In order to get the most out of your high efficiency Westinghouse Water Heating product, it is important that a licensed professional installs it. Proper installation means that it will run smoothly - saving energy and money. Below are 10 tips from Energy Star on hiring a heating and cooling contractor. 

1. Study up — Find out about license and insurance requirements for contractors in your state. And before you call a contractor, know the model of your current system and its maintenance history. Also make note of any uncomfortable rooms. This will help potential contractors better understand your heating needs.

2. Ask for referrals — Ask friends, neighbors, and co-workers for contractor referrals. You can also contact local trade organizations for names of members in your area.

3. Call references — Ask contractors for customer references and call them. Ask about the contractor's installation or service performance, and if the job was completed on time and within budget.

4. Find special offers — A heating and cooling system is one of the largest purchases you'll make as a homeowner. Keep your costs down by checking around for available rebates on energy-efficient ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling equipment. Begin your search at www.energystar.gov.

5. Look for ENERGY STAR — ENERGY STAR qualified products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and offer significant long-term energy savings. Contractors should be able to show you calculations of savings for ENERGY STAR heating and cooling equipment.

6. Expect a home evaluation — The contractor should spend significant time inspecting your current system and home to assess your needs. A bigger system isn't always better; a contractor should size the heating and cooling system based on the size of your house, level of insulation, and windows. A good contractor will inspect your duct system (if applicable) for air leaks and insulation and measure airflow to make sure it meets manufacturers specifications.

7. Get written, itemized estimates — When comparing contractors' proposals (bids), be sure to compare cost, energy efficiency and warranties. A lowest price may not be the best deal if it's not the most efficient because your energy costs will be higher.

8. Get it in ink — Sign a written proposal with a contractor before work gets started. It'll protect you by specifying project costs, model numbers, job schedule and warranty information.

9. Pass it on — Tell friends and family about ENERGY STAR. Almost one-quarter of households knowingly purchased at least one qualified product last year, and 71% of those consumers say they would recommend ENERGY STAR to a friend. Spread the word, and we can all make a big difference.

10. Get the ENERGY STAR Guide — For complete information on keeping your home comfortable year-round, get the ENERGY STAR Guide to Energy Efficient Cooling and Heating en espanol — Guía para la Eficiencia de Energía en la Calefacción y el Aire Acondicionado 

 

(Original article: https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_contractors_10tips)

Check out these tips from Energy Star on decreasing your energy costs in the fall. 

Make this year’s fall season also represent a fall in energy costs.  Start now with these heating tips from ENERGY STAR.  Enjoy lower energy bills compared to last year, increased comfort, plus that warm feeling that comes from knowing you’re helping reduce the emissions that contribute to climate change, making a difference in the environment for your family and generations to come. 

1. KEEP THE COLD OUT AND THE WARM IN

Sealing air leaks found around outer walls, windows, doors, etc. and adding insulation can save you up to 20% on your heating bills. Simple fixes include installing weather stripping on doors and caulking around windows. Bigger jobs might include sealing leaks and adding insulation. 

A good place to start is to check your attic insulation level. A good rule of thumb is that if the insulation level is just up to the top of the attic floor joists, you have less than half the recommended insulation levels for most locations in the U.S. Learn how measuring and improving your attic insulation can help you “Rule Your Attic!” this winter.

2. HEAT YOUR HOME EFFICIENTLY 

Maintaining your HVAC system can save you big on your utility bills and your comfort. As much as half your home energy bill goes to heating and cooling.

• Check your furnace’s air filter once a month, especially during the heavy-use months of winter. A dirty filter slows air flow, making the system work harder which wastes energy. If it’s dirty, clean or replace it. At a minimum, clean or replace it every three months.
• Sealing and insulating air ducts, especially those in your attic or crawlspace, helps keep the heat where you want it and can improve your HVAC system’s efficiency by as much as 20%.
• Consider a yearly professional tune-up of your HVAC system.
• If you need to replace your HVAC system, ask your contractor about ENERGY STAR certified units. And make sure that your new energy-efficient unit is properly installed for maximum savings. 

 

3. PROGRAM FOR SAVINGS 

If you do not yet have a programmable thermostat, you need to get one – and then program it for savings.

• All you have to do is set it up to match your schedule. This way you avoid heating your house when you don’t need to, saving you about $180 a year! To maximize savings without sacrificing comfort, program your thermostat to lower the heat by 8 degrees F or more when you’re away from home or asleep. It’s just that easy. Check out this video for more information on programming for savings. 

4. MAKE "BRIGHT" CHOICES FOR LIGHTING 

Choose ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs.

• Many of us have heard about the outstanding energy efficiency provided by LED lighting. But LED bulbs are not all the same when it comes to performance. To get the energy efficiency and performance you expect, look for the ENERGY STAR label. LED bulbs that earn the label are independently certified to ensure they deliver on brightness and color, and shine light where you want it. Check out these videos to see what we mean. ENERGY STAR LED lighting comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles for all your home needs, including light strings for the holidays. 

 

5. SAVE ENERGY WHILE ENJOYING FOOTBALL SEASON

You can even save energy and money while sitting on the couch with an ENERGY STAR certified TV!

• A home equipped with TVs, set-top boxes, a Blu-ray player and a home theatre in a box that have earned the ENERGY STAR, can save more than $280 over the life of the products – that can really help make a difference on your energy bill – especially during the season when you’ll be spending plenty of time watching your favorite teams.
• If you’re streaming video, laptops and tablets use the least amount of energy. If you are using another device, like a Blu-ray player, choose equipment that has earned the ENERGY STAR.
• And, don’t forget, holiday season is right around the corner and the best gifts do great things. ENERGY STAR electronics, including TVs, sound bars, speaker docks, computers, printers, monitors, cordless phones, and more, make great gifts. But the best gifts are also good for the environment. ENERGY STAR certified electronics go beyond the latest features and functions to deliver great energy efficiency.

 

(Original Article: https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=globalwarming.showHeating) 

With the recent heat wave and extreme humidity we've been getting, we thought this article by NextStepLiving.com would be perfect for our readers: "Beat the heat without breaking your wallet." Happy reading! 

Let’s face it, energy can be expensive. This time of year, your cooling bills can be nearly half of your utility bill. Don’t despair. There are so many effective and affordable ways to address high utility bills even in the summer heat. Our latest home energy advisor of the month Zak Elgart lays out his top tips for saving money and energy during the dog days of summer:

Turn up the heat. When it comes to staying cool, your comfort is important, but so is your home cooling bill. For the sake of your wallet, it’s important to determine how many degrees you can raise your home’s overall temperature and still stay comfortable. Every additional degree you can handle means more money back in your pocket. And every time you turn it down, that’s money you won’t see again. We don’t want you to bake in the heat, but if your home feels like a meat locker, consider turning up your thermostat a few degrees and see how you feel.

One room at a time. When it comes to air conditioning, don’t waste your energy or money to cool the rooms you don’t spend time in. It’s not worth it. Close the doors and keep the cool air in the areas you use most, like your bedroom. A ductless mini split can help you with room-by-room cooling, but so can well-placed AC units and fans. Just be sure to shut it all off before you leave the room.

(Original article and picture from: http://www.nextstepliving.com/blog/advisor-answers-how-beat-heat-without-breaking-your-wallet) 

Do you ever find yourself freezing in your office during a hot summer day? Many women do. In fact, many women bundle up in sweaters and cardigans during the summer to get through their work day. Men however, walk around in t-shirts and seem to be comfortable. A recent NY Times article explains why this happens every summer! 

"Finally, scientists (two men, for the record) are urging an end to the Great Arctic Office Conspiracy. Their study, published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change, says that most office buildings set temperatures based on a decades-old formula that uses the metabolic rates of men. The study concludes that buildings should “reduce gender-discriminating bias in thermal comfort” because setting temperatures at slightly warmer levels can help combat global warming." 

We at Westinghouse Water Heating found this article very interesting, as we are always arguing about the office temperatures. Read the full article here and let us know what you think! 

 

(Photo from NY Times article)

In honor of National Water Quality Month, we have gathered some information on the quality of your public water systems. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed health issues related to water quality. The CDC also explains how contaminants get into your drinking water and whether or not your water is safe to drink. -- 

Public Water Systems

What type of health issues can be related to water quality?

The presence of certain contaminants in our water can lead to health issues, including gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders. Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised persons may be especially at risk for becoming ill after drinking contaminated water. For example, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Federal law requires that systems reduce certain contaminants to set levels, in order to protect human health.

 

How do I know that the water in my home is safe to drink?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for making sure that public water supplies within the United States are safe. In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law sought to protect the nation’s public drinking water supply by giving EPA authority to set the standards for drinking water quality and oversee the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement those standards. In 1986 and 1996, the law was amended to protect drinking water and its sources, which include rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells.

 

How do contaminants (germs and chemicals) get into my drinking water?

There can be many sources of contamination of our water systems. Here is a list of the most common sources of contaminants:

• Naturally occurring chemicals and minerals (for example, arsenic, radon, uranium)
• Local land use practices (fertilizers, pesticides, livestock, concentrated animal feeding operations)
• Manufacturing processes
• Sewer overflows
• Malfunctioning wastewater treatment systems (for example, nearby septic systems)

Many contaminants that pose known human health risks are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA makes sure that water meets certain standards, so you can be sure that high levels of contaminants are not in your water.

 

Who do I need to contact to find out more information about water quality in my area?

Every community water supplier must provide an annual report, sometimes called a Consumer Confidence Report, or "CCR," to its customers. The report provides information on your local drinking water quality, including the water's source, contaminants found in the water, and how consumers can get involved in protecting drinking water.

• View the CDC's guide to Understanding Consumer Confidence Reports
• See if your CCR is posted online (United States Environmental Protection Agency Local Drinking Water Information)

 

How often does our public water system test our drinking water?

Frequency of drinking water testing depends on the number of people served, the type of water source, and types of contaminants. Certain contaminants are tested for more frequently than others, as set forth by the Safe Drinking Water Act. You can find out about levels of regulated contaminants in your treated water for the preceding calendar year in your annual Consumer Confidence Report(CCR).

(Original Article: http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/drinking-water-faq.html)