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ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC System Installation Certificate

Kennesaw, GA (PRWEB) March 17, 2017

Reliable Heating & Air, a leading provider of heating and air conditioning, plumbing, electrical and home performance (residential and commercial) service, is proud to offer its customers the ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installation (ESVI) program, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Southface Energy Institute. Reliables first ESVI certificate was awarded to an Acworth homeowner earlier this year and included upgrading from a traditional maintenance plan to ReliableGuard, a 24/7 HVAC monitoring service.

According to the EPA, the average American household spends more than $2,200 a year on energy bills, with nearly half going to heating and cooling costs. EPA has long-encouraged consumers to look for energy-efficient heating and cooling systems with the ENERGY STAR label to help reduce these costs, while improving home comfort and helping to protect the environment. While purchasing energy-efficient equipment is an important first step, studies indicate that nearly half of residential HVAC equipment is not properly installed, resulting in higher utility costs for consumers, reduced comfort, and potentially reduced system life. Through its newly re-launched ESVI program, EPA is helping consumers ensure that their new HVAC systems are designed and sized properly, airflow is optimized, the proper amount of refrigerant is installed, duct systems are evaluated and improved, and the entire installation is quality verified by an independent third party.

Being a part of the ESVI program is very close to the heart of Reliable Heating & Airs owner, Dan Jape. An HVAC industry veteran since 1978, it is important to Mr. Jape to ensure the quality and excellence of Reliables installations and his passion has always been to provide the best in class service and product to Georgia homeowners.

When we first started developing ReliableGuard comfort monitoring three years ago with Emerson Climate Technologies, we had no idea that it would change the entire industry, said Mr. Jape. I knew that I was signing my customers up for maintenance plans for decades and only seeing their equipment twice a year. The fact is two annual visits are not necessarily required nor is it mandatory to keep a warranty in place. ReliableGuard offers a vast improvement in the way we can provide quality service to our customers. For the first time in history we can verify the efficiency of a customers HVAC unit remotely. We can respond to potential issues before they manifest into a no-heating or cooling scenario. As an innovator, we take pride in setting the path for the future in HVAC monitoring.

For more information about Reliable Heating & Air visit online at http://www.ReliableAir.com or for more information about the ENERGY STAR ESVI program visit online http://www.EnergyStar.gov/esvi

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Reliable Heating & Air Issues the Nation's 1st ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC System Installation Certificate - PR Web (press release)

Times Record News Published 9:26 a.m. CT March 17, 2017 | Updated 6 hours ago

JC Penney(Photo: Matt Slocum/Associated Press)

The Wichita Falls JCPenney store, the first one to open in Texas back in March 1917, has survived the chopping block as the retail chain announced early Friday morning which of the 138 it will close over the next few months.

No other Texas stores in the Wichita Falls area were on the list, but Altus, Oklahoma, was on the list of stores targeted for closure. A full list of the closings can be found on the J. C. Penney Company Investor Relations website here.

The JCPenney store in Sikes Senter will remain open although the national chain plans to close 138 of its department stores, the company announced Friday.(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)

"As part ofacontinuing effort to advance sustainable growth and long-term profitability,J. C. Penney Company, Inc. will be closing138 stores, one supply chain facility in Lakeland, Florida, and relocating one supply chain facility in Buena Park, California,to align the Companys physical store footprint andomnichannel network.Approximately5,000 positions nationwide will be impacted by the store closures,most of which will occur in June," the company said in a news release.

The Wichita Falls store went through a few modifications in recent years when it incorporated cosmetic retailer Sephora into the local store, which has anchored the east end of Sikes Senter since the mid-1970s. JCPenney also re-entered the retail appliance business in July when it carved out a section on the south end of the store just for washers, dryers, ranges, refrigerators and more.

J. C. Penney Company made the decision in 2015 to begin selling appliances again in 22 stores throughout the country, and when that proved to be a profitable move, they expanded that initiative to about 500 stores.

The company announced on Monday that they would also get into another line of business that would continue to target its primary demographic - women - with JCPenney Home Services, an offering that "will provide turn-key services for heating and cooling systems, bathroom remodeling, quick ship and installed blinds, whole home water solutions and awnings, as well as easy-to-install smart home devices."

Marvin Ellison, chairman and CEO of JCPenney, said, "With the resurgence of the housing market, consumers are spending more than $300 billion annually to upgrade their homes since nearly two-thirds of the nation's homes are over 30 years old.* There is a tremendous opportunity to capture additional revenue and minimize our dependence on apparel by catering our services to female homeowners who represent over 70 percent of our loyal customer base, and make the primary decisions regarding any home renovations."

A display-only format of JCPenney Home Services will be located in about 100 stores during the test run of the new program.

Read or Share this story: http://wtrne.ws/2mahfmh

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Wichita Falls JCPenney survives the cut - Times Record News

Enhabit to provide smart thermostats to 500 homes in Multnomah County.

One of the leading residential retrofit programs in the country is bringing a new initiative to the region to provide smart thermostats and energy-saving devices to Gresham homes.

Enhabit, formerly known as Clean Energy Works, announced on Thursday, March 9, that its Smart Stat program will come to Multnomah County.

The nonprofit group's goal is to install 500 thermostats locally, which will provide residents up to 20 percent in savings on their energy bills.

The devices provide energy savings by allowing homeowners to control their thermostats remotely. Smart thermostats will adjust the temperature automatically based on the inhabitants' habits.

The organization will install the smart thermostat for a fee, while conducting a free home assessment.

As a bonus, Enhabit home advisers also will install a free energy savings kit containing LED light bulbs and faucet aerators through May 30 as supplies last.

Those interested should apply at http://www.enhabit.org/smart.

Upgrade incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient lighting. LEDs use 75 percent less energy and last 25 times longer.

Heating water accounts for approximately 15 percent of a home's energy use, making hot water the second biggest expense after heating and cooling. Replacing an old water heater can save money and energy.

Cracks and openings in doors, windows, ceilings, walls and floors can allow air to leak into and out of your home. Sealing those cracks will cut drafts, and a modern ventilation system will circulate fresh air to keep indoor air quality high.

Insulation is the best way to prevent heat loss. Look for areas in your attic, walls and floors that need more insulation. Ductwork should also be well insulated.

You can manually adjust your thermostat to use less energy when you're not home.

Continued here:
Local nonprofit offers energy savings initiative - Pamplin Media Group

Reliable Heating & Air, a leading provider of heating and air conditioning, plumbing, electrical and home performance (residential and commercial) service, is proud to offer its customers the ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installation (ESVI) program, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Southface Energy Institute. Reliables first ESVI certificate was awarded to an Acworth homeowner earlier this year and included upgrading from a traditional maintenance plan to ReliableGuard, a 24/7 HVAC monitoring service.

According to the EPA, the average American household spends more than $2,200 a year on energy bills, with nearly half going to heating and cooling costs. EPA has long-encouraged consumers to look for energy-efficient heating and cooling systems with the ENERGY STAR label to help reduce these costs, while improving home comfort and helping to protect the environment. While purchasing energy-efficient equipment is an important first step, studies indicate that nearly half of residential HVAC equipment is not properly installed, resulting in higher utility costs for consumers, reduced comfort, and potentially reduced system life. Through its newly re-launched ESVI program, EPA is helping consumers ensure that their new HVAC systems are designed and sized properly, airflow is optimized, the proper amount of refrigerant is installed, duct systems are evaluated and improved, and the entire installation is quality verified by an independent third party.

Being a part of the ESVI program is very close to the heart of Reliable Heating & Airs owner, Dan Jape. An HVAC industry veteran since 1978, it is important to Mr. Jape to ensure the quality and excellence of Reliables installations and his passion has always been to provide the best in class service and product to Georgia homeowners.

When we first started developing ReliableGuard comfort monitoring three years ago with Emerson Climate Technologies, we had no idea that it would change the entire industry, said Mr. Jape. I knew that I was signing my customers up for maintenance plans for decades and only seeing their equipment twice a year. The fact is two annual visits are not necessarily required nor is it mandatory to keep a warranty in place. ReliableGuard offers a vast improvement in the way we can provide quality service to our customers. For the first time in history we can verify the efficiency of a customers HVAC unit remotely. We can respond to potential issues before they manifest into a no-heating or cooling scenario. As an innovator, we take pride in setting the path for the future in HVAC monitoring.

For more information about Reliable Heating & Air visit online at http://www.ReliableAir.com or for more information about the ENERGY STAR ESVI program visit online http://www.EnergyStar.gov/esvi

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Reliable Heating & Air Issues the Nation's 1st ENERGY STAR... - Broadway World

Mike Gaffney saugus@wickedlocal.com @saugusnews

A subcommittee has tasked an engineering firm to evaluate the effectiveness of different cooling systems for the proposed high school/middle school project.

On March 13 Dominick Puniello of Garcia Galuska DeSousa Consulting Engineers, Inc. presented the Systems Subcommittee with a number of HVAC system options for a combination high school and middle school.

Lori Cowles, the project director for HMFH Architects, Inc., said the time has come to think about the mechanical systems in the proposed high school/middle school complex.

Puniello delved into the pros and cons for each cooling system to allow subcommittee members to decide which ones should be studied as part of a life cycle cost analysis.

Displacement ventilation is a cooling system that Garcia Galuska DeSousa is a proponent of, Puniello said. These systems use naturally occurring buoyant flow within a space to create the vertical rise of air, he explained.

Puniello said advantages of displacement ventilation include excellent pollution removal, low noise, low air velocity, low moisture levels, reduced initial cost and high ventilation effectiveness.

Disadvantages associated with displacement ventilation are the system requires perimeter radiation heating and perimeter radiation cooling to maintain full air conditioned set points during peak cooling, Puniello said.

Highland Avenue resident Ed LaSala expressed concern about exhaust from nearby Route 1 and whether a displacement system would filter out all of the carbon dioxide coming from vehicles.

Puniello also discussed induction systems that use chilled beam units to provide cooling. This type of system can be used in conjunction with displacement to bring room temperatures down a few degrees, he said.

With induction, room air is induced through heating and cooling coils.

Some of the pros for induction are that the process is energy efficient, the noise is low, flexibility of installation, a moderate initial cost, simplified controls and lower maintenance, Puniello said. Cons include the fact induction requires increased coordination with a ceiling system (such as additional piping), it needs additional ventilation air in some cases and increased energy consumption compared to a dehumidified system.

During his presentation Puniello brought up the possibility of a geothermal HVAC system, which involves drilling small holes into the ground and utilizing plastic tubes in the ground to heat and cool the building.

While geothermal plants are viewed as environmentally friendly options that are durable, subcommittee members questioned the expense of implementing such a system and whether it would be cost prohibitive.

Another cooling system the subcommittee focused on was variable flow refrigerant, or VRFs, which use refrigerant to heat and cool structures.

Puniello said pros for VRFs include the same unit can be used for heating and cooling, low piping installation costs and a reduced boiler plant size. Disadvantages can include higher noise levels, quarterly filter changes and maintenance of equipment in an occupied area, he noted.

The subcommittee directed Puniello to investigate four different cooling options as part of a life cycle cost analysis. They include partial air conditioning/displacement; full air conditioning through displacement ventilation; displacement for ventilation and adding chilled beams for full air conditioning; and doing everything by active chilled beams.

These options will be compared to a baseline system to estimate how much can be saved over a 40-year period, Puniello said.

When it comes to cooling systems people often want full air conditioning because they believe thats the way the school will be most comfortable, Cowles said. However, she pointed out full air conditioning has a cost implication to it.

Maybe we look at displacement and forms of air conditioning that can be spun off of that, Cowles said.

Saugus High School Principal Mike Hashem said the building auditorium will probably need to be air conditioned. He added that it would be nice to have a way to cool the gymnasium that can become stifling when crowded.

For a girls basketball game it was close to 100 degrees during the game, Hashem said.

Hashem said he would like to see a cooling system in place that allows classrooms to be comfortable if the temperature is 95 degrees and humid.

As long as its a comfortable learning environment throughout the year, thats what is important, Hashem said.

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Cooling systems to be analyzed for proposed Saugus school - Wicked Local Saugus

(TNS) -- Fort Bragg doesn't have the large clean energy projects of some other military installations.

You won't find sprawling fields of solar panels, like at Fort Stewart, Georgia; or a large biomass plant that supports the installation's entire energy needs, like at Fort Drum, New York.

But what the nation's largest military installation lacks in scale, it makes up for in diversity.

In addition to power provided by outside utilities, Fort Bragg is creating energy with geothermal wells, solar panels and, in the future, a hydroelectric turbine on the Little River.

Fort Bragg, long a leader in a variety of Army programs, has become a test bed of sorts for renewable energy sources and energy-efficient improvements, according to Audrey Oxendine, chief of energy and utilities on Fort Bragg.

Oxendine's office keeps close watch of the installation's energy usage, tracking consumption across Fort Bragg's more than 55 million square feet of building space. They also manage privatized utilities on post and oversee efforts to encourage recycling and conservation among the installation's estimated 54,000 troops.

The biggest driving factors for Fort Bragg's clean energy push, Oxendine said, is a desire to cut down on energy costs while also providing more security to the installation's utility infrastructure.

Fort Bragg spends about $45 million a year on electricity alone, she said. And the unique units who call the post home -- including special operations forces and much of the nation's quick-reaction force -- can't afford to be out of power.

At the same time, the installation's size -- a full one-tenth of the Army is housed at Fort Bragg -- and the space those troops require prevent the post from having more large-scale projects.

"That's the most daunting thing, I think," Oxendine said. "The size."

The size comes with big demands, she said. For example, while Fort Drum's peak power demand is 32 megawatts, the peak demand at Fort Bragg is 132 megawatts.

But despite its size, the installation's relatively low energy rates when compared to other installations preclude some large scale programs.

"It's a double-edged sword," Oxendine said.

If a project doesn't pay for itself or pay back significant cost savings over time, she said the installation doesn't pursue it.

That's why there's not more solar power on post.

"It almost makes it impossible, if not at an enormous scale," Oxendine said. And there's no space on post for a sprawling solar farm.

Despite those challenges, Oxendine said Fort Bragg has found other ways to utilize renewable energies and has made significant progress at improving energy efficiency in the last decade.

One of the installation's largest projects involved the $13.3 million geothermal heating and cooling systems that were installed in several buildings in Fort Bragg's historic district in 2015.

Other efforts have been driven by a Department of Defense program meant to marry new technologies with military energy needs.

The Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, or ESTCP, is a program started in 1995 that encourages outside companies to partner with the Army to find solutions to energy problems.

Officials with the program have called Fort Bragg a critical partner for the program and an "instrumental energy test bed."

In recent years, Fort Bragg-based ESTCP projects have included new insulation meant to prevent energy loss in buildings and systems to optimize energy efficiency on post.

Another project, with construction starting next month, will create a microgrid within the 82nd Airborne Division.

The grid will allow the installation to maintain power to a section of post near Ardennes and Campobello streets, even when the rest of Fort Bragg is suffering from an outage.

Another such project is at the Hercules Fitness Center on Pope Field, where officials have installed solar panels on the gym roof to power dozens of lights and several large fans.

Oxendine said there had been complaints that the gym, especially the weight room, was uncomfortably warm and humid during the summer.

The solar panels are providing energy to help solve that problem and eventually will be tied into a new heating and air conditioning system.

Across the entirety of post, Oxendine said Fort Bragg has several solar panels, affixed to gyms, dining facilities and even a parachute drying tower.

But the Hercules panels are unique in that officials are not converting the electricity from direct current to alternating current.

"It's more efficient," Oxendine said, explaining that converting the energy would result in a loss of 7-8 percent of power.

Army leaders are unaware of any similar experiment with direct current electricity on another installation. Eventually, Fort Bragg officials hope they can use the more efficient system to power the bulk of the Hercules Fitness Center and could eventually install similar systems on other Fort Bragg buildings.

"That one's a good example of what we're doing," Oxendine said. "Private companies come to us with these ideas."

Fort Bragg leaders have provided Army energy leaders with a tour of their Hercules project in recent weeks, but Oxendine said another project is creating just as much excitement, although it's still in the planning phase.

She said a $1.8 million project will install a hydroelectric turbine in the Little River, at the site of Fort Bragg's old wastewater treatment plant.

The turbine will create 275 kilowatts of energy to feed into the installation's electrical systems and will pay for itself within 14 years, Oxendine said. Overall, the project is expected to create a total savings of $2.7 million and could open the door to more hydroelectricity projects on post.

2017 The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Fort Bragg Leads Army's Clean Energy Efforts - Government Technology

Windows, Doors, and Skylights If you replaced any windows, doors, or skylights, or installed new ones that meet Energy Star standards, you are eligible for a tax credit. You don't have to replace all your windows and doors to qualify, and you can claim the credit if you installed a window or door where there wasn't one before. Tax credit: 10 percent of the cost, up to $200 for windows and skylights, and up to $500 for doors. Does not include installation.

Roofs (Metal and Asphalt) Roofing materials that meet Energy Star requirements reflect more of the sun's rays and can lower roof surface temperature by up to 100 F. Qualifying roofing materials include metal roofs with appropriate pigmented coatings and asphalt roofs with appropriate cooling granules. Tax credit: 10 percent of the cost, not including installation, up to $500.

Water Heaters (Nonsolar) Water heating can account for up to 25 percent of the energy used in your home. Qualifying water heaters include gas, oil, and propane units with an Energy Factor (overall efficiency) of 0.82 or more or a thermal efficiency of at least 90 percent. Electric heat-pump water heaters with an energy factor of 2.0 or more also qualify. Tax credit: $300.

Insulation Typical bulk insulation productssuch as batts, rolls, blow-in fibers, rigid boards, expanding spray, and pour-in-placecan qualify for a tax credit, according to Energy Star. Products that reduce air leaks can also qualify, as long as they come with a Manufacturers Certification Statement and weather stripping, spray foam in a can, caulk, and house wrap. Tax credit: 10 percent of the cost, up to $500. Does not include installation, but you can install the insulation/home sealing yourself and get the credit.

Biomass Stoves To heat a home or water, biomass stoves burn wood and wood waste and residues (including wood pellets), agricultural crops and trees, plants (including aquatic plants), grasses, residues, and fibers. To qualify, stoves must have a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75 percent and meet 2020 clean-air standards from the Environmental Protection Agency. Tax credit: $300.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Some heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment qualifies for an energy tax credit. For full details see the Energy Star website. Here are the improvements: Central air conditioning, $300 tax credit. Air source heat pumps, $300 tax credit. Gas, propane, or oil boiler, $150 tax credit, including installation costs. Natural gas, propane, or oil furnace, $150 tax credit.

Geothermal Heat Pumps Geothermal heat pumps are similar to ordinary heat pumps, but they use the ground temperature instead of outside air to provide heating, air conditioning, and, in most cases, hot water. Because they use the earth's natural heat, they are among the most efficient and comfortable heating and cooling technologies currently available. Tax credit: 30 percent of cost with no upper limit (second homes qualify).

Residential Wind Turbines A wind turbine harnesses energy from the wind and converts it to electricity compatible with your home's electrical system. Tax credit:30 percent of cost with no upper limit (second homes qualify).

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Don't Miss Out on These Federal Energy Tax Credits - Consumer ... - ConsumerReports.org

The constant temperature of the earth we live on is a sustainable resource that, when tapped with heat pump technology, can be used to supply comfort in our homes winter and summer and, at the same time, support New York States goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 (from 1990 levels).

Recently Lansing's representative to the County Legislature, Mike Sigler, suggested that NYSEG's moratorium on new gas installations might be expanded from Lansing alone to the whole county. Thats an exciting idea! Its consistent with the County's carbon emission reduction goals and challenges us to think creatively about alternative heating and cooling.

The initial cost of geothermal heat pump systems has been a barrier to widespread adoption. In a proposal that will put New York at the forefront of support for renewable energy use, Governor Cuomo earlier this month proposed a two-year, $15 million rebate program for the installation of ground-source heat pumps. It awaits approval from the legislature. If approved it would provide about $6,000 for an average residential geothermal installation. No other state provides such strong support to encourage leaving fossil fuels in the ground and move to sustainable renewable energy sources.

The barriers to widespread adoption of geothermal heat pumps are ebbing. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) have concluded that geothermal heat pumps are the most environmentally friendly and cost-efficient way to heat and cool your home. With 50,000 to 80,000 geothermal heat pump installations per year in the US alone, homeowners are beginning to learn more about these energy saving systems.

Once installed, geothermal systems perform reliably for many years. They are environmentally beneficial, replacing onsite fossil fuels. They require local labor for the installation, thus helping the local economy. Because they are 300% efficient, they use very little electricity. They provide not only heat in winter, but with a flip of the switch, cool your home in summer. All this buried treasure right under our feet!

There are many examples of geothermal systems at work in Tompkins County. The town halls in Dryden and Caroline are but two examples. The locally, volunteer-run, Heat Smart program will soon be sponsoring tours such that anyone can go visit a home where the owners have installed heat pumps, and talk about their experiences. The schedule for the home tours is posted at SolarTompkins.org.

Stephen Emlen Town of Lansing, NY v13i10

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Letters - Buried Treasure at our Feet? - Lansing Star

By Drew Brooks, Military editor

Fort Bragg doesnt have the large clean energy projects of some other military installations.

You wont find sprawling fields of solar panels, like at Fort Stewart, Georgia; or a large biomass plant that supports the installations entire energy needs, like at Fort Drum, New York.

But what the nations largest military installation lacks in scale, it makes up for in diversity.

In addition to power provided by outside utilities, Fort Bragg is creating energy with geothermal wells, solar panels and, in the future, a hydroelectric turbine on the Little River.

Fort Bragg, long a leader in a variety of Army programs, has become a test bed of sorts for renewable energy sources and energy-efficient improvements, according to Audrey Oxendine, chief of energy and utilities on Fort Bragg.

Oxendines office keeps close watch of the installations energy usage, tracking consumption across Fort Braggs more than 55 million square feet of building space. They also manage privatized utilities on post and oversee efforts to encourage recycling and conservation among the installations estimated 54,000 troops.

The biggest driving factors for Fort Braggs clean energy push, Oxendine said, is a desire to cut down on energy costs while also providing more security to the installations utility infrastructure.

Fort Bragg spends about $45 million a year on electricity alone, she said. And the unique units who call the post home including special operations forces and much of the nations quick-reaction force cant afford to be out of power.

At the same time, the installations size a full one-tenth of the Army is housed at Fort Bragg and the space those troops require prevent the post from having more large-scale projects.

Thats the most daunting thing, I think, Oxendine said. The size.

The size comes with big demands, she said. For example, while Fort Drums peak power demand is 32 megawatts, the peak demand at Fort Bragg is 132 megawatts.

But despite its size, the installations relatively low energy rates when compared to other installations preclude some large scale programs.

Its a double-edged sword, Oxendine said.

If a project doesnt pay for itself or pay back significant cost savings over time, she said the installation doesnt pursue it.

Thats why theres not more solar power on post.

It almost makes it impossible, if not at an enormous scale, Oxendine said. And theres no space on post for a sprawling solar farm.

Despite those challenges, Oxendine said Fort Bragg has found other ways to utilize renewable energies and has made significant progress at improving energy efficiency in the last decade.

One of the installations largest projects involved the $13.3 million geothermal heating and cooling systems that were installed in several buildings in Fort Braggs historic district in 2015.

Other efforts have been driven by a Department of Defense program meant to marry new technologies with military energy needs.

The Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, or ESTCP, is a program started in 1995 that encourages outside companies to partner with the Army to find solutions to energy problems.

Officials with the program have called Fort Bragg a critical partner for the program and an instrumental energy test bed.