• Schedule FPL to perform a Duct System Test to determine if you have leaks or separations in your ducts that are costing you money.

2.  Repair leaky ducts

• Fixing leaky ducts helps to improve air quality because less dirt and dust will be drawn into your home through the holes in your ductwork.

3.  Protect your air quality

• Do not keep cleaning products in the same closet as your indoor A/C unit; otherwise the fumes from these products may be circulated throughout your home.

4.  Watch your fireplace

• Don’t operate a wood-burning fireplace at the same time as your central air conditioner or heating system.
• Avoid using exhaust fans (e.g., your stove fan) when operating your fireplace to keep from drawing smoke or other contaminants into your home.

Tags: American Standard, appliances, Bard, Bryant, Carrier, clunker, Clunkers, conservation, customer, Dade, feedback, Frigidaire, Intertherm, Luxaire, Palm Beach, reviews, Rheem, Ruud, tax credit, Tempstar, Trane, Whirlpool
Posted in American Standard, Articles, Bard, Bryant, Carrier, Frigidaire, Go Green, Intertherm, Lennox, Luxaire, Rebates, Rheem, Ruud, Specials, Tempstar, Trane, Ultraviolet Light, Whirlpool | No Comments »