Solar & Air

As Summer approaches, it’s always good to be reminded about how to make your AC unit as efficient as possible. Here are some tips from an article in the Miami Herald this week. As the writer points out, don’t forget to change your filter every month!

• Keep your thermostat at 78 or above in summer.

• Use ceiling fans to stay cooler, but turn the fans off when you leave the room. The fans don’t cool the room, just the inhabitants.

• Seal air leaks around windows, doors and vents.

• Change your air conditioning filter every month.

• Don’t run your pool pump more than six hours a day in summer and four hours a day in winter.

Read full article from Miami Herald

The federal energy efficiency tax credit has been extended through 2011, but the federal government has significantly changed the credit limits and eligibility requirements.

The credit will be reduced from 30 percent to 10 percent of the energy efficiency improvement costs, and the maximum tax credit will drop from $1,500 to $500.

For HVAC, the maximum tax credit you can now receive is $300. For windows purchases, the maximum tax credit is now $200. And remember, the highest tax credit any single homeowner can gain is $500 for energy efficient products. Below is the full break down for qualifying Windows and AC. Please contact our experts at 877-310-0310 with questions about the new 2011 tax credits in Florida.

For the HVAC system to qualify:

Split Systems:
SEER ≥ 16
EER ≥ 13

Package systems:
SEER ≥ 14
EER ≥ 12

If the AC units are certified heat pumps, then the requirements are slightly less demanding:

Split Systems:
HSPF ≥ 8.5
EER ≥ 12.5
SEER ≥ 15

Package systems:
HSPF ≥ 8
EER ≥ 12
SEER ≥ 14

For window purchases, the requirements have changed. In 2010, the requirement was a .30 or less SHGC and U Factor. This year all windows must be energy star rated.

If you need high-efficiency Windows or Air conditioning, Florida Solar & Air serves Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

The $1500 energy tax credit was designed to encourage you to upgrade to more energy-efficient home improvement systems, such as high-efficiency air conditioning, solar panels, or impact windows. By taking advantage of this program, you not only receive a large tax credit, but you lower your monthly energy bill — often by as much as 50%.

But the savings are coming to an end soon.. and for good. On December 31st, 2010, the majority of the high efficiency tax credits included in the American and Recovery & Investment Act are due to expire. Unless the government acts quickly to renew them, you’ll be out up to $1,500 on the purchase of a high-efficiency system. This makes it a serious no-brainer to buy a new system right now.

Here’s what you can expect to save on a new air conditioner, for example, if you buy before Dec. 31st, 2010.
-$8000 – Average Air Conditioning System
-$1,500 Federal HVAC Tax Credit (for qualifying homes & equipment)
-$1,000 Manufacturer Rebate
=5,500 Estimated Final cost (pre-tax)

Here’s what you can expect to save in energy costs on a new air conditioner for the average home:
-$400 Current Average Utility Costs
-$120 Potential Energy Savings With New HVAC System*
x12 Months
=$1,440/year in estimated energy savings ALONE

Plus, at Florida Solar & Air, we offer 100% financing with no down payment. Qualifying home-owners can finance a system for low monthly payments, $100 for example. All of this means is you can buy a new high-efficiency air conditioner for $5500, keep your home cool and comfortable, and save nearly $1440/year on energy costs in the process.

Get started with a free estimate by calling: 877-310-0310.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the recommended relative humidity for indoor environments should range between 30% and 50%. Indoor humidity can be controlled in two ways: it can be lowered with a properly sized and functioning air conditioning system (in some situations assisted with the use of a dehumidifier); or humidity can be raised by using a humidifier.

In addition to cooling indoor air, your air conditioner plays an important role in maintaining the right humidity levels and reducing energy costs. If an air conditioning system has too much cooling capacity, it cools too quickly and cycles on and off in short intervals. This does not allow enough time to “condition” the air by removing the humidity and wastes energy. This results is excessive moisture in the air—sometimes described as a “clammy” feeling. In contrast, a properly sized and working air conditioner will adjust the humidity during cooling cycles of optimum time and lower your home’s energy costs.

Core Benefits of Air Conditioning Humidity Control

Energy Savings

By using a dedicated central dehumidifier along with air conditioning, you can save up to 18% of your annual energy costs. The dehumidifier removes moisture from the air while the air conditioner removes the heat. Simply increase your thermostat by 3 degrees, set your dehumidifier to 59% RH, and be more comfortable! Never again over-cool your home to remove moisture from the air.

Health

Allergens like molds thrive in relative humidity conditions above 60%, leading to a variety of aliments including asthma, allergies and respiratory infections. Dust mites, the leading cause of allergies, thrive in as little as 50% relative humidity. High capacity central dehumidifiers offer you protection from the spread of mold and other allergens.

Property

Indoor air that is too dry can cause wood to contract and crack, especially thinner wood such as that used to build guitars and violins. Over longer periods of time, excessively dry air can even crack solid wood beams or logs plus some types of plaster.

Comfort

It’s easy to identify those hot and sticky days when your home is unbearable without a central air conditioner. But there are also key times of the year when humidity levels are high enough to make you feel uncomfortable, even at moderate temperatures when the air conditioner is not running.

Days when:
* The temperature is at the thermostat set point or below, but you still feel uncomfortable.
* You get a clammy feeling or suffer from sleepless or restless nights.
* You use blankets to keep warm in the middle of the summer.

Only a dedicated dehumidifier can effectively reduce excess moisture without overcooling your home – and you!

To get started with your new Air Conditioning system with humidity control, contact us for an estimate.

Many contractors are telling homeowners they can’t qualify for the new Energy Star $1500 rebate. This simply isn’t true. It usually means that the contractor isn’t willing to put the time in or doesn’t know how to perform the Manual J necessary to qualify.

The Manual J is a program the state requires to make sure your system is appropriately sized for your home and is performing as efficiently as possible. Your contractor must submit the Manual J in order for you to qualify for the $1500 rebate.

When performing the Manual J, factors such as the size of windows and doors, which way the house faces, level of insulation – even the color of the roof – all account for what the proper size of the unit should be. Also, depending on where you live, the State uses different calculators and multipliers. So, the proper size for Orlando might be different for Broward. Your contractor needs to know this before they get started. And, because it’s a time consuming process, many contractors either aren’t willing to perform it OR they’ll charge several hundreds of dollars for their time.

Since our focus is exclusively on energy efficiency, we do the Manual J for free for all homeowners interested in the rebate. To learn more about how we perform the test and how to qualify for the $1500 rebate, contact us for a free in-home estimate.

The state of Florida wants to pay you to buy a new central air conditioning unit.  As of August 30, 2010, you can take advantage of the new Florida ENERGY STAR® Residential HVAC Rebate Program!

The program provides $1,500 to homeowners that update their Central AC. Plus, the $1,500 rebate is on top of the $1,500 Federal Tax Credit already available! Together, you get up to $3,000 in HVAC rebates and tax credits!  And that doesn’t even include manufacturer rebates and Florida Power & Light (FPL) incentives.

This new program is part of the American Recovery and Investment is designed much like the recent “cash for clunkers” program. To qualify, homeowners must pass a duct leakage performance test and submit the required documents.  Why the test? Proper duct sealing prevents cool air (that your air conditioning system works hard to generate) from leaking into attics, walls and even crawlspaces.  You pay your energy company to cool that air, and if it leaks it’s wasted energy.  At Florida Solar & Air, we can perform the test for you and submit the required documents.  We make it easy.

But, you have to act soon.  The program ends at the end of the year or when the money runs out.  Right now, there is $15 million dedicated to the program but it’s going fast.

To schedule your duct sealing test now and get a FREE quote on a new, energy efficient HVAC system, just call 1-877-310-0310.  We make same-day appointments.

Hurricane Windows not only protect your home against hurricanes, they make your home more energy efficient, reduce outside noise and safe-guard your home from burglaries.

Add the $1500 energy tax credit to these benefits and they’re an easy choice for most homeowners. In the past, we had to rely on shutters or plywood to protect our homes against hurricanes. But these options are hard to install, blow away in high winds and often fail to stop objects from penetrating your home.

Impact-resistant windows consist of impact-resistant glass surrounded by a heavy-duty frame which is securely fastened to the interior window header and frame. Their construction and anchoring keep high hurricanes winds and debris from breaching your home’s outer envelope. The idea for impact-resistant windows came from the automotive field where laminated glass has been in use for years to protect occupants. The advantage for you? Penetration of wind or water is nearly impossible. And, once they are installed, there’s no added work. Your home is immediately safer and ready for the next storm.

But there are many advantages of impact resistant windows beyond hurricanes. Studies have shown that the added insulation these windows provide save up to 40% on cooling costs. The heavy-duty glass and frames also reduce outside noise by 50-75% and provide additional support against burglaries.

The best news is that they’re affordable. If you add the $1500 tax credit to your purchase, they are even more cost-effective than other, non-hurricane, non-energy efficient alternatives.

Interested in learning more? Talk to one of our consultants. It’s free and there’s never any obligation.

Our customers often tell us how confused they are by the federal tax credits for high efficiency air conditioners. There’s a reason for this: they ARE confusing. Here’s how they work in simple terms.

The Energy Tax credit applies to any Brand air conditioner installed as long as it meets the criteria set by the IRS. The Unit must be a minimum of 16 S.E.E.R.(Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and 13 E.E.R. (Energy Efficiency Rating). To qualify, the Air Conditioner replacement must meet BOTH criteria.

The AHRI (Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute) determines the Ratings for units that are submitted by manufacturers for testing. Manufacturers submit virtually all combinations to maximize the products that qualify.

It’s extremely important that homeowners work with a contractor who understands these requirements and can guide them through the process of selecting a unit that qualifies. For example, in some sizes, particularly 5 ton units, options may be very limited because most manufacturers have been unable to make and Test 5 ton Air Conditioner units that are 57000 BTU or more and meet the 16-13 requirements.

The Federal tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar credit up to $1500 or 30% of the purchase price. That means if your energy efficient unit is $5,000, you get the full $1500 back. If your unit is $4000, you get 30% of the price, which is $1200. Coupled with FPL (Florida Power & Light) rebates on 14 SEER and above AC units, this can mean substantial savings on your replacement. Literally thousands of dollars. Stay tuned. I’ll be writing a follow-up to this post about FPL rebates next week.

I should note that the IRS does have some additional requirements in order to take advantage of the credit. For example, your property must be your principal residence (no investment properties) in Florida. The tax credit ends at the end of 2010, so take advantage of it now.