Total Energy News and Insights

Programmable thermostats help to save on energy while keeping you comfortable. I can remember the first day moving into my house growing up as a kid, I was in the second grade and it was February. I noticed the dial type thermostat and thought it's cold I'd much rather wear shorts than long pants.  I decided to turn the temperature to 90 degrees, about 15 minutes later my Dad made comment about it being really hot in the house. To this day a good 15-20 years later that same dial thermostat is there on the wall ready to be turned to 90 degrees. Modern thermostats, like the programmable one that is in my apartment allow me to set different temperatures for different times of the day. One right as I go to bed, wake up, go to work, and come home from work. On the weekends it is a little less defined but goes along the same principle, I have options and energy saving abilities that my parents dial thermostat doesn't have.  While I'm away from my apartmen...

Home Comfort starts with the right equipment for your needs and your home. What does it mean to have home comfort, we'll be talking about how to achieve this through your heating and cooling equipment.  Home comfort from an energy standpoint should be viewed through this question, are you comfortable in your home all year around? If you're warm enough in the winter time but maybe paying more than you think you should you're not comfortable. Choosing to sweat in the summer instead off turning on the AC because of the electric bill is a perfect example of not having home comfort in more ways than one. So how can you be comfortable during the winter and summer without breaking the bank, first look at how old your equipment is. If your heating system is more than 20 years old you should consider a new boiler or furnace. Air conditioning systems that are 7 years or older should be replaced. Mini-split air conditioners are much more energy efficient than window units and o...