Many people wonder how much it costs to add additional insulation in their attic, and also wonder how much they need in order to bring their attic to a good R-value. The first place to start is to understand what R-value means to begin with.

What is R-value?

R-value is a measure of resistance to heat flow through a specific material. Say what?! English please! Basically, the thicker and deeper your insulation is, the higher the R-value. However, it’s important to understand that recommended R-values are based on climate zones. 

What is a Climate Zone? 

There are seven climate zones in the United States that Building Codes are based on to achieve maximum energy efficiency and savings when building a home. 

The Phoenix Metropolitan area is in Climate Zone 2. For Climate Zone 2, the recommended R-value is R-38. If you exceed this R-value for our Arizona climate, you get to a point of diminishing returns, negligible savings, and not much added benefit for comfort. 

So How Much Insulation Do I Need to Add in My Attic?

There are a few easy steps you can take in order to figure out how much insulation is in your attic or to figure out what your existing attic R-value is. 

1. Grab yourself a headlamp, tape measure, respirator mask, and get in your attic!
2. Make sure to only step on the 2X4s (don’t step on your drywall and go through your ceiling)!
3. Determine what kind of insulation is in your attic. Don’t know? Here’s a quick guide. 
4. Measure how many inches of insulation you have in your attic. If it looks really uneven with high mounds in certain areas and lower levels in others, take an average depth measurement.
5. Determine R-value. To do this, simply follow the chart below!

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a planner and not one of those who prefers to react to unfortunate and uncomfortable circumstances. With cooler temperatures approaching the Phoenix area, our reactive AC season is slowing down. Meaning, less people are calling in with emergency AC issues to replace their air conditioning equipment. Which is great because it means our company has more time to focus on the planners who think things through thoroughly before buying a new AC system. 

With this in mind, I encourage you to think about what the new AC equipment is going to do for you. Do you want to just swap out the old and replace with the new, or do you want a truly customized, properly sized and designed AC unit that’s going to make your home perform optimally and efficiently with even temperatures throughout your home? Chances are, you’re probably thinking the latter. 

The only way to truly guarantee this is to have a qualified individual and AC company (like Ideal Energy) run a full, correct, Manual J load calculation on your home. Our team has gone through extensive training on how to run a proper load calculation – we don’t just play around with the software and hope to figure it out. All engineering is done with utmost accuracy to ensure your new air conditioning equipment saves you money off of your APS and SRP bill come summer time and keeps you comfortable while doing so! Our philosophy is why save a little when you can save a lot by sizing and designing your equipment right?

In addition to having the best designed AC system in Arizona, we have a Trane Fall Air Conditioning Promotion going on right now that will issue between $200 and up to $1000 in Trane Rebates for purchasing a new Trane AC system, or you can take advantage of a special 0% APR Financing for 60 months, which is a pretty incredible offer. This offer is set to expire on November 15th, 2017. APS and SRP also have air conditioning rebates sitting at $200 for APS customers, and ranging between $400-$800 for SRP customers. 

Not sure what you need? Don’t worry! Give us a call at 480-839-0082 and we can guide you in the best direction in order to help solve your heating and air conditioning needs!

In recognition of the second annual national Energy Efficiency Day (EE Day) on October 5, 2017, Ideal Energy is joining regional and national organizations, businesses, utilities, and individuals working to promote energy efficiency – the cheapest, quickest way to meet our energy needs, cut consumer bills and reduce pollution. Energy efficiency is also an economic engine, supporting 2.2 million jobs nationwide in manufacturing, construction and other fields – most of which can’t be outsourced overseas. This year, EE Day offers a national light bulb challenge to encourage engagement by residents and businesses alike. 

Smarter energy use means we don’t have to generate as much power to meet our needs. Many people don’t realize that Ideal Energy has already made significant, forward-thinking investments in energy savings, benefiting local families, local job growth, APS and SRP customers and the fight against climate change! 

Ideal Energy has made thousands of homes more energy efficient in Arizona in the last 8.5 years and continues to make huge strides in the advancement of utility programs. We truly believe energy efficiency is the cheapest and cleanest form of energy- as the kilowatt hour that was never used or generated is the cleanest kilowatt hour!

An energy-efficient economy is free to thrive and innovate. Electricity use was 5 percent lower in 2016 than in 2010, while the U.S. economy grew by almost 13 percent over those years, demonstrating that efficiency and economic growth go hand-in-hand. Reducing the energy used by manufacturers, homes and businesses benefits everyone – especially energy bill-payers. The average household, for example, saves anywhere between 10%-30% off their heating and cooling bill from home performance work alone! Meaning energy efficient duct systems, insulation, and AC systems have a significant impact.

To learn more about our industry’s efforts in energy efficiency,  join the conversation on Twitter at #EEDay2017.

Your central air conditioning unit plays a vital role in regulating temperatures inside your home. Here in Arizona, the hot summer months require air conditioning units that run effectively and efficiently.

When it comes to keeping your unit running at its peak performance, there’s a lot to keep in mind. After all, a central air conditioner is typically the most mechanically sophisticated appliance in your home and modern units are only becoming more complex.

How can you make sure your air conditioner is up to the task of keeping you cool during a scorching Arizona summer? What small steps can you take to cut your air conditioning costs by 15% or more?

This helpful resource guide provided by The Refrigeration School below will help give you a better idea of how your air conditioning system works and how to make the most of it. Having a basic understanding of your HVAC system will allow you to troubleshoot some of the more common problems to determine if you can take care of the issue on your own, or if you need to call in a professional. If you need to call a pro- contact us today at 480-839-0082, and we’d be glad to help! 

Study up on the key components to save yourself some money on those energy bills and keep your system running smoother for longer.

On August 15th, 2017 the Arizona Corporation Commission voted in favor of APS’ rate case, which included increasing a service fee and shifting the time of use rates. In addition, the corporation commission approved incentive reductions for demand response programs, which include existing homes HVAC duct test and repair, existing homes HVAC AC with quality installation, consumer products residential pool pumps and home performance duct test and repair.

On October 1s, 2017 the rebate incentives for duct sealing will decrease from $400 per duct system to $250 per duct system, for existing homes HVAC AC with quality installation will decrease from $245 per AC system to $200 per AC system and will decrease from $100 per residential pool pump to $50 per pool pump.

If you are a homeowner in APS territory and want to receive the full $400 duct sealing rebate, call us today in order to get your project completed before October 1st.

BUY A QUALIFYING SYSTEM AND CHOOSE BETWEEN:

1. Special 0% APR financing for up to 60 months
2. Trade in Allowance and Rebates up to $1,000

*A system must include a qualifying outdoor unit, indoor unit and a Trane Nexia Control!

HURRY, THE TRANE FALL AC PROMOTION IS FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!

OFFER ENDS ON NOVEMBER 15TH! So take advantage of the cooler weather, great prices and Trane rebates while you can! 

Call Ideal Energy at 480-376-1642 today to discover what your discount is!

Apply for the 0% for 60 Months Wells Fargo Financing offer by clicking here

You can also contact us over our website if that is easier for you. Just go to our Contact Us page. 

a. See your independent Trane Dealer for complete program eligibility, dates, details and restrictions. Special financing offers OR trade-in allowances from $100 up to $1,000 valid on qualifying equipment only. Offers vary by equipment. All sales must be to homeowners in the United States. Void where prohibited. The Wells Fargo Home Projects credit card is issued by Wells Fargo Financial National Bank, an Equal Housing Lender. Special terms apply to qualifying purchases charged with approved credit. The special terms APR will continue to apply until all qualifying purchases are paid in full. The monthly payment for this purchase will be the amount that will pay for the purchase in full in equal payments during the promotional (special terms) period. The APR for Purchases will apply to certain fees such as a late payment fee or if you use the card for other transactions. For new accounts, the APR for Purchases is 28.99%. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will be $1.00. This information is accurate as of 6/1/2017 and is subject to change. For current information, call us at 1-800-431-5921. Offer expires 12/15/2017.

SRP Approves Rate Increase to 3.3% through April 2016 – Then Rate Jumps to 3.9% 

Unlike APS, SRP is not governed by the Arizona Corporation Commission. As a municipal utility, they are governed by a Board of Directors that make decisions to any proposed rate change. SRP customers last saw a 3.9% rate increase in November 2012, so we can estimate that this trend will continue every 2 to 3 years and range between an increase of 3%-7%. SRP currently estimates that an average bill payer who uses 1,110 kWh of energy per month (13,320 kWh annually) will be paying an extra $4.61 per month (or $55.32 more annually, or an extra $138.30 by the time SRP gets around to increasing their rate again, if we suggest they’ll increase again in 2.5 years). 

This doesn’t seem too bad, actually. After all, the price of everything always goes up as the years go on.

But what if you’re like many bill payers whose total annual kWh usage ranges around 25,000 kWh? Things start to get a little more interesting when you’re paying an additional $103.75 on an annual basis (that’s an extra $259.38 by the time SRP gets around to increasing their rates again). 

So what can you do?

Lower your demand. Most people visualize themselves turning their thermostats to 83° during the hottest times of the day and sweating it out to avoid high utility costs. But this is completely avoidable if you start by making sure your home is operating at optimal efficiency, especially while that AC unit is running. Below is a list of a few things you can do on your own to help increase the efficiency of your equipment and home:

1.Replace your AC filters once a month (and not with the expensive ones)!

• A common misconception is that it’s better to replace our filters with the expensive, tightly pleated filters, but this is far from the truth. Tightly pleated filters are much more restrictive than the cheap, $1 filters, put a significant strain on your AC or heating system, cause a decreased amount of airflow throughout your home and can have a big impact on the life of your unit. Buy the cheapest filters you can buy and just make sure you replace them once per month.

2.Run ceiling fans only in rooms that you’re in!

• Many people think that running ceiling fans will lower the temperature of a home, but that is far from the reality. We feel more comfortable with ceiling fans on because the air movement is removing heat from our bodies (thus cooling us down). Remember, to turn that switch off when you leave the room!

3.Shade your windows.

• Make sure that you have adequatelyshaded windows (or skylights for that matter). Solar heat gain has a big impact on how many BTUs of energy find their way into your house. Plant some trees, install awnings, shade screens, or skyshades for skylights and you’ll be well on your way to achieving the results you need.

4.Keep your bedroom doors open at all times!

• Leaving the doors to your bedrooms open will help circulate the air much more efficiently throughout your house when your AC or heat is running. Unless of course, you already have a perfectly balanced home!

5.Energy efficient lighting.

• We still, to this day, go into homes where people don’t know what a CFL or LED is. Yes, they make ones that work in every type of fixture (even dimmable or three way fixtures!) so make sure to replace all incandescent and halogen bulbs with more efficient bulbs. Doing so will typically knock around $100 to $200 off of your yearly energy bill if you haven’t done this already. 

When it’s time to hire a professional

While these are all great ways for you to start being more conscious of your energy usage, there comes a time when the only way to solve a comfort or high energy usage issue is to hire a professional. Below are some things to consider when investing in your home to keep it nice and cool, comfortable, with low energy bills!

1.Start with an energy audit.

• This is the single, most informative way to figure out exactly what your issues are so you can come up with a plan of action to achieve results. Too often we test homes where people have jumped the gun, upgraded their windows (thinking that was their issue) and have not seen any difference in their comfort or energy bills. Believe it or not, there are much more cost effective ways to save money and become more comfortable in your home such as sealing leaky ductwork, and making sure you have properly installed and adequate amounts of insulation in your attic. The savings could be anywhere from 10%-25% annually if there’s a need, and the comfort benefits are priceless (obviously)!

2.Get an AC Checkup.

• This is the only way to make sure your AC or heating system is operating properly. An improperly charged system with an inadequate amount of airflow due to a dirty and clogged coil are some examples of what has a big impact on an air conditioning system’s efficiency. The good news is, this issues are pretty easy to fix most of the time but you need an expert to diagnose them.

    3.Swap your old pool pump out for a variable speed pool pump.

• We can’t stress the importance of this one enough. If you’re running your single speed pool pump that has one or more horse power 4 hours a day or more, replacing it with a variable speed pool pump will slash your bill by about $300-$600. Check out Pentair’s Pool Savings Calculator to calculate your savings on your own.

The bottom line

Don’t let those new rate hikes get to your pocketbook. Take control of your home by targeting ways to save money off of your energy bill by decreasing your demand. If your house works efficiently and as a system, the rate increase should be negligible. It’s time to stop unnecessary energy waste and start saving. Besides, your home will be much more comfortableto live in!

Should I Insulate my Arizona Garage to Help Keep my Home Cool?

This is a common question we are asked, and the answer is always surprising to our homeowners. The simple answer is, “no”. Why, you ask? Because for our hot, arid, climate it just doesn’t make sense. We have actually found that if insulation has been added to the attic space of an unconditioned garage, the only thing it will do is hold heat in, making your garage hotter!

Will I save money on my energy bill by insulating my garage?

Again, the answer is, “no”. If the garage is unconditioned, meaning, there is no mini split or duct going to the garage, there is no reason to insulate the garage’s attic. Studies for our climate have shown that no significant amount of savings were seen by insulating an unconditioned garage. Many homeowners think that because the garage and main body of the house share an attic space it’s necessary to insulate the garage as well, but this is far from the truth.

Now, if we were in a cold climate, like Alaska, or the East Coast, insulating the garage does indeed have a positive impact, both on comfort, and energy bills.

Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your insulation needs!

We typically focus on tips and updates about the home performance industry, but decided we should share the news about today being World Environment Day. Every year for World Environment Day, there is a different theme focused on. This year, the theme is about reducing our carbon FOODprint with a Think.Eat.Save campaign. The goal here is to bring awareness about how much food is wasted and thrown away.

Here are some facts and reasons why reducing our foodprint is so important:

1. Every year, 1.3 tons of food is wasted and thrown away
2. Every day, 20,000 children under the age of 5 die from hunger
3. 1 in every 7 people go to sleep hungry every night
4. An estimated one third of everything that is grown is either wasted or lost between the field and the consumer
5. Global food production occupies 25% of all habitable land
6. Global food production is responsible for 70% fresh water consumption, 80% deforestation, and 30% of greenhouse gas emissions
7. Our food productions outstrips demand, but still 870 million people are malnourished
8. Food makes up almost 13% of the U.S. waste stream, but a much higher percent of landfill-caused methane.

So how can we make a difference, if not every day, today?

1. Select foods that have less of an environmental impact, such as organic foods that are grown locally in your State, that don’t use chemicals during the production process
2. Plan your meals for the week before going to the grocery store
3. Consider composting. It’s a great way to help reduce the amount of food going into the landfill, and some Cities are even starting curb side composting programs!
4. Purchase funny looking fruit and veggies so they’re not thrown away because of their odd shape, size and color
5. Bring a cloth bag to your grocery store, and don’t buy more food than you need

If you’d like to make a difference, share your ideas and acitivites that you’re doing to reduce your foodprint.