Green Air, Inc.

How Green is Your Air?

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:44:50 +0000

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, allergies are the leading cause of chronic disease in the US. Indoor air quality can have a tremendous effect on quality of life, yet it’s often overlooked as a priority, because it lacks aesthetic value. People worry more about keeping visible surfaces of their homes clean, but think about it…how often does your body come in contact with those bookshelves that you dust or the floor that you scrub?…meanwhile your lungs literally are in contact with the air in your home with every breath. We have a very intimate relationship with the air we breathe; our very lives are dependent upon it.

There are some simple methods of preventing allergens from proliferating in the home, that will also, coincidentally, keep your HVAC system cleaner and more efficient. The first, obviously, is investing in, and frequently changing, good quality air intake filters throughout your home. If you have an allergy sufferer in your house, you should do this monthly, especially during the spring and fall.

Separate air purification systems are also an option that is becoming more popular. These units vary in effectiveness, however, so it’s important to do your homework before you buy. These units can eliminate particles, like pollen and dander, microbes like viruses and mold, and some even filter out gasses like cooking odors, exhaust fumes, and smoke.

Humidity levels impact everything in your home, as well as your lung function. Too much humidity can result in the growth of dangerous molds, fungi and mildew; but too little adversely impacts your health by drying out your skin and respiratory tract.

If there are young children, elderly persons, allergy sufferers or asthmatics in your home, it makes sense to consider taking steps to improve your indoor air quality before allergy season this year. If you have concerns about how your indoor air quality measures up, give us a call. We’d be happy to provide you with an evaluation and discuss your best options for making your home more a comfortable place to breathe!

A Spiritual Incentive for Going Green

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:18:07 +0000

Recently this came through my email box as a daily devotion and I thought it was worth sharing. The author is David Wilkerson. If you should feel led to sign up for his emails, (they are a daily source of positivity and spiritual guidance for me and many others) you can do so at his website . I hope that it solidifies your desire to care for our environment through your ordinary daily acts of living.

I was led to read and study Revelation 9, the chapter on the locusts. As I read verse 4, about God’s command to the locusts not to destroy anything green, a thought leaped out at me.

I realized that here was the key to remaining safe in any time of terror: “stay green.” David wrote, “I am like a green olive tree in the house of my God…for ever and ever” (Psalm 52:8).

The “green” that David refers to here signifies spiritual health. It means to flourish, grow, be fruitful. David is telling us, “My health comes from trusting God. I flourish because I turn to him. My trust in him produces spiritual life in me.”

Here is a glorious truth about the power of staying green. “Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited” (Jeremiah 17:5-6).

The Lord is warning, “Don’t trust in man. If you put your faith in human power rather than in me, you’ll be cursed.”

Yet, if we put our trust in the Lord, here is what our faith will produce: “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit” (17:7-8).

As we trust wholly in the Father, we put down roots in his river of health. And his divine strength—luscious, green, spiritual health—flows in us and through us. While everything around us is decaying, we’ll flourish as green trees, healthy and strong. And when the hour of trial comes, we won’t languish or wilt. Instead, our faith will be growing.

Are Energy Star Ratings Reliable?

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:25:02 +0000

According to a recent article from the New York Post, an internal audit at the Energy Department has recently confirmed findings first reported by the consumer advocacy group Consumer Reports. Controversy is swirling around the Departments’ Energy Star Ratings for consumer goods. Critics allege, (and Consumer Reports testing labs conclusively proved) that information provided by some manufacturers about their product’s energy usage doesn’t hold up in real-world applications. Some products energy useage during testing was as much as 40% higher than indicated on Energy Star labeling. Further, in some categories, Energy Star ratings are written in such broad terms as to be virtually all-inclusive. When every compact flourescent lightbulb, for example, qualifies for the Energy Star rating, there’s no real way for consumers to gauge the efficiency of competing products.

The Energy Department is currently reviewing standards and revisons are expected soon. But in the meanwhile, what is a consumer to do if Energy Star ratings are not to be trusted?

I have a few recommendations. For some products, like appliances, newer models are generally more energy efficient than older ones. One of the best ways a consumer can ensure they get the most bang for their energy bucks is to closely match their needs with the capabilities of the product in question. Don’t buy- or use- more product than you need. If you can use a toaster oven for your child’s chicken nuggets, why heat up a six burner professional quality range? If you’re a two person household whose professional wardrobe is mostly drycleaned, it makes no sense to run a large capacity commercial quality washer and dryer. Another upside to this strategy is that generally you will save money both on the purchase and the usage of the product.

Another tip is to do your homework. Learn about technologies and companies producing them when considering a purchase. Are there improvements on the horizon that would be worth waiting for? Talk to real people about their experiences with products you are considering. Go online and read reviews, and ask for real, local references from contractors. These are people whose useage of the product or system in question (replacement windows or HVAC systems for example) may closely mirror what you are likely to experience since they will be dealing with similar environmental conditions and energy bills.

Thirdly, consumers can do a simple study of their own habits and energy useage to determine where they can trim the fat so that they rely less on Energy Star ratings overall. Replacing a rooms worth of lightbulbs with compact flourescents; using rechargeable batteries in your kids’ christmas toys, sealing drafts throughout your home, driving less, keeping your thermostat lower, reducing your use of disposable consumer goods and unplugging all electronics when not in use can reduce your consumption and your carbon footprint more than buying only Energy Star certified products ever will. Common sense and conscious living can never be replaced by government labeling, no matter how stringent the standards.

Energy Saving Tips!

admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:58:21 +0000

- Lower the thermostat to 68. Be sure to lower the thermostat when you are away from home for more than 8 hours. These two are the number one way to save energy in your home this fall and winter.

- Check and clean your air filters regularly- at least every three months. (It’s also a good idea to test/ change the batteries in your smoke detectors whenever you check your air filters!) If you are not sure how to do this, give us a call!

- In the warm weather, keep shades closed. 40% of unwanted heat comes from windows and is working against your air conditioner.

-In colder months, consider using inexpensive window sealing film treatments on older, leaky windows; and keep drapes on South facing windows open to take advantage of radiant heat on sunny days.

-Insulate your hot water heater and first six feetof hot water pipes to reduce heat loss.

- Install ceiling fans. Make sure that the fans are blowing up, circulating warm air thoughout the room, during the winter; and reverse them in the spring to direct airflow against your body.

- Run appliances with large energy use late in the evening, as often, electricity is less expensive in “off-peak” hours .

- Use cold water to wash your dishes and clothes.

- Unplug any appliances, chargers, and computer and electronic equipment when not in use. They all use energy, even when turned off.

- Along with using CFL bulbs or LED bulbs, be sure to turn the lights off when you are not using them. Motion detectors on outdoor lights keep them from using unnecessary energy.

-Adjust the temperature settings on your hot water heater to no higher than 120 degrees F.

- Promptly repair leaky faucets- a hot water drip can waste gallons of precious hot water per week.

- Clean registers and baseboard grilles regularly and keep them well clear of blockages by furniture and carpeting.

-Hang clothes to dry in warm weather whenever possible.

Save on your Heating Bill

admin — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 05:17:05 +0000

During the winter months it becomes especially important to conserve energy and save money on our heating bills. Below are a few short resources to help with this.

The fastest way you will lose heat is through leaking doors, windows, fireplaces, attics, crawl spaces, basements. Check for cracks and insulate these areas as best you can. Check your doors weather stripping. Use caulk on your window sills.

A programmable thermostat is another great way to save energy. Residents within the city are offered a rebate for doing so. Keeping the temperature lower at night and when nobody is home will make your heat more efficient and cost effective. Call us anytime for a consultation on installing a new thermostat.

Installing a new and efficient water heater will save you hundreds of dollars in the long term, but if you are trying to conserve cash with an older water heater be sure to insulate it with a blanket. Keep the temperature at 120 degrees. Insulate your hot water pipes coming out of the hot water heater, and the pipes leading to the sinks in your house.

These are all ways to help in the short term, but if you own your home it is best to plan for the long term. Efficient heat pumps, solar heat pumps, programmable thermostats, updating hot water heaters, and re-insulating your home are all the best way to handle your heating issues. Call us to find out what is the best solution for your home. We can upgrade current equipment or install a brand new solution. With federal tax credits for all of the above home renovations, now is the time to take advantage of the possibilities.

Here are some helpful links:

US Department of Energy

The Alliance to Save Energy

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Tax Credit Update – Geothermal Heating and Cooling

admin — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 04:58:08 +0000

“Homeowners who install geothermal heating and cooling systems are now eligible for federal tax incentives under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009…”

The new bill, signed into law on Feb. 17, 2009, removes the previous cap of a $2000 credit and offers homeoweners the entire 30% (of installation costs) tax credit.

Get in touch with us today and found out how you can save with Geothermal Heating and Cooling!