To combat the rise in heating costs, the
Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute is asking consumers to
take a pledge.
AHRI, in collaboration with the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers,
the Edison Electric Institute, the U.S. Energy Association and North American
Technician Excellence, has launched the Two Degree Pledge initiative. The
pledge offers steps homeowners can take to achieve lower energy bills through
greater energy efficiency.
“The Two Degree Pledge urges consumers to think about their heating system
efficiency now, before the winter heating season,” said AHRI President Stephen
Yurek. “With just a couple degrees of change, such as installing a programmable
thermostat and setting the thermostat a few degrees higher when they leave the
house for the day, homeowners can simply and significantly reduce their energy
costs, without compromising their comfort.”
Because residential heating and cooling can account for up to 50 percent of
total energy bills during the winter months, the campaign calls on homeowners
to contact a heating professional to have their heating system serviced and
optimized for efficiency and comfort.
Central, forced-air systems that are improperly installed or maintained can be
up to 50 percent less efficient than they should be. In fact, more than half of
all heating systems in U.S. homes do not perform to their rated efficiency as a
result of improper installation, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
“It is time that we as a nation address the efficiency loss that occurs when
heating and cooling equipment is not installed correctly, maintained properly,
or used wisely,” Yurek said. “The nation will never reap the energy savings
more efficient equipment can deliver if we don’t address these three issues as
soon as possible.”
To save more energy, the campaign encourages consumers to change filters, seal
ducts and windows, and insulate walls. These steps can result in savings of up
to 20 percent on energy bills, AHRI officials said.
Consumers can learn more about the pledge and make their commitment official by
signing up atwww.2degreepledge.org. The Web site includes tools
and calculators to help homeowners determine if an upgrade to a more efficient
heating or cooling system makes sense for them. It also features maintenance
and quality installation checklists to review with their heating and cooling
system technician or contractor to make sure their system’s performance is
optimum for efficiency and comfort.
Associations team up to educate homeowners
November 1, 2008
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