THE BATTLE OF THE HOME ENERGY SOURCES: GAS VS. ELECTRIC

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Article Found on BuilderOnline, written by Lydia Lee

Troon Pacific, a San Francisco–based developer of high-end residences, just put its latest project on the market: a $45 million, 9,500-square-foot house in the city’s Russian Hill neighborhood. The kitchen of this LEED Platinum-certified home has not one, but two cooktops: a 36-inch Gaggenau gas cooktop and a 15-inch Gaggenau electric induction cooktop. “Induction is the most sought after by chefs, because the heat can be so well controlled,” says Greg Malin, CEO of Troon Pacific. “But the market in the U.S. hasn’t quite broken out yet, so we have both, to let people choose how they want to cook and expand in the directions they want to. Read more

Warning: Learn These Home Heating Fire Hazards

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Article Found on Modernize

Heating your home with poorly maintained equipment is like playing with fire—sometimes quite literally! Even if you don’t have a fireplace with an open flame, you could be putting the safety of your home and family at risk. Especially if you slack off on monitoring the condition and performance of your heating systems. Read more

How Often Should You Have a Furnace Inspection?

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Article Found on AngiesList

Before the cold weather hits, experts recommend having a professional service your furnace to keep it in good running order and prevent it from conking out when you need it most.

HVAC experts say an annual furnace inspection and service will prolong the life of the system, save energy and decrease health risks.

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Savings DIY Project: How to Seal Air Leaks with Caulk

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Article Found on Energy.gov

Air leaks can waste a lot of your energy dollars. Whether leaks are letting hot air inside during the warmer months or letting in drafts during the cooler season, one of the quickest energy- and money-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal and weather strip all cracks and large openings to the outside. Air takes the path of least resistance, so you should aim to seal the big holes first. We’ve laid out some simple instructions for sealing most of these air leakage pathways — but if you’re sealing heating and cooling ducts, we suggest contacting contractor that’s familiar with the different air sealing methods often best done with ductwork.

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Humidifiers and HVAC: What You Need to Know

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Article Found on Modernize

Too cold at home? Turn the temperature up! While it’s easy to think of heating and cooling as a simple matter of measurements on the thermostat, the truth is that your home’s humidity (or lack thereof!) plays a huge role in how comfortable you wind up feeling.

It may sound a bit gross, but our body’s main cooling mechanisms use sweat—that is, the process of perspiration evaporating off our skin. Each water droplet takes away a tiny amount of heat when it dries. If there happens to be a good breeze going, it speeds up the process so you can cool off even faster. Read more

How Your Home’s Foundation Affects Heating and Cooling Costs

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Article Found on Modernize

When most of us talk energy efficiency, we’re thinking about the things inside the home: the washer and dryer that could stand to use a little less energy, or the heating unit that’s been hanging around since the 90s. And these projects certainly make a difference—for instance, a higher rated HVAC system can save homeowners over $115 a year on their annual heating and cooling costs.

But the truth is that your home’s structure plays a big part in your energy use, as well. Read more

How Do Air Conditioners Work?

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Article Found on Modernize

Air conditioners are home appliances used to cool or condition the air inside of your home. They work the same way a refrigerator works to preserve your perishable food items. The difference between the two is that instead of cooling an insulated box, an air conditioner cools the air contained within the walls of your home or business.

An air conditioning system utilizes a chemical called refrigerant to cool your home. The air conditioning components work in unison by converting the refrigerant from a liquid to a gas to a liquid again through the process of evaporation.

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HOME ZONING: THE CURE FOR THE COMMON (AND UNCOMFORTABLE) HOME

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Article Found on MitsubishiComfort

What if an electrician came to your home and rewired your house so that all of the lights were turned off and on at the same time using a single switch? Most homeowners would show that electrician the door. However we still use that same impractical and inefficient concept for cooling and heating our homes. A single thermostat controls the temperature for the entire house, leaving some rooms cold, some rooms hot and some rooms in a constant state of flux. Read more

9 Simple Ways to Keep Cool During Hot Weather

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Cooling During Summer Heat

Article Found on MitsubishiComfort

Hot weather is not only uncomfortable, it’s bad for your health.

Fortunately, you can maximize comfort and save on cooling costs during even the hottest weather by developing wise habits. Start with these nine tips to keep cool: Read more

TOO HOT, TOO COLD, OR JUST RIGHT? Ductless vs. Central Heat

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damar ductlessArticle Found on MitsubishiComfort.com

HVAC aficionados aside, most of us aren’t too concerned, or thrilled, with our furnace’s inner workings—at least until something goes wrong, when that mysterious ka-thunk in the basement could transform a perfectly relaxing evening into a one-way conversation with a blower fan.

Knowing how your system works gives you a leg up on maintenance and repair. And it may even keep you sane. Depending on how your current system fares, you may even choose to upgrade or replace your system entirely.

In this article, we’ll explore the mysterious inner workings of two popular solutions: central heating, specifically furnaces, and ductless units—the new kid on the block. Read more