Solar Tax Credit? really? what about existing waste...

Well the voters have spoken.... "Solar" get tax exempt status...
How many people plan on doing a solar project? What does it cost?
Will is  "pull its own weight" in the energy savings arena? What is the projected payback?
many many questions...
I have one... Why don't we focus on the energy waste that nearly every home has due to duct leakage & increased power & Utility costs, for the consumer & producer?
Bring back credits for insulation, HVAC energy improvements, like duct sealing & air sealing and tightening of the building envelope...

We have so much waste right now existing in the current housing stock, but yet our legislators and power brokers that are subject to the influence of special interest want to focus on programs that are "pie in the sky" returns and defacto failures for the recent past.. remember Solyndra?  where did that half a billion dollars go to?
With half a billion dollars applied to tax credits for home energy improvements, that we had as recently at 2008 & 2009 (from the previous administration, I might add) we could infuse the  local economy with consumer dollars saved from reduced power bills each & every month... in the areas where the work is done, the job is produced & the power grid and its environmental effects are reduced...
Imagine tighter duct systems, better, more efficient heating & cooling, better insulation and reduced demand for power during peak hours...
I don't want a mandate, just give the people the incentive to reduce their energy costs by reducing their energy consumption

Lots of people want to tax incentivize solar, but does the general public realize that for a typical $10,000 solar project, you could get significantly higher energy and comfort impact for a infinitesimal fraction of the cost of solar project; consider how much improvement you could have with a  $500-$1000 investment in the above listed energy improvements.
I guess that air sealing & duct sealing is just not SEXY enough on the political / special interest agenda

The Right Fluff

 Ok, picture this,

the attic is recently blown full of fiberglass insulation and you are happily waiting for the lower power bills for the next couple of summer months, Did you have all the duct work tested & sealed before you did that? What about your aluminum wiring or possibly the pex or polybutylene plumbing joints that are leaking all over the country?  Maybe even the cable guy or security system guys have to go up there…Did you get that work done first?  The Key to insulation is that its fluffed up for maximum R-value , if somebody has to work in your attic after you’ve insulated, then the new stuff is going to be all matted down & not worth a hoot…so much for your R-49 insulation project.

If you have dust issues or high power bills you should get a test of the duct or building envelope before you insulate, these issues can be way more costly than the benefit you will get from insulation. Don’t get me wrong Insulation is very important… but timing is everything!!!

So figure out what you might need done in the attic, schedule the inspections, & estimates, work, testing, etc. etc., and set a plan in motion; if it takes a year, then It takes a year… no big deal, However, here is what you should be thinking about before insulation…

 Duct Leaks ~ Do you have excessive Dust or Hot & cold rooms?  This is important because it indicates that there may be an issue in a specific part of the house or with the ducts in the attic. 

  High Utility bills ~ Just do a review of last Summer’s bill & see if it went way up, if you are on level-pay, look at your actual electricity usage  or consumption, If you have high power bills it could be that you need insulation or duct sealing.

Get the right kind of fluff!!!! Don’t have somebody crawling thru you new insulation job because you got out of sequence on your energy upgrade… If you need help with a project plan

Call us at (850) 677-0020

Remember, for our area Gulf Power recommends  R-49 insulation & the code is R-39 on new construction at a minimum…

  So Get Your Fluff Right!

 Go to our website for more Health, Comfort & Energy tips

www.gulfcoastaircare.com

or E-mail Todd@gulfcoastaircare.com

Made In America

Here at Gulf Coast Air Care we sell mostly Labor, but we do pride ourselves on all of it being "Made in America"
Watch the video & look at the impact of being conscientious about our "National Pride" and all the issues revolving around the Made in America ideas.
We strive to be nationalistic in our endeavors because... like Donald Trump said recently "who is negotiating or watching out for American interests"... like Commerce, Foreign Trade and Economic Equality?

Here is the link to an ABC News story that will do our country some good when the idea catches on!!
Made in America Video
http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/0_04vzdsr5/uiconf_id/5590821

NW FL in Late Summer...time for the Home & Products Expo

Well for Pensacola that can only mean  one thing,  time for the Home & Product Expo!

What is all the hype?
Well only that you get a chance to talk to a bunch of vendors at one time.
The companies that expend the extra money & effort to participate in these kind of events are the companies that will  do a great job when you hire them for a project.  Plus, they must meet the high standards & ethics of the local HBA to participate in the show.
Here's the scenario, you have been thinking about an upgrade... Kitchen, Bath, Energy Efficiency or Comfort project...Whatever it is.
For a couple of days (19-21 August 2011, actually) you have the opportunity to talk to some very qualified contractors & merchants who are on display,  they have put their best foot forward  for their trade or niche and you can look at all they offer in just a couple hours.  This is a great opportunity to work out the details of what you want & how to get it done.  Not to mention, you can usually get a discount, or added value extra in conjunction to the show special, that most of these companies offer.  In this economy there are two ways to look at it; 1) money is tight and you may need to really watch your budget or 2) hey these guys are willing to do all kind of extras and include add-ons just to have the work.  So if you have the resources, now is a great time to schedule a project.
Listen, Summer is coming to a close in a few weeks and now is the time; there is no better opportunity to work out the details than when all the good contractors are all together under one roof.
Just call  the company you're thinking of, I'll bet  they even have some free tickets to give away to get into the show.  For tickets from us, go to www.gulfcoastaircare.com & send us an Email or use the contact tab to call the office... we've got tickets too.

Weatherization - for Summer?

Weatherization- you think of winter- but here on the Gulf Coast we don't have a rough Winter-
We need to weatherize for Summer
Hot weather is coming & we need to think about all those Gaps, Cracks & Holes before it gets too hot & all that humidity comes pouring in again.
There is a test to see how bad your home leaks and your duct work too!!
The "blower door test" is done with a small negative pressure to identify the problem.
simple, painless & inexpensive. When you have test results you have knowledge!
Knowledge is power!
for more info go to- www.gulfcoastaircare.com