Category: HVAC

The Two Best Energy Investments for Your Home

If you would like to increase your home’s energy efficiency, we recommend investing in two key projects…

Air sealing wall If you would like to increase your home’s energy efficiency, we recommend investing in two key projects – insulation/air sealing your home and your home’s heating/cooling system.

Since the home is one contained unit, each system directly affects the other system. By taking a whole house approach to energy efficiency, the homeowner can experience a greater improvement in efficiency and comfort. And upgrading two systems can qualify the homeowner for rebates and other incentives.

Home energy improvements start with a home evaluation. A contractor will inspect the interior and exterior of the home to determine where energy improvements are needed.

Each home is different and recommendations can vary. However, there are some recommendations that a contractor will frequently make:

Air Sealing and Insulating
Leaks around a home allow conditioned air to escape and unconditioned outside air to enter. Leaks are often found in attics and around the perimeter of the basement. Sealing air leaks can reduce wear on your home’s heating and cooling system and help maintain your home’s internal temperature. If your attic doesn’t have adequate insulation, your contractor will likely recommend adding insulation.

Upgrading HVAC Equipment
If your heating and cooling system is more than 10 years old your contractor may recommend replacing it with a new, more efficient model. According to ENERGY STAR, when installed correctly high-efficiency heating and cooling units can save the homeowner up to 10% on annual utility bills. In addition, installing and properly using a programmable thermostat can save the homeowner up to $180 per year on heating and cooling costs.

Controlling the air that enters and exits the home and conditioning it with efficient equipment are two key steps to increase your home’s efficiency. By addressing both improvements you’ll see greater energy savings and enjoy a more comfortable home. Contact us for a free air sealing and insulation estimate today.

STOP! Don’t Replace Your HVAC System Until You Read This!

Have you taken advantage of the current Home Performance with Energy Star (HPwES) rebates?

If not, now is the time to act!

With this great program available now, there’s no better time to save money on monthly energy bills and get a rebate to help offset your upfront investment.

Here is what you need to know:

  1. Rebates are performance-based (the amount of the rebate is based on the energy saved due to the upgrades).
  2. To access available rebates, your home must have a pre-upgrade energy audit performed by a participating contractor. Your out-of-pocket cost under this program is $100. The balance is covered by the utilities.
  3. Current rebates can be up to 75% of the cost of the improvements based on the level of energy improvements, with a maximum rebate of $7500.00.
  4. Rebates are paid for air sealing, insulation, and duct sealing.
  5. Rebates are paid for HVAC replacements ONLY when the replacement is done in combination with air sealing and insulation. DO NOT REPLACE YOUR HVAC SYSTEM WITHOUT TALKING WITH DEVERE INSULATION HOME PERFORMANCE! We will help you get your maximum rebate.

Right now utilities are paying the highest available rates for savings! But this will change soon!

    • Electricity: Utility rebates can range from $.12 – $.18 per MMBTU of savings of KWH.
    • Gas/Oil/Propane: Utility rebates can range $.02 – $.08 per Therm of savings.

      Don’t Wait!! Why waste money on high monthly energy bills when these great rebates are available? Our team will walk you through the process to ensure you earn the highest rebate possible! Call our office at 443-770-1111 today!

      Why the upper level of your home is unbearable during summer, and how we can help.

      Everyone knows the basic principles of warm air and cool air – warm air rises, cool air sinks. You can see this in practice when a hot air balloon is filled with heated air and rises. When the air inside the balloon cools, the air becomes dense causing the balloon to lower.

      This principle applies to the air inside your home. This results in something called Stack Effect. Here’s how it works and how it affects your home’s performance.

      During winter months, indoor air that’s been warmed rises to the upper areas of the house. Due to natural penetration points in the roof of a home (e.g. around electrical penetrations, vents, etc.) this warm air leaks out of the home.

      Losing air that you’ve paid to condition affects your wallet – and has an even greater impact. When heated air leaks from the upper level of your home, negative pressure is created in the home. Since air in the home wants to remain in balance, cold outside air is sucked in to the home through penetration points on the lower level (e.g. around windows, electrical outlets, basement box sills, crawl spaces, etc.)

      During winter months, warm air inside the home is desired. What do homeowners do? They turn up the HVAC system. This creates a false sense of an efficient home because the heating system overrides any feeling of discomfort.

      What about summer? During summer months, stack effect creates a much more uncomfortable living situation.

      As the warm inside air rises in a home and escapes through upper level penetration points, warm outside air enters the home through lower penetration points. The home’s HVAC system will run to help cool the air inside the home. Since cool air is dense, the conditioned air will not reach the upper level of the home. This can create an unbearable living situation in the upper level of a home during peak summer months.

      If you dread the upper floors of your home during summer months because of hot and uncomfortable air, your home needs air sealing and insulating. Contact us to discuss your home’s summer comfort issues and schedule a free estimate. 

      New HVAC Rebates! Save even more on home energy upgrades!

      If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your home’s energy performance, you’re in luck! Effective August 15th, 2016, the HVAC program will be implementing an additional 10% increase to rebate incentives on approved HVAC equipment.

      Here’s the technical language:

      • Customers can receive 10% higher rebates for HVAC equipment if the equipment is installed as part of a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR job.
      • To receive HVAC rebates through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program, the equipment installation must be installed by an approved contractor in the utility-specific HVAC program
      • The rebate application must include shell measures and/or duct sealing as part of the scope of work.
      • The HPwES application will also require the AHRI certificate matching the contracted HVAC equipment installation to be uploaded with the application.

      That’s all great. But, WHAT DOES THIS REALLY MEAN?

      • If you’re going to replace your HVAC equipment, you can get an additional 10% rebate
      • To get the additional 10% rebate you must have performed insulation and air sealing upgrades first in accordance with findings from an energy audit
      • If you’ve not already had an energy audit performed on your home, this is the first step.
      • Combine the 10% HVAC rebate plus rebates from your local utilities and the savings really add up!

      We know rebates can be confusing. We are here to help you take advantage of all the rebates available to you! Please call our office with questions (443-770-1111).