Carney All Seasons Blog: Archive for the ‘Energy Savings’ Category

Dear Santa, Please Bring Me Some New Plumbing Accessories (Really!!)

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

When most people think of holiday gifts for their family, chances are they’re not considering…plumbing. But maybe it’s time to think again. Everyone uses toilets, sinks, and showers every day – which means that making improvements to your plumbing will make your entire family more comfortable, every day! The right plumbing upgrades can help your family enjoy mornings more, get fewer colds, savor great European style, and save money on utility bills (money that you can put towards that new car, or a dream vacation).

Plumbing upgrades are also a great green gift. They save water and energy, and they last for years – much better than cheap, disposable stuff that will just wind up in the landfill.

So, while we’re not necessarily recommending that you completely forget about jewelry, toys, and electronics, we do think you should consider adding plumbing improvements to your gift list.

Here are some suggestions for some great, relatively inexpensive plumbing improvements that your family will enjoy every day:

  • Insulate your hot water pipes, and put a blanket over your hot water heater. This is often touted as a money-saving measure (and it is) – but it has the wonderful side effect of making your water hotter as it comes out of your sink or shower. You can’t put this under the tree…but wouldn’t your family enjoy waking up to lovely warm showers on Christmas morning? This is a great gift if you’re strapped for cash, because the materials for insulating your pipes and heater are very inexpensive – the biggest part of the gift is a couple of hours of your time and effort. (Read our blog post on insulating your hot water pipes to find out how easy it is to do.) [Link to: http://www.milani.ca/blog/plumbing/prevent-frozen-pipes/]
  • Replace your old water-saving showerhead with one of the new-generation water-saving showerheads. Those old aerators were virtuous, but they can be chilly and a little prickly.  With the right new showerhead, you’ll never even know that you’re saving water – you’ll just feel like you’re in a luxury hotel. You can get a wide range of fun styles and functions, including rain showerheads, massage showerheads, you name it. (Pair a new showerhead with insulating your pipes to really kick your family’s shower experience up a notch!)

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Touch-Free Faucets: Green Plumbing That’s Fun and Easy!

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

One fun, high-tech, and relatively inexpensive way to go green is to install a touch-free faucet in your kitchen or bathroom. Touch-free faucets work on a very simple principle: when you’re not actively using them, they shut off. There are a lot of times when you leave a normal faucet on simply because your hands are full (i.e. when you’re washing something), or soapy. With a touch-free faucet, the water turns off during all these gaps in your actual water usage. According to industry estimates, the result can be a water savings of up to 70%.

Of course, most of us have encountered touch-free faucets in public restrooms, and they can be frustrating. You can end up waving your hands around wildly, hoping a faucet somewhere in the room will turn on, and then the water cuts off mid-stream, just when your hands are full of soap. However, new sensor technology is making touch-free faucets much easier to use. These sensors are “omni-directional”, meaning that when your hands are anywhere within a given radius around the tap, the water will turn on and stay on.

Top-of-the-line models can dispense filtered water for drinking, and one designer model has a digital LED screen that allows you to adjust the water temperature, fill a glass with drinking water, or dispense dishwashing detergent, soap, or even hand lotion – all by waving your hand in front of the desired function. Some models also have manual override, which enables you to push a button so that the faucet will stay on for a certain time period without shutting off, even if you move your hands away.

Alternatively, if you like your current faucet and want to keep it, you can add a touch-free faucet adaptor to your existing faucet. Adaptors start at about $50.

Touch-free faucets and adaptors are surprisingly easy to install – no more difficult than conventional faucets. They can be powered by an AC adaptor or batteries, so you can install them almost anywhere.

In addition to the water savings, there are other benefits to touch-free faucets as well:

  • Touch-free faucets are much easier to use than regular faucets – especially if your hands are dirty, soapy, or full.
  • Touch-free faucets are much more sanitary than conventional faucets. With conventional faucets, you turn them on with dirty hands, wash your hands carefully, and then immediately touch the dirty handles again to turn off the faucet.
  • Touch-free faucets allow you to set the water temperature precisely for improved comfort and safety.
  • Touch-free faucets are ADA compliant for people with disabilities.
  • Touch-free faucets are helpful for older people or small children who may forget to turn off the faucet when they are finished
  • Kids love touch-free faucets – no more arguments about hand-washing!

Touch-free faucets make your bathroom or kitchen look really cool and high-tech.

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Heating system rebates up to $3,500 – now through December 31st!

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

Have you taken advantage of the Federal Tax Credit yet?  What are you waiting for?  This is the FINAL MONTH to save thousands of dollars when you replace your old, less efficient home heating system with a new, energy saving, high efficiency heater!  If you replace your natural gas, propane gas or oil heating system with a qualifying system by December 31st the Federal Government is providing a tax credit up to $1,500!*

The year-end incentives don’t stop there!  In addition to the tax credit, manufacturer rebates of up to $1,000 on new heating systems and air conditioning systems are available now through December 31st.  Combine these two incentives and you’re saving up to $2,500 by simply having Carney Plumbing, Heating and Cooling replace your old, less efficient heater and air conditioner with a new, energy saving system.

In addition to the money you’re saving through the rebate offers, modern high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems save hundreds of dollars each year in energy usage and come with FULL 10 YEAR PARTS & LABOR WARRANTIES.
Call us today at 215.346.7160 to schedule your FREE, in-home consultation!  Don’t forget- these rebates are only available until December 31st.

The rebates don’t stop there!  We would like to offer you even more savings!  Carney Plumbing, Heating and Cooling now has a coupon allowing for an instant $400 off of your purchase of a new heater and air conditioner!  Click here for the coupon!

Finally, utility providers such as PECO and PP&L are offering rebates up to $700 for high efficiency furnaces, heat pumps and air conditioners.

Families across Pennsylvania are taking advantage of the Rebate Programs.

As you can see, the savings really add up if you act now, but this opportunity will not last!  Don’t wait until after December 31st to have your new heating system installed, because missing this deadline will cost you savings of up to $3,500!!!  Call Carney today to schedule your FREE in-home consultation and take advantage of these unprecedented incentives before the year is over and these offers expire!

*Consult your tax preparer for personal eligibility concerning tax credit.

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Rebates, Energy Savings, Gas Heaters, Green Living, Heat Pump Systems, Heat Pumps, Heating, Oil Heaters, PECO Rebates, PP&L Rebates, Rebates & Tax Credits, Tax Credits | Comments Off on Heating system rebates up to $3,500 – now through December 31st!

Plumbing Is Going Green! Start with Simple Upgrades to Your Faucets and Showerheads

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

When people talk about “green building”, they’re typically referring to energy-efficient heating and cooling appliances, insulated walls and windows, and sustainable materials. But these days “green plumbing” is getting increasing attention – and rightly so, because water consumption is a major factor in the environmental footprint of any building! The green plumbing movement is being led by drought-prone Australia, where it’s even possible for plumbers to earn a Green Plumbing Certification.

“Green plumbing” helps the environment by doing one or more of the following:

  • Saving water
  • Saving energy
  • Using environmentally-friendly materials

In the US, LEED Certification is becoming increasingly popular, which means that green plumbing systems are being installed in many new or substantially renovated buildings. But green plumbing improvements don’t have to be big and expensive. In fact, they start at under $20.

Over the course of the next few blog posts, we’ll look at a range of green plumbing upgrades – some that you can do yourself, and others that require professional assistance.

In this first post of our “Green Plumbing” series, we’ll look at the simplest and most affordable green plumbing upgrade you can make: installing low-flow faucet accessories and showerheads.

How do low-flow showerheads and faucet accessories work?

Low-flow showerheads and faucet accessories (often referred to as aerators, which is the most popular type) attach to existing fixtures. Normal-flow showerheads use about six to seven gallons per minute (GPM), and the water comes out at about 80 psi (lbs per square inch, a measure of pressure). Of course, if you try to use less water with a normal showerhead, the stream is flat and insubstantial – a very unsatisfactory shower experience. Low-flow showerheads solve this problem by forcing the water into a narrower opening, which reduces the amount of water that comes out, but maintains the pressure at 80 psi for a nice strong stream. (It’s like partially blocking the end of a hose with your thumb to increase the force of the water coming out – except that low-flow faucets and showerheads reduce the size of the stream only a little, just enough to maintain existing pressure with less water.)

Low-flow faucet accessories work the same way.

There are two different kinds of low-flow faucets and showerheads:

  • Aerating faucet accessories and showerheads mix air into the water stream for steady pressure. The steady stream sensation is very popular with consumers. However, mixing air into the water can lead to a reduction in water temperature, which can be a drawback for showers during the winter months.
  • Non-aerating faucet accessories and showerheads don’t mix air into the water, which results in a pulse-like rather than a steady-state stream. Not everyone likes the pulse effect, but those who do say it feels like a gentle massage. Non-aerating faucet accessories and showerheads maintain water temperature very well.

How can you tell if you need a low-flow faucet or showerhead?

The EPA standard for new residential lavatory (bathroom) faucets is 1.5 GPM (gallons per minute). Your current faucet may have an aerator on it already, and if it does, it will have the GPM stamped on the side. If the GPM of your existing aerator is greater than 1.5, you should upgrade to a new high-efficiency faucet aerator. If you don’t have an aerator, check to see if the inside of your faucet has threads (grooves) for an aerator to be screwed into it. If it does, install an aerator.

If you already have a low-flow showerhead, check the side of the showerhead to see if it has a flow rate of 2.0 GPM (the new EPA standard for showers). If you don’t already have a low-flow showerhead, you can test your shower to see if its flow rate is too high. Put a two-quart saucepan on the floor of the shower and position it in the middle of the shower stream. Turn the shower on at full pressure and count how many seconds it takes to fill the pan. If it takes fewer than 15 seconds, you would probably benefit from a high-efficiency showerhead.

How much water will a high-efficiency faucet or showerhead save?

It depends on how much water your sink or shower used before you installed the upgrade. The only way to know for sure is to check your utility bills over the next few months and compare them to the same time period during the previous year. If you want to feel good about your decision right away, you can get a rough estimate as follows: assume that your current showerhead uses 2.5 GPM (this is a very common flow rate for modern showerheads). A new 1.5 GPM showerhead will make your shower 40% more efficient. Use your utility bill to calculate 20% of your total water usage (this is the amount typically used for showering), then take 40% of that number. Multiply this by your cost-per-gallon, and you’ll have your savings!

How do I find high-efficiency faucet accessories and showerheads?

When you go to your local plumbing supply store, look for the EPA WaterSense label. This is the equivalent of the EnergyStar label, and all products bearing this label meet the new EPA water use guidelines.

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Geothermal – Get It Done Right!!!

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

As we wrote in last week’s blog post, everyone at Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is really excited about geothermal energy systems. But…geothermal only works well when it’s installed correctly. If it’s not, then the geothermal system you install could wind up being nothing more than expensive waste of money – and you might even end up using more energy than you did before, not less.

In this blog post, we’ll explain how we make sure that we install geothermal systems properly so that our customers enjoy maximum comfort and savings.

To explain the secret to a successful geothermal installation, first we should explain how geothermal systems work.Arrows and blocks

Although the temperature above the ground can vary widely from summer to winter, the temperature underneath the ground stays fairly constant all year round, thanks to the hot molten rock that underlies the earth’s surface. Depending on latitude, the level of volcanic activity in the area, and the depth at which the geothermal system is installed, the underground temperature can range from 45 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Geothermal systems use underground pipes, called a loop, that circulate fluid in a loop into your house and back under the ground. In the winter, the loop brings heat up from the ground into your house, where it is distributed throughout your house via ductwork. In the summer, the loop pulls the hot air out of your house and discharges it underground.

So, what’s the secret to a successful geothermal installation? The most important thing is to correctly calculate the load (i.e. the number of BTUs the system has to generate to keep the house comfortable). This will ensure that the geothermal loop, and the equipment that keeps the fluid moving in the loop, are properly sized. If a contractor has cut corners by making the loop and the circulation equipment too small, the system will not keep your home comfortable.

At Carney, we receive a couple of calls every month from worried homeowners who are not comfortable with the geothermal systems they’ve had installed by other companies. When a Carney technician goes to check it out, we almost always find that the loop and the equipment are not big enough to properly regulate the temperature of the home. Although the smaller loop may reduce the cost of the initial installation, this is a false savings. A homeowner will have to supplement an improperly functioning geothermal system with other means, or sacrifice comfort – and the home’s overall energy consumption might even go up, not down, as a result! At Carney, we call this “getting geothermal in name only”, and we’re always upset when we see homeowners who’ve had this happen to them.

So how do we make sure this never happens to our customers? We start by making sure that all our technicians are fully trained. In addition to mandatory training, we encourage our technicians to sign up for whatever additional training they want – on us.

We also take great care when we design our geothermal systems – in fact, we probably spend more time on design than we do on actual installation. We do all our load calculations by computer and by hand so that we are sure of our results. And we get as many different minds working on the design as possible – for example, we ask drillers to provide their own independent assessments to make sure they tally with ours.

Our philosophy when it comes to geothermal is, “You cannot cut any corners.” We make sure we don’t – we pay attention to all the details so that when your geothermal system is done, all you have to do is relax and enjoy it!

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Pennsylvania Home Heating Rebates!

Friday, August 20th, 2010

Effective August 2, 2010 – the second phase of the Pennsylvania Home Heating Rebate Program has enhanced the monetary rebates provided by the Commonwealth to homeowners who replace their current, less efficient home heating systems and water heaters with new high efficiency, energy saving models!  The new ceiling for natural gas, propane gas and oil heating systems is now $1,000 (a $500 increase over the previous amount)!  Additionally, the Commonwealth has increased the rebate for Energy Star Qualified water heaters to $250 for tank style water heaters and $300 for tankless water heaters!

Families across Pennsylvania are taking advantage of the PA Home Heating Rebate Program.

Families across Pennsylvania are taking advantage of the PA Home Heating Rebate Program.

Details on qualifying models, updates on the programs and other information can be found at the Pennsylvania Home Heating Rebate Qualifying Products Page.

Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling continues to install dozens of tankless water heaters and home heating systems that qualify for these rebates and the Federal Tax Credit (up to $1,500) every week!  These two rebates alone save homeowners $2,500 towards the replacement of their older, less efficient heaters.

BUT ACT NOW! As of August 20th, the funding for this program was nearly 1/3 exhausted, additionally – the Federal Tax Credit is scheduled to expire on December 31st and there are no current plans to extend it.  Call Carney today at 215.346.7160.

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Air Conditioner Rebates

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

From July 12th through July 31st, Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling will be offering an exclusive and instant rebate on air conditioning systems – up to $1,000!.
These rebates are very simple – Carney will deduct up to $1,000 on new air conditioning systems until July 31st.  These Carney rebates can be combined with the PECO Rebates, the PP&L Rebates and the Federal Tax Credit.  They can even be combined with the Carney Coupon for Energy Star rated Heating & Air Conditioning Systems (mention this blog post for combo with the coupon).  These systems are also eligible for 12 months interest free financing!

Modern Air Conditioners reduce energy consumption up to 25%.

Modern Air Conditioners reduce energy consumption up to 25%.

In total, select systems combine for up to $3,350 in rebates and credits from Carney, PECO or PP&L and the Federal government’s tax credit program!
Best of all – these systems brand new, state of the art high efficiency systems designed to also save you money on your heating and cooling costs for years to come – in most cases, up to 25%!  They also come with a full 10 year parts and labor warranty.

Call Lisa today at 215.346.7160 to schedule a free estimate that will save up to $3,350 on a new energy saving heating & air conditioning system.

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PECO Tax Credits?

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Over the past few months, we’ve had a lot of homeowners calling and emailing, inquiring about “PECO Tax Credits”.
PECO is not offering Tax Credits for air conditioners or heaters.

PECO air conditioner rebates and PECO heater rebates are available right now for customers who replace their air conditioning and heating system with higher efficiency models – up to $600! These PECO air conditioning and heating rebates can be combined with the Federal Tax Credit that homeowners can apply towards 30% of the cost of the installation (up to $1,500) of a new high efficiency air conditioning and heating system.DollarSign

The difference between the two programs is that PECO sends homeowners a direct rebate check following the installation of qualifying air conditioning and heating systems while the Federal Tax Credit for air conditioning and heating systems is applied to a homeowner’s Federal Tax returns – we always advise consultation with your tax preparer.

One thing that each of these programs have in common is that they are available for a limited time.
The Federal Tax Credit is set to expire at the end of 2010, and the PECO heating rebate is currently on schedule to exhaust funding sometime in September as we posted here earlier this month.  PECO has also reported the same regarding the limited opportunity for heater rebates.

Additionally, each of these programs are providing homeowners with an unprecedented opportunity to receive significant financial assistance towards the replacement of air conditioning and heating systems.  We have installed thousands of air conditioning and heating systems that qualify for PECO rebates in addition to the Federal Tax Credit, and we continue to advise consumers to take advantage of this opportunity – as this appears to be coming to a close within the next few months.

Call Lisa today at 215.346.7160 to schedule a free consultation to take advantage of these programs while they last.

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Heat Pump Replacement, Perkasie Bucks County

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling recently completed another heat pump replacement in Bucks County, PA!

A new heat pump system in Perkasie, Bucks County PA.

A new heat pump system in Perkasie, Bucks County PA.

The existing heat pump system in Perkasie had surpassed its useful lifespan.  Although it still functioned – it was costing the homeowners more to operate than it should have.
A Carney installation team installed a new high efficiency heat pump system that qualified for the Federal Tax Credit.  Because the new heat pump is so energy efficient, it also provided PP&L rebates for new heat pump systems.  These homeowners received nearly $3,000 in rebates and credits after installation and will see a reduction in heating and cooling expenses of at least 25%!
Call Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today at 215.346.7160 to see how you can benefit from the current rebates and tax credits that are still available for a limited time.

The comments below are feedback that this particular homeowner provided following this heat pump replacement.  As always, customer commentary is shared on our testimonials page.

Heat Pump Replacement, Perkasie PA

New system seems to be working fine and with yesterday’s 90s, nice. Am sure I’ll be playing with around with the options, adjusting functions etc. for awhile. Thanks for the info and sales help.

Also wanted to comment on Tuesday’s install. Chris and Matt did an outstanding job. What I’ve seen from the work Carney’s did at my in-laws former home and Tuesday’s install were field technicians who are meticulous, thorough, and have great attitudes. Too often you get service for whatever, you’re dealing with techs who seem to be just going through the motions, doing the jobs because the boss told them to. Nothing exceptional. The Carney staff treat you like its their own business at stake, want you totally satisfied and, to come back for more. I will definitely recommend Carney to others.  Thanks, John.

– John B, Perkasie, PA

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PECO Rebates

Friday, June 4th, 2010

As mild spring weather has quickly turned to summer heat, many homeowners in Bucks and Montgomery Counties have already decided to upgrade their older, less efficient central air conditioning systems with new Energy Star rated heating and air conditioning systems that reduce energy consumption and utility bills while providing years of trouble free relief and comfort inside your home.

Temperatures are rising in Bucks and Montgomery County!

Temperatures are rising in Bucks and Montgomery County!

The new PECO rebate program offers direct rebate checks to homeowners who replace their older, less efficient heating and air conditioning system with a modern and more energy efficient system.  Click here for more on heating system replacement or air conditioning system replacement,

In addition, these PECO rebates in Bucks County and Montgomery County (up to $700) CAN be combined with current manufacturer rebates (up to an additional $1,000) that are available through the end of June – as well as the Federal Tax Credit of up to $1,500 that expires at the end of 2010!

However, the PECO rebates for gas heating systems and the PECO rebates for air conditioning systems have limited funding.  In fact, the PECO heating rebates are currently expected to have exhausted funding by the middle of September.

Act now to take advantage of the PECO rebate program when you upgrade to an energy saving heating and air conditioning system.

As always, at Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we strive to provide a hassle-free experience – we’ll take care of all of the details and paperwork to make sure that you receive your PECO rebate as quickly as possible and without any need to fill out forms and paperwork.

Call Carney today at 215.822.9029 to take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity!

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