Cooling

Cooling residential and commercial buildings in California typically draws 30% of the state's peak summer energy demand. Heating and cooling can account for more than 40% of a homeowner or business' annual energy bill.
 
By installing a new energy efficient central air conditioner in your home or business, you can dramatically reduce your annual cooling costs, save electricity and reduce smog causing emissions.
 
High-efficiency air conditioners usually contain one or more of the following technical improvements: High-efficiency compressors, variable-speed fans, high-efficiency motors, and improved heat exchangers.
 
 


Heating

There are a number of different methods for heating a home:
            Forced Air (common in California, usually natural gas)
            Heat Pump
            Radiant Heating
            Geothermal Heat Pumps
            Passive Solar
Replacing any older technology heating system with newer, more energy efficient models will reduce energy costs, and usually result in better performance.

Electric air-source heat pumps, often used in moderate climates, use the difference between outdoor air temperatures and indoor air temperatures to cool and heat a home. ENERGY STAR qualified air-source heat pumps have higher SEER and HSPF than standard models, which makes them about 20% more efficient than standard models.

Geothermal heat pumps use the relatively constant temperature of the soil or surface water as a heat source and sink for a heat pump, which provides heating and cooling for buildings. Ground-source heat pumps use a buried loop or coil of tubing to exchange heat with the soil in the yard. Geothermal Heat pumps are durable and require little maintenance, with most components located underground, away from the weather. ENERGY STAR qualified geothermal heat pumps use about 40 to 60% less energy than a standard heat pump, and are quieter than conventional systems.
 

Windows

Three major factors contribute to the overall energy characteristics of today's windows: how they are framed, the type of glazing that is used, and the type of fill in the air space.

Unless properly sealed, window frames can be a major source of air infiltration, literally bleeding the warmth and coolness out of your home.

The glazing of a window is responsible for the majority of heat loss and solar gain.  Low-emittance (Low-E) coatings can be applied to the glass, and are microscopically thin layers deposited on a window or skylight glazing surface primarily to reduce heat flow through the window. These coatings are applied during the manufacture of the glass, and it is not possible to apply them on-site after the windows are installed.
 
Check with your utility for rebates that may be available for installation of qualifying types of windows.

 
Insulation

A properly insulated home is energy efficient and quiet.  It is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.  Temperature swings are reduced.

Used as an alternative to traditional fiberglass insulation, cotton has benefits that include increased acoustic properties, as well as containing no potentially harmful byproducts. Cotton insulation is treated to resist pests, and is made from the scrap from blue jean manufacturing.
 
Check with your utility for rebates that may be available for installation of qualifying insulation installations.