by RevContent | Sep 17, 2015 | Uncategorized
You might not think that the decorating choices you make can have an impact on your energy bill. The truth is, everything from your curtain selection to where you invest in landscaping can make a big difference come bill time. Add Window Dressings Choosing the right window dressings can keep your home cooler in the summer heat and warmer during the winter. Choosing heavier, darker drapes and keeping them closed during the heat of the day will shade your living space and keep it cooler. If you don’t like drapes, try blinds. In the winter, these same drapes can block cold drafts, giving your rooms a warmer, cozier feeling. Banish Carpeting Interior design trends these days lean toward removing carpeting from living spaces to improve aesthetics and resale value. Allergy and asthma sufferers also greatly benefit from installing wood floors over having carpet in the home. Carpet traps allergens, heat and humidity that would otherwise escape through the flooring of the home. Installing wood flooring has the additional benefit of keeping your home airy, breezy and cooler than those with traditional carpeting. Change Your Lighting Harsh overhead lighting is often unflattering and also adds several degrees to the temperature of the room. If you are trying to beat the heat, turn off the overhead lights and use smaller area lamps instead. These will provide enough light for reading or general activities without heating up the room on an already warm summer evening. Carefully Plan Landscaping Trees are nature’s first and best sun blockers. Large shade trees provide a place for kids to play in the grass, safe from the sun’s rays, but they also can shade your home and...
by RevContent | Sep 3, 2015 | Uncategorized
Over the past 28 years, developed countries have been working to reduce their production and consumption of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), which are known to deplete the ozone layer and contribute to global warming. The Montreal Protocol, which was signed in 1987, requires nations to achieve a certain percentage of progress towards the total phaseout of CFCs. Included in the soon-to-be-phased out CFCs is HCFC-22, also known as R-22, a colorless gas commonly used as a refrigerant. As of 2015, R-22 is no longer allowed to be installed in new air conditioners or HVAC systems. In fact, the production of R-22 will cease entirely at the end of 2019, and this can have an impact on your HVAC unit. What Can Consumers Do About the End of R-22? Between now and 2019, consumers don’t necessarily need to panic. The refrigerant is still available, and if an HVAC system should need recharging, your HVAC contractor can continue to use R-22 for that purpose. If your HVAC system needs replaced, however, then consumers should pay attention to the refrigerant that comes with the new device. In just a little over three years, R-22 will not be available. If you buy a new HVAC system that has R-22 installed in it and it needs repair, it may in fact need to be replaced because R-22 will not be available. It is important to point out that not all HVAC repairs require refrigerant. Many are simple part replacements that do not involve the condenser. HVAC and the Clean Air Act The HVAC and AC repair industry is switching from HCFCs to non-ozone depleting chemicals. The new poster child for HVAC...
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