Posts Tagged ‘energy’
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 »
Self-Contained, Ceiling-Mounted Air Conditioners: A Cost-Effective Solution for Server Rooms.
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
As businesses become more and more dependent on computers and telecom equipment to keep their critical operations running 24/7, they face a new challenge that often takes them by surprise:
How to keep their server or telecom room cool when the building’s central air conditioning system is inadequate or is otherwise turned off—such as during off hours, weekends and holidays, or during cold-weather months, when the HVAC system is in heating mode.
Adding to the difficulty is a lack of floor space. A relatively new class of self-contained, ceiling-mounted air conditioners can provide a cost-effective, space-saving solution.
• Self-contained, all-in-one units have lower installation costs than mini-splits or precision cooling systems
• No penetration of wall or roof required
• No outside condensing unit to maintain
• Compact size fits easily above drop ceiling, takes up no floor space
Contact Aloha Air Conditioning sales team for details.
Tags: conservation, Cooling, energy, Heating, high efficiency, South Florida
Posted in Articles, Go Green | No 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 »
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 »
Helping You Get the Most Energy for Your Money
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
Because cooling and heating your home accounts for almost half of your annual energy cost, it’s important to make sure that your A/C system is operating properly and efficiently and that your ductwork is free of leaks.
That’s why Aloha Air Conditioning offers a variety of cooling and heating solutions designed to:
- Save you money on your electric bill without sacrificing your comfort
- Improve the air quality in your home.
- Assist in the repair of your ductwork and the replacement of your A/C system.
By following these tips, you can maximize your A/C system’s efficiency while saving energy and money along the way.
Making Your A/C System Work For You
To ensure your A/C system is working as efficiently as possible, here are some things you can do to get the most for your energy dollars:
1. Check your thermostat
- Cool your home at 78® or warmer with the thermostat fan switch on “auto.” For additional savings, raise your thermostat to 82® or warmer when you’re away from home.
- Heat your home at 68® or cooler with the thermostat fan switch on “auto.” To save even more, lower your thermostat to 65® or cooler at bedtime or when you’re away from home.
- Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize your energy savings. It also helps to maintain a comfortable temperature when you wake up or return home.
- When on vacation, cool your home at 85® with the thermostat fan switch on “auto”, to help prevent mildew from developing (in most homes).
2. Use fans
- Reduce your A/C costs and keep your home comfortable by using inexpensive, energy-efficient ceiling fans to circulate the air. This will allow you to set your thermostat higher and still feel cool.
- Turning off your ceiling fan when you leave the room could save you between $3-7 a month, depending on the speed, model and age of fan.
- When buying a fan, choose the right size for the room. For example:
– 10’ x 10’ room or smaller = 36” fan
– 15’ x 20’ room = 52” fan
– Rooms larger then 15’x 20’ = two 52” fans
3. Keep your unit clean and clear
- Learn where your A/C filter is.
- Change the filter regularly using the proper size, or clean it monthly.
- Keep leaves, shrubbery and debris at least 18 inches away from your outdoor unit to avoid blocking the airflow.
4. Maintain proper airflow through your system
- Keep the interior doors and vents open to help your A/C circulate air more efficiently.
5. Keep sunlight out during summer months
- Close your blinds, drapes and shades during the hottest time of day
6. Install or upgrade insulation
- Install or upgrade insulation in your home, especially if it was built before 1982, to help reduce your cooling costs and make your home more comfortable.
7. Consider buying a new A/C unit
- If your system is over 10 years old, has undergone frequent repairs and still doesn’t keep your home cool, it may be time to purchase a new unit.
- FPL’s A/C Program can help you when shopping for a new system. Call us for a copy of the free A/C Buying Guide to help you buy a high-efficiency system that’s right for your home.
8. Maintain and service your unit regularly
- Maintain and service your unit regularly to help your unit run more efficiently
Tags: AC, Air Conditioning, conservation, Cooling, energy, green, Heating, high efficiency, HVAC, South Florida
Posted in American Standard, Articles, Bard, Bryant, Carrier, Frigidaire, Go Green, Intertherm, Lennox, Luxaire, Rebates, Rheem, Ruud, Tempstar, Trane, Whirlpool | No Comments »