Practical Eco-Friendly Solutions
Cottam Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. has viewed themselves as a company with a focus on being "green" and having a friendly approach to living on this earth.
With the current "green" trend movement Cottam Heating & Air Conditioning believes it has focused on the three "R's": Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Cottam Heating & Air Conditioning has been promoting the improvement of our environment for years by:
- Being members of the American Forest Conservation Organization. Participation in donating to the planting of the trees in a Global Releaf Forest in the United States. Participation to improve our countries ecosystem by contributing to "reforest" (planting of trees in Forests in the USA)
- Promoting the installation of Higher SEER Rating Equipment to conserve the use of energy
- Constantly promoting the proper sizing (Manual J Load Calculations Performed) and installation of heating and air conditioning systems
- We promote new and or replacement systems offering higher efficiency equipment and accessories
- We promote the complete phase out of Refrigerant R-22. Our installation consist of only using Refrigerant 410- A
- We recycle and carefully manage all refrigerants (coolants from AC) to prevent release into the atmosphere by using recovering machines and recycling processes
We'll Plant A Tree in Your Name
With the purchase of any preventative maintenance agreement a tree will be planted in a Global ReLeaf Forest in your name.
Cottam HVAC is proud to be a member of American Forests Conservation Organization.
- Our technicians are EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) certified so they are trained to recycle materials properly in addition they are NATE Certified
- Our technicians are OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) certified in Safety Regulations and Procedures
- We promote the recycling of sheet metal, batteries, copper, steel, iron, cardboard and paper on a regular basis
- We promote the education of our staff to new changing products and services that lead to energy savings for our customers as we are becoming accredited by the Building Performance Institute. We promote the Renewable Energy Systems available today with Geothermal and Solar Systems
Tips On Saving Energy
- Maintenance on your System(s): a preseason tune up and filter change; is a good investment for removing dirty air filers that clog HVAC systems and cleaning out drain lines. This would improve air flow and help your system run efficiently. Keeping your system running at peak efficiency equates to less energy use and lower utility bills.
- Install a Programmable Thermostat: you can adjust the times you turn on the heating and or air conditioning according to a preset schedule. As a result you don't operate the equipment as much when you are asleep or when the space is not occupied. Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple daily settings and offers a lot of flexibility in its temperature settings.
- Upgrade your system(s): If your HVAC system is older than 20 years, it may be time for an upgrade installing a new high efficiency system that uses non ozone depleting refrigerant can reduce your annual heating and cooling costs by 30% - 50%. Installing a new system can pay for itself in what you save.
- Adjust your Thermostat: Two degrees down in the winter, two degrees up in the summer. You'll hardly notice the difference…but you'll reduce your energy consumption.
- Replace it: When purchasing new appliances, electronics and lighting save money on your utility bill and help the environment by purchasing Energy Star qualified products.
"Green" Is More Than A Slogan
Cottam Heating & Air Conditioning believes that taking simple steps in our everyday work can have a substantial impact on safeguarding our environment. We're dedicated to doing business responsibly by adopting practices and standards that are eco-friendly.
- Insulate it: Inadequate insulation and air leakage are leading causes of energy waste in most homes and offices. Check the insulation in your attic, crawlspace and ceiling and any hard to reach spaces that tend to be the biggest energy loss areas. Look for gaps in the insulation and areas with inadequate coverage. Adding a layer of insulation and make your home more comfortable by maintaining a uniform temperature throughout your space and can make a noticeable difference on your utility bill.
Energy Auditing
The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI) is a recognized global leader, supporting the development of a highly professional building performance industry through individual and organizational credentialing and a rigorous quality assurance program.
BPI works with building performance industry stakeholders to ensure that the professional bar for excellence in building performance contracting is established and maintained by creating and regularly updating technical requirements through an open, transparent, consensus-based development process.
BPI measures the knowledge, skills and competency of individuals, and evaluates the organizations impacting building performance. They accomplish this with an integrated certification, accreditation and quality assurance program designed to support the building performance contracting industry.
As a BPI contractor, this means we have completed rigorous training, administered by a network of affiliates, in home performance evaluation focusing on this house-as-a-system concept. These systems include heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment and the building envelope or outer shell – the foundations, walls, roof and all their component parts like windows and doors.
Do you have comfort problems like drafts or rooms that are hard to heat or cool? High energy bills? Ice dams? Mold, mildew or moisture damage? These symptoms are obvious, but sometimes the root causes are not readily apparent. Is it the furnace? Should my home be more airtight? Do I need more insulation? Should I seal the ducts? Buy a new air conditioner? Replace the windows?
Your home or office is a system and everything is connected. The relationship between all the systems in the home or office is the key to its overall performance.
So Where Do We Stand?
Cottam Heating and Air Conditioning is now accredited by the Building Performance Institute, and although it is a lengthy process, we are there!
We have the ability to send out a certified energy auditor that will come out to your home, and give it a thorough inspection, to give you suggestions on how to make your home more environmentally friendly and help you save money at the same time! New York State is also giving out rebates and incentives to people who are willing to make energy improvements to their homes, in some cases up to $6,000 cash back!
Schedule A Home Energy Analysis Today
Do you have comfort problems like drafts or rooms that are hard to heat or cool? High energy bills? Ice dams? Mold, mildew or moisture damage? With a thorough inspection we can make your home more energy efficient and more eco-friendly while saving you money.
Geothermal Energy
The word Geothermal is derived from the Greek word "geo" meaning earth and "therme" meaning heat. So, geothermal energy is heat coming from within the earth.
Geothermal Systems utilize the ground source heat pumps to take advantage of the renewable energy that is naturally stored in the earth. The systems work by transferring heat between the ground and your facility, taking advantage of the near constant temperature of the earth.
The benefit of Geothermal Systems is that they use 25% - 50% less electricity than conventional heating or cooling system. This translates into a Geothermal System using one unit of electricity to move three units of heat from the earth. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), geothermal heat pumps can reduce energy consumption and corresponding emissions up to 44% compared to air source heating pumps and up to 72% compared to electric resistance heating with standard air conditioning equipment. Benefits of Geothermal Power:
- Provides clean and safe energy using little land
- Is renewable and sustainable
- Generates continuous, reliable base load power
- Conserves fossil fuels and contributes to diversity in energy sources
- Avoids importing and benefits local economies
- Offers modular, incremental development and village power to remote sites
For more information regarding Geothermal Systems and the advantages, applications and the tax incentive available, please visit www.energysavers.gov.
Solar Energy
Solar Photovoltaic panels collect solar radiation from the sun and then convert the energy into electricity. Each Solar Panel is comprised of multiple individual solar cells made out of silicon. When radiation strikes the solar panel, electrons are released. These electrons are then pulled by a directional current to metal contacts where they are then distributed as electricity.
Though solar harvesting has been available for years, it has traditionally been very expensive and impractical. The government push has encouraged the industry to focus on this renewable energy. Modern solar systems are now capable of producing power on par with sunny climates. Our region currently has tax incentives that help create a shorter return on investment.
Solar photovoltaic panels can be used to drastically lower costs associated with using electricity from the utility company. Solar Photovoltaic can be used on a small scale basis to supplement the electricity you purchase from the utility companies or on a large scale to replace your current utility provider. In our region, Solar Photovoltaic is used as a supplement.
Financial incentives are available from the government. Please visit www.dsireusa.org to find out about the incentives available in your state.
