An Environmental Upgrade That Makes Sense & 3 Reasons Why
Sometimes, there are upgrades that make sense and sometimes there are ones that are unnecessary. Spending hundreds to get a first class upgrade on a two-hour flight probably doesn’t make a lot of sense – there just isn’t a huge return on investment, as nice as it may feel to be in first class.
On the other hand, there are upgrades with huge benefits that you can start seeing right away. A great example of an upgrade like that is energy efficient climate control.
While some people focus on the upfront Air Conditioning costs of such an upgrade, there are benefits that you see right away and, in the long run, you may actually save yourself some green.
The Environmental Impact of Air Conditioning
While we’d never advocate for surviving the Maryland summers without any form of air conditioning, it is still important to understand the massive impact that air conditioning can have on the environment.
First off, during the summers, in particular, your HVAC system is very likely the number one consumer of energy in your entire house. It uses a ton of resources.
However, it doesn’t use those resources efficiently, creating waste (which, as you’ll soon see, also means wasted dollars). Also, air conditioners contribute to our carbon footprints, because they emit greenhouse gasses.
Lastly, in busy cities (like nearby Baltimore), air conditioners can discharge so much warm air that they create urban hot zones which can affect the weather pattern. Making the decision to go green can help alleviate all of these issues.
How You Can Save Money With an HVAC Upgrade
Believe it or not, you can start getting a return on your investment in an HVAC upgrade pretty quickly. There are a couple of factors that impact your long term costs.
Reduce the Upfront Cost: First, you can start saving money right from the outset. That’s because many state and local governments offer incentives to make the switch to energy efficient models because it reduces the energy resources required. These can come in the form of rebates or breaks on price which reduce the upfront cost.- The Cost Savings Are Immediate: You may think that the upgrade to a new system will only save a small amount of money. However, consider the fact that, according to a metric called annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE), older HVAC systems can waste 30% of the energy they use. As a comparison, the new systems waste less than 7% – meaning you see money savings on your monthly bill right away.
Most Importantly, Comfort & Efficiency is Top Notch
While helping the environment and saving money are both big positives, the most important thing is the assurance that your system will still keep your family comfortable. As technology has evolved, so too has the ability to control our indoor climate effectively.
Just one example is the development of variable speed motors in HVAC systems. Moving from systems which were either circulating air or they weren’t, these variable speed motors have many settings. These settings allow your house to get to your desired system faster and stay there more consistently.
If you have any questions about upgrading your system, call an expert at Heidler, Inc. by dialing (410) 268-7191 and we’ll be happy to help.
