TUCSON - If it's 'too good to be true', it usually is. And that is true with air conditioning services, according to the Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona.

The BBB is warning Southern Arizonans to be wary of companies or contractors offering to install A/C units, or offering to tune up their existing units.

In 2011, the BBB received over 9,500 inquires from consumers about heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors in Southern Arizona between May and the end of September.

Unfortunately, complaints against HVAC companies increase along with inquiries. As HVAC contractors ramp up their advertising, unscrupulous contractors often make misleading, or even false claims about the price of their services, and even the quality of the equipment they're selling.

Wade Hamstra, of Hamstra Heating and Cooling- a Tucson HVAC contractor doing business in Southern Arizona since 1983- says that there are a few "red flags" consumers can look for to ensure they're not being ripped off:

RED FLAG #1 - THE LOW-BALL PRICE: Ever see those ads that say '$39 Heating or A/C Tune-Up!'? Sounds great doesn't it? Don't be fooled: an average heating and cooling service technician makes at least $18 per hour. Add in the costs of fuel to get to the home, the service van, overhead expenses for a basic office- people to answer the phone, schedule calls, process paper- and the average HVAC company has, at a bare minimum, expenses of $50 per hour. When you add up all these expenses it's very unlikely you'll ever find a true $39 tune-up.

RED FLAG #2 - THE 400 SQUARE FEET PER TON OF A/C 'RULE OF THUMB': Just about any consumer who has researched buying a new A/C system has read about, or had a contractor tell them about the 'Rule of Thumb' for equipment sizing: "Mr. Johnson, your home is 2000 square feet, at 400 square feet per ton; you need a 5-ton air conditioning unit today." "This is the most bogus and lazy lie that exists in our industry," Hamstra says. "Every reputable heating and cooling company will insist on performing a Manual J Engineering Load Calculation- as required by the International Residential Code book, Tucson Electric Power and Energy Star- to determine the size of system you need. This process takes a lot of education and extra time to perform, but is essential for proper sizing. A system that is not properly sized will not keep a home comfortable, and will drive up energy bills at the same time it decreases equipment life."

RED FLAG #3 - NEW SYSTEM QUOTES OVER THE PHONE ARE NOT ACCURATE!: There is a large range of variables when performing a system replacement. For that reason it's virtually impossible for an A/C contractor to give an accurate estimate for a new system over the phone. Hamstra lists three reasons why it's not possible to give an accurate estimate over phone: 1. The home might have experienced changes since the original system was installed (new windows, added insulation, added addition, more internal heat loads like appliances, TV's, computers, people). All of these factors will affect the system size that the home needs. The only way to ensure proper sizing- which leads to better comfort, energy efficiency and longer system life- is to visit the home, take all the proper measurements and run a computerized Manual J Load Calculation. 2. There's the issue of physical unit sizes: the contractor may need to visit the home to make sure that it has the physical space needed for a new model A/C unit. 3. Any customer looking to get new air conditioning equipment should also be concerned with making sure their duct system is adequate. If the duct is overlooked, a customer may get sold a highly efficient and more expensive unit that functions like a lower quality unit, due to leaky ductwork. It would be like putting a brand new Ferrari motor on an old Yugo chassis. It is not going to deliver great results. In order to deliver a proper solution, A/C contractors need to inspect the system as a whole.

To find an HVAC contractor you can trust and to easily get free estimates scheduled through BBB's free E-Quote service, visit: http://www.tucson.bbb.org <http://www.tucson.bbb.org> or call: (520)888-5353.

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BBB warns of A/C scams this time of year

TUCSON - The BBB of Southern Arizona wants to caution you, as summer temps are well into the triple digits, to be careful when shopping for a HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air-conditioning) unit and a contractor to install the unit.

There are the three major problems to look out for listed below in this warning released by the BBB:

An A/C unit or some sort of cooling system is more or less a necessity during Southern Arizona's hot summers. Every year BBB sees a dramatic rise in consumer inquiries during the spring and into the summer as consumers look for HVAC contractors to tune-up, replace, or install units.

In 2011 BBB received over 9,500 inquires from consumers about heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors in Southern Arizona between May and the end of September.

Unfortunately, complaints against HVAC companies increase along with inquiries. As HVAC contractors ramp up their advertising, unscrupulous contractors often make misleading, or even false claims about the price of their services, and even the quality of the equipment they're selling. Wade Hamster, of Hamster Heating and Cooling- a Tucson HVAC contractor doing business in Southern Arizona since 1983- says that there are a few "red flags" consumers can look for to ensure they're not being ripped off:

RED FLAG #1 - THE LOW-BALL PRICE Ever see those ads that say "$39 Heating or A/C Tune-Up!"? Sounds great doesn't it? Don't be fooled: an average heating and cooling service technician makes at least $18 per hour. Add in the costs of fuel to get to the home, the service van, overhead expenses for a basic office- people to answer the phone, schedule calls, process paper- and the average HVAC company has, at a bare minimum, expenses of $50 per hour. When you add up all these expenses it's very unlikely you'll ever find a true $39 tune-up.

RED FLAG #2 - THE 400 SQUARE FEET PER TON OF A/C "RULE OF THUMB" Just about any consumer who has researched buying a new A/C system has read about, or had a contractor tell them about the "Rule of Thumb" for equipment sizing: "Mr. Johnson, your home is 2000 square feet, at 400 square feet per ton; you need a 5-ton air conditioning unit today." "This is the most bogus and lazy lie that exists in our industry," Hamster says. "Every reputable heating and cooling company will insist on performing a Manual J Engineering Load Calculation- as required by the International Residential Code book, Tucson Electric Power and Energy Star- to determine the size of system you need. This process takes a lot of education and extra time to perform, but is essential for proper sizing. A system that is not properly sized will not keep a home comfortable, and will drive up energy bills at the same time it decreases equipment life."

RED FLAG #3 - NEW SYSTEM QUOTES OVER THE PHONE ARE NOT ACCURATE! There is a large range of variables when performing a system replacement. For that reason it's virtually impossible for an A/C contractor to give an accurate estimate for a new system over the phone. Hamster lists three reasons why it's not possible to give an accurate estimate over phone:

1. The home might have experienced changes since the original system was installed (new windows, added insulation, added addition, more internal heat loads like appliances, TV's, computers, people). All of these factors will affect the system size that the home needs. The only way to ensure proper sizing- which leads to better comfort, energy efficiency and longer system life- is to visit the home, take all the proper measurements and run a computerized Manual J Load Calculation.

2. There's the issue of physical unit sizes: the contractor may need to visit the home to make sure that it has the physical space needed for a new model A/C unit.

Link:
BBB issues caution when shopping for A/C this summer

Tectron, the high quality manufacturer of testing equipment, has been a customer of Rehm's for over 10 years and naturally chose us when deciding to jointly develop a system to reduce waste heat and the amount of noise generated by their SMD production unit.

We are completely committed to helping our customers increase their efficiency, so we were only to happy to take on the task.

What was Rehm's answer to this challenge?

A central cooling system with direct expansion was chosen as the most efficient option to install for Tectron, in order to efficiently reduce the noise pollution encountered.

Advantages of the system included: o Noise pollution in Tectron's production hall was completely removed o Low investment cost o 25-30% reduction in power consumption o Reduced levels of waste heat o Reserve capacity was incorporated to enable future expansion

Tectron have been extremely pleased with the central cooling system, as it has provided them with more benefits than just their initial objective of reducing the waste heat and eliminating the noise of the production unit itself. Volker Schneider, General Manager of Tectron commented, "The noise pollution caused by the cooling systems in the production hall is now completely removed." However it is not only on the production lines that savings can be measured. The reduced levels of heat have allowed other savings to be made too, like smaller air condition units and pre-heating of drinking water.

Rehm is committed to providing solutions for our customer's problems, so if you too would like to see how Rehm could help with your specific manufacturing challenge, please contact a member of the Rehm team today for more information.

Bry-Airs MiniPac dehumidifier is the ideal dehumidification solution for smaller facilities in need of reliable humidity control or mold and mildew protection. The MiniPac can be installed as a stand-alone unit, or attached to any central air conditioning system to enhance the systems dehumidification capability. Models from 100 to 1200 cfm.

Visit Bry-Air

Eliminate sensor failure from target impact and the harsh effects of extreme environments. Ifm's 316 stainless steel, metal face sensors resist aggressive chemicals, will not corrode, and offer a true non-flush operation with no false outputs.

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Rehm Helps Tectron Efficiently Reduce Noise Levels!

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 07, 2012

Launching a new website will help customers find us easier and faster, homeowners do not want to wait around while their HVAC systems are not working properly, said Los Angeles heating and air conditioning expert Jose Garcia, service technician for Pacific Coast Heating and Air Conditioning. The new website will highlight the services Pacific Coast provides to the Los Angeles area. The website will also feature pictures and customer reviews so potential customers can see quality of their work.

According to The Department of Energy, heating and cooling make up 54% of a homeowners energy bill. Choosing the right heating and cooling unit can save lots of money in the future.

Pacific Coast Heating and Air Conditioning provides systems that are quiet, long-lasting and low in service needs. Consulting with a professional will make sure homeowners are purchasing a cooling unit that is the appropriate size, which can affect future bills. Buying a bigger AC unit does not mean your house will be cooler, it can mean you will get less efficiency out of your unit, that is why it is good to have a professional help you size the right unit for your home, said Jose. Pacific Coast is a certified Rudd dealer, but they install and repair all brands of equipment.

Heating consumes the majority of a homeowners utility bill, so it is important to find an energy efficient model that can keep future costs low. Pacific Coast Heating and Air Conditioning provides quality heat pumps and furnaces from a variety of manufacturers. They offer the latest products to keep homes warm and quiet during cool winter months. We try to provide our customers with low prices, we know a heating unit is a big expense, said Jose. Pacific Coast offers one day system change outs, so homeowners dont go uncomfortable for very long.

A heating and air conditioning unit is one of the most expensive appliances in a home. An HVAC unit, much like a car, functions best with regular maintenance. Homeowners can opt to pay a little at a time to keep it running properly and in good working shape, or get hit with an unexpected bill and the inconvenience, when it suddenly has a problem.

Pacific Coasts Maintenance Club Membership is an opportunity for customers to save money while guaranteeing prompt service for any repair needs. The Club Membership is a great way for us to stay connected to our customers while offering some discounts for remaining loyal to our company, said Jose.

The club has two levels of service, featuring different options.

The Gold Membership offers; a 30% discount on repairs, 24 hour service, no dispatch fees or service fees, and costs $15.95 a month.

The Silver Membership offers; a 20% discount on repairs, 48 hour service, no dispatch fees and a service fee of only $45.00, compared to the regularly priced $79.00 fee and costs $11.95 a month.

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San Fernando Valley's Most Trusted HVAC Contractor, Pacific Coast Heating and Air Conditioning, Launches New Corporate ...

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -06/05/12)- Despite this week's "too-cool-for-June" temperatures, hot summer months are approaching, Con Edison reminds customers to continue to learn more about reducing their energy usage and saving money by visiting the company's Energy Efficiency "Green Team" website (www.conEd.com/greenteam).

Since 2009, nearly 95,000 Con Edison customers have received $83 million in rebates and incentives for energy efficiency upgrades, helping thousands of homes and businesses reduce their energy usage and protect the environment.

"We're offering rebates for ENERGY STAR air conditioners, energy surveys, programmable thermostats and other incentives to help our customers save money," said Marilyn Caselli, senior vice president of Customer Operations. "They should also check out our online energy calculator to see how much energy they are using and how they can save even more."

Con Edison customer service representative Rosalva Nunez explains how easy it is to navigate the energy calculator and find ways to save, whether you live in an apartment or a home. http://bcove.me/z33vk8iz

Infrastructure Investments & Demand Forecast

To further enhance electric delivery reliability, Con Edison said it has invested $1.2 billion for system improvements for 2012. This year's electric delivery improvements included $928 million for cables, transformers, and network protectors; $34 million on transmission upgrades; and $208 million on new substation installations and related equipment http://www.coned.com/summerprep.

The electric peak demand forecast for this summer in Con Edison's service area is 13,225 megawatts (MW), with a projected peak of 11,505 MW for New York City and 1,720 MW for Westchester County. The record peak -- 13,189 MW -- was set at on July 22, 2011 at 4 p.m. In-city power supplies are more than sufficient to meet the 83 percent in-city generation requirement.

Service area peak load is expected to grow at annual average rate of 1.2 percent over the next five years, or 160 megawatts per year, the equivalent to powering an additional 160,000 homes annually.

Energy-Saving Programs

Here are more details about Con Edison's energy efficiency programs:

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Yes, Summer's on the Way; Con Edison Reminds Customers to Save Energy

1:00 AM

By Keith Edwards kedwards@centralmaine.com Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- The new O'Connor Chevy, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealership building that opened Monday taps deep into the earth for its heat and cooling.

click image to enlarge

OConnor Chevy, Buick, GMC and Cadillac owner Randy Hutchins, left, explains the geothermal heating system he installed in the new 18,000-square-foot Augusta dealership to Gary Hammond during the grand opening on Monday. The auto business is heated and cooled by a climate control system, which uses 18 wells, up to 360 feet deep, drilled into the earth beneath the parking lot and building. Hamm

Staff photo by Andy Molloy

click image to enlarge

The new OConnor Chevy, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealership in Augusta held a grand opening on Monday.

Staff photo by Andy Molloy

* The new O'Connor Chevy, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealership is about 18,000 square feet and cost about $3 million to build, according to city permitting records.

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Geothermal system tapped for new building of O'Connor Group

Regulation has become a suspect word in the minds of many. But that's not the case with the historic new building efficiency standards approved unanimously by the California Energy Commission on Thursday.

The standards have been greeted with universal approval and appropriately so. The building industry, environmentalists and utility firms helped fashion the new rules and enthusiastically embrace them.

The new standards for residential construction are 25 percent more efficient than the ones they replace and 30 percent more efficient for commercial construction.

Under them, beginning in 2014, home builders will be required to fit new houses with solar ready roofs, more efficient windows, insulated hot water pipes and whole house fans among other common sense improvements.

Nonresidential buildings will also have to have solar ready roofs under the standards, employ cool roof technologies and install high performance windows that maximize the use of "daylighting,"

The new efficiency rules will add $2,290 to the cost of the average new home, adding $11 a month to a conventional 30-year mortgage but saving homeowners $27 on monthly heating, cooling and lighting bills for a net monthly gain of $16.

According to the Energy Commission, overall, the new standards for both residential and nonresidential buildings translate to 25 percent less energy use for lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation and water heating than the 2008 standards they replace and the avoidance of an additional 155,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

All in all, not a bad day for California regulators, for the environment and for consumers.

Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

What You Should Know About Comments on Sacbee.com

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Editorial: New standards will save dollars and megawatts

Prospect Hts. Elementary School Dist. 23 board members in the next two months will likely decide whether or not they will spend money on air conditioning school buildings throughout the district. Another option could see geothermal heating and cooling make its way to the district.

Board members on May 9 reviewed a list of priority maintenance projects that need to be done over the next one to three years along with what it would cost to install standard air conditioning units or a geothermal heating and cooling system.

If the board decides not to install any air conditioning, Dist. 23 estimates priority mechanical replacements will cost approximately $6.22 million. Replacements would include updating electrical mains for current and future loads, replacing various unit vents, replacing boilers at all four schools that have reached their end of life with energy efficient boilers, and replacing existing HVAC systems in a variety of classrooms.

If the board decides to add standard air conditioning to all Dist. 23 schools, the cost increases to approximately $10.54 million.

A third option is to replace all mechanical systems with geothermal heating and cooling for a total of approximately $10.67 million. That expense calls for $2.4 million in architectural items such as ripping up carpeting and tile, and tearing open ceilings to install the system.

If the district goes with geothermal, one room could be cooled while the room directly next door has the heat on. It also includes removing all boilers and unit vents.

In the next two weeks, the district is spending $10,000 to test a single HVAC bore field on the playing field behind MacArthur Middle School. The purpose of a test bore hole is to see how far down in the ground the district must drill to ensure the system works adequately at the right temperature. If the district decides to go with geothermal, another 175 holes would be dug near Eisenhower and MacArthur schools prior to the system being installed.

My recommendation is to go with geothermals because it is a very simple system, its much better for the environment, each teacher will have their own temperature control and energy costs will go down. Business Manager Luann Mathis said.

Mathis said the board would decide what direction they will go in July at the earliest.

Once they give us authority to move forward, we have to get approval to issue bonds to pay for the project, before we even ever go out for bid on the work, Mathis said, who doesnt anticipate going out for bid until January at the earliest.

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Dist. 23 Looks To Cool Down With Air Conditioning Options

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Gina Hinojosa lives in a Central Austin home built in 1936, which presents its challenges for the conscious mother of two always striving for efficiency in all aspects.

"But then it also has some advantages," she said. "The walls are really thick, so really, it keeps in some cool air. We updated a lot of the windows to keep it insulated. So really, in some ways, it is already energy-efficient."

Still Hinojosa said she does what she can around the home to make sure she's not being wasteful -- keeping lights off and consistently aware of the thermostat temperature.

Plus, the old home came with some big bonuses: tall trees that keep the lot and home shaded. That's something energy officials said is a great way to shield the sun from coming inside your house, especially if it's on the west side.

"It's already very hot, and ... when you save energy, you ultimately save money on your electric bill," said Austin Energy spokeswoman Leslie Sopko.

"There are some things, like the doors could be better sealed," said Hinojosa. "One thing I want to do -- and if I get around to it -- I would like to insulate the attic."

Hinojosa did that at the house she was in before, also an older home. And that was a big help during the summer.

"It cut down our [air conditioning] bills by about 20 percent," said Hinojosa. "Not only does it save money, but you feel better about not wasting that energy that you don't need to."

"Insulation is a real huge way to save energy inside of your home," said Sopko. "What Austin Energy has learned is that most older homes in Austin have little or no insulation."

In fact, the average home only has 4 inches of attic insulation. Sopko suggests you have 12- to 13 inches.

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Little tips can save you from big bills

by Conrad Wilson, Minnesota Public Radio

May 25, 2012

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BRAINERD, Minn. When people in Brainerd run the dishwater, or take hot showers, they not only use energy, they create it.

The water they use and the waste they flush down toilets all flows to the sewer, which not surprisingly can be a pretty warm place - and heat can generate energy.

Brainerd officials say that unconventional source of energy to heat holds huge energy potential for heating and cooling buildings, likely starting with the city police station and a school building.

Under the right conditions that could save the city, the Brainerd School District and residents money.

"Everybody heats water," said Scott Sjolund, technology supervisor for Brainerd Public Utilities. "That's potential energy that could be extracted."

The idea for the project comes from Brainerd-based Hidden Fuels, a company that has been creating a thermal energy map of the city. In 2009, the company began working with the city and the Brainerd School District to seek a $45,000 grant from the federal stimulus package.

In 2010, a team led by Peter Nelson a principal of Hidden Fuels, installed sensors in the city's sewers. For more than a year they measured the temperature and the amount of sewage running through them.

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Brainerd wants to tap sewers for energy savings