Heating and Air Conditioning- HVAC News

Corn Furances Offer Ease of Use and Good Value

2005-12-07T14:14:00.000-08:00

Corn Furances Offer Ease of Use and Good Value

With the increase of heating fuel prices in recent years many homeowners are searching for an alternative to the more common natural gas and oil burning furnace to reduce their utility costs. Corn or Bio-Fuel furnaces have gained a great deal of noteriety for not only reducing heating costs but for doing so using a renewable energy source that pays dividends to the enviornment.

Corn furnaces burn corn or other bio-fuels such as soybeans. Bio-Fuels burn very cleanly without leaving the chimney build-up common to wood burning stoves which is a potential fire hazard. The furnaces burn dry shelled corn that is free of debris like cobs and stalks.

In many respects corn furnaces are similar to wood pellet stoves. Both burn a granular dry fuel that is fed to the furnace from a hopper. The rate of the fuel being fed can be regulated to control the amount of heat being produced.

Home Improvement Affiliate Program

2005-11-09T14:16:00.000-08:00

Home Improvement Affiliate Programs

In doing some checking around on things heating and cooling related we came across some information that might be of interest to you if you have a home improvement website or blog. Most people know about adsense as a way to help have your site pay for itself or even make a bit of money. Less well known in home improvement circles are affiliate programs. Below is a snippet on a home improvement program that sounded interesting. Check it out if you're interested.

--snip--

As an example, QualitySmithRewards is a program that rewards website owners for placing a link or banner on their site from one of the QualitySmith contractor referral services which include roofing, siding, doors and windows and heating and cooling (HVAC). QualitySmith offers to schedule free no hassle estimate appointments with up to three pre-screened competing contractors. In other words, a consumer saves time and has less chance of hiring the wrong contractor by working with QualitySmith – and it's free!

-- snip--

Learn more about home improvement affiliate.

It's time for furnace maintenance

2005-11-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

It's time for furnace maintenance

With cold weather rapidly approaching, it's a good idea to inspect your home heating system to make sure that it's safe and in peak operating condition.

Ideally, the furnace should be inspected by a heating professional at least once annually just before its initial start-up for the season. Many heating companies offer annual maintenance contracts, which accompany the purchase of a new furnace.

This service also is available for older furnaces, which often tend to require a bit more maintenance. Even if you do your own annual maintenance, the system should be inspected by a heating professional every three to five years.

The first step in a furnace tune-up is filter replacement. Always be sure that the power is turned off to the unit before attempting repairs. The filter acts to protect the blower from airborne dust and dirt that would otherwise damage the motor.

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Getting your furnace in shape for tough winter

2005-10-10T12:45:00.000-07:00

How to Cut Your Utility Bills

Q: I have my old gas furnace serviced every two years. With gas prices so high now, I want to do some simple maintenance myself to reduce my heating bills. What can I do without harming the furnace?

A: Gas and propane prices will be at record highs this year, so even small improvements can save quite a lot. Since the furnace blower and ducts are used by your central air conditioner, you also will reduce your cooling bills.

Even if you do your own periodic tune-ups, they should not preclude regular service by a technician. You won’t have the testing equipment or the know-how to do it all yourself. Although furnaces are safe, they burn a flammable fuel which can be hazardous if something malfunctions. There is more you can do yourself to maintain an older gas furnace with open burners than on a new...

Heating Bills in Check?

2005-09-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

...Keep Your Heating Bills in Check

With the cost of naturalgas on the rise, energy consumers are likely to see their heating bills increase this winter. One of the best things consumers can do now, before the first cold snap, is to get their furnace checked to ensure that it is working properly and at top efficiency. This will help them conserve energy and save
money.
PSE&G is urging its customers to test their furnaces now, before cooler
temperatures arrive. Customers should check the thermostat settings,
electrical switches and breakers, air filters (on warm air systems), and water
levels (on steam systems). If customers have difficulties starting their
systems

Heating Furnace Shock

2005-09-25T16:26:00.000-07:00

Now it's Furnace Shock

As if sticker shock at gas pumps isn’t enough, area homeowners and businesses can expect to pay substantially more for heat this winter, energy analysts said.

The cost of natural gas is expected to increase across the country, but most dramatically in the Midwest. Home and business owners in the Midwest could see heating expenses jump 71 percent, said Dave Costello, an economist with the Energy Information Administration.

Trouble Finding A Home Improvement Store?

2005-08-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

Don't put off getting replacement air filters for your furnace just because you aren't sure where to make the purchase. Home Improvement Store Lookup is a handy resource for finding local home improvement supply stores. You can search by state and even refine your query down to a specific zip code. Additionally if you know the name of a local store you can add that to the search to narrow your results. Home Improvement Stores in California is an example of the type of information that is available to you.

Reduce your Heat Loss

2005-05-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

Reduce Your Heating Bills Next Winter

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While it may seem the wrong time to look at heating bills this is a great time to make certain your heating system is operating properly since you don't need it for comfort.
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Imagine leaving a window open all winter long '– the heat loss, cold drafts, and wasted energy! Well if your home has a folding attic stair, a fireplace, and/or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home!

These often overlooked sources of heat loss and air leakage can cause your heat pour out and the cold outside air pour in '– much like leaving a window open, costing you higher heating bills, causing cold drafts, and wasting energy.

Air leaks are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. Air leaks occur through the small cracks around doors, windows, pipes, etc. We apply caulk and weatherstripping to these areas to minimize heat loss and cold drafts.

Ceiling Fan Blades Whirl as Summer Approaches

2005-04-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

Ceiling Fan Blades Whirl as Summer Approaches

(PRLEAP.COM) As summer approaches, many homeowners and businesses are looking for ways to beat the heat. This can include checking air conditioners, buying cold beverages, or filling up a swimming pool. Another often overlooked way to beat the heat is to use a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are an excellent complement to an air conditioning system and using ceiling fans may also generate substantial savings on cooling costs.

Ceiling Fans (http://www.ceiling-fans-ceiling-fans.com), an online resource for prospective ceiling fan buyers, offers numerous articles for people that want to use ceiling fans in their home or office. The Ceiling Fans web site offers articles on major brands like Hunter, Casablanca, Regency, Lutron, Emerson, Fanimation, Hunter, Minka Aire, Monte Carlo, Quorum, and Craftmade. These guides provide details about each manufacturer and provide an overview of their product lines.

During the spring months as the temperatures start to climb, ceiling fan installations are very popular home improvement projects. The Ceiling Fans web site offers several ceiling fan installation articles. In addition, the maintenance and care section of the web site details tips for increasing the life of fans as well as tips for dealing with repairs or malfunctions. Ceiling fan accessories are an important aspect of ceiling fans. For each style of ceiling fan, there are many blade types, lengths, lighting options, and controls available. Many of the articles on the ceiling fan web site help consumers navigate the array of accessories that are available for a ceiling fan.

There are also special types of fans that can be used to cool a room. Portable fans can move to different sections of the room. Industrial fans are often used in large warehouses and can circulate air across large areas. Outdoor ceiling fans are made for decks and patios and are often waterproof or water resistant. In addition, many ceiling fans are designed to match the decor of a room or have special lights attached to the bottom to light a table, a kitchen, or a living room. The Ceiling Fans web site offers helpful information on these topics along with many others.

Expanding its global presence: Conservative manufacturer strives to be more nimble

2005-04-10T15:55:00.000-07:00

Expanding its global presence: Conservative manufacturer strives to be more nimble

TECUMSEH - There was an unusual arrival at a Chinese air conditioner factory last fall.

A shipment of compressors - a key component of the appliance - produced in India came into the plant of Gree Electric Appliance, which is more accustomed to exporting its inexpensive goods, not receiving products from abroad.

The compressors were manufactured by the Indian subsidiary of Tecumseh Products Co., of Tecumseh. "That would be unusual," said Bill Primosch, director of international business policy for the National Association of Manufacturers. "I haven't heard of that much."

It is one way that the historically conservative firm, in Lenawee County 50 miles north of Toledo, is attempting to become more nimble.

York International’s college product is cool with fans

2005-04-06T21:39:00.000-07:00

York International’s college product is cool with fans

Nothing expresses individuality quite like a college logo on an air conditioner.
At least that’s what York International is banking on for its new line of air-conditioning panels bearing college logos that it plans to launch in June or July.

The Spring Garden Township-based company signed an agreement with Atlanta-based Collegiate Licensing Co. about a month ago to brand panels on its Affinity air-conditioning series with logos from 50 schools, said Matt Peterson, vice president of sales and marketing for York International’s Unitary Products Group in Norman, Okla.

The Unitary Products Group comprises small-scale heating, ventilation and air conditioning for houses, apartments and small commercial structures.

The idea started one year ago with the introduction of air-conditioning panels in seven colors to match people’s homes. The company sold more than 12,000 of the color panels in nine months.

“Kind of the crux of the story is we went out and did the market research with the females that did the household buying,” Peterson said.

Research showed female buyers wanted air conditioners that were not only quiet and reliable but also matched the colors of their homes. The next logical step was college logos, Peterson said.

“We know that nationally men and women are college graduates and they’re passionate about their college athletics,” he said.

York International started making the college logo panels about two weeks ago at its Wichita, Kan., plant; school logos include Penn State University’s Nittany Lion and the University of Maryland’s Terrapin. Each individual school must approve the deal; thus far, about 20 schools have done so. The company has not started accepting distributors’ orders for the college logo panels.

The panels will give United Products Distributors Inc., which sells York International products outside Baltimore, an edge over its competition, said Sales Manager Richard Hicks.

“We were real interested to get them, and a lot of our customers think it’s a great idea,” Hicks said. “It gives us something different to sell versus our competitors. As far as I know, we’re the only air-conditioning company that (offers units) in colors or now with your favorite NCAA logo.”

York International has an exclusive agreement with the CLC, which bars competitors from offering air-conditioning panels with college logos, Peterson said.

Many ideas can play into people’s need to have logo-emblazoned air conditioners, said one advertising account executive.

“There’s the idea of collectibility. I think people love to collect things, and if they are a fan or alumni ... they just collect everything they can,” said Angela Wenner of York’s Campbell, Harrington & Brear advertising agency. “And who would have ever thought of an air conditioner being a collectible item?”

College logos also can translate into loyalty and a sense of pride when people remember their college years, and the logos sometimes provide a sense of community, linking like-minded people together, she added.

Plus, the logos are another way for people to express their individuality, Wenner said.

“It plays into people’s need to collect. They have several of a particular item, they want to keep seeking out more things that they can have that logo on,” she said. “The challenge of collecting is playing strongly into this. Whoever’s going to buy an air-conditioning panel with a college logo on it most likely has a shrine inside their home.”

The CLC has licensed 2,700 companies in the country to produce products with college and university logos, said spokesman Derek Eiler. The companies include Nike, Wilson Sporting Goods and Fossil. The colleges and universities receive a small royalty for sales of the panels.

An entire Affinity air-conditioning system costs about $5,000; the four college-logo panels, which are compatible only with Affinity models, cost between $250 and $300, Peterson said.

Depending on market research, York International is likely to extend its offering of air-conditioning panels.

“There are natural extensions into other areas, such as NASCAR,” Peterson said. “We want to make sure that it’s not just a good idea internally, but there’s a consumer demand ... for our product, and we found the college thing to be overwhelming. Extensions, such as NASCAR, will be as well.”

CREIA Addresses Air Conditioning System Concerns

2005-04-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

CREIA Addresses Air Conditioning System Concerns

PALM SPRINGS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 4, 2005--As the warmer weather season approaches throughout California, homeowners and potential homebuyers are cautioned to make sure that their central cooling systems are functioning properly and safely.

A professional home inspector is governed by standards as to the inspecting of an air conditioner. The most widely used standards of practice in California, published by the California Real Estate Inspection Association (www.CREIA.org) state the following with regard to the inspection of central cooling systems: The inspector shall identify and report on 1) cooling equipment and operation using normal user controls; 2) cooling distribution system(s) including a representative sampling of ducting, duct insulation, outlets, piping systems and valves; 3) energy source and connections; and 4) condensate drains. There are a number of other exclusions listed in these standards some of which state that the inspector is NOT required to inspect electronic filtering systems or determine uniformity, temperature, airflow or balance of cool air supply to any room determine cooling supply adequacy or distribution balance. Please refer to CREIA's Standards of Practice, which you may download from CREIA's web site for a complete list of what is and what is not included in a normal property inspection.

Turning on the unit to see that the machinery is physically active complies with industry standards; competent inspectors will make a good faith attempt to determine functionality of an air conditioning system. Some employ technical equipment for measuring the temperature and/or volume of airflow at the vents. Others simply place a hand against the register to determine that airflow is reasonably cool. However, depending on when the inspection occurred -- such as in a colder season -- it may have been difficult to know whether any cool air was flowing. Other central cooling system concerns include defective controls, inoperative emergency switches, and evidence of past malfunctions.

A profession inspector will report on the presence or absence of an air conditioner electrical disconnect switch. Air conditioner systems need to have a disconnect switch that is visible and readily accessible. The switch may be located on the inside the fixture, as stated by the air conditioning contractor. However, most air conditioning contractors express strong disapproval of internal switches on air conditioners, regardless of the code as it could result in injury (or worse) to the workman during servicing or repairs. Internal switches are extremely rare and are regarded by home inspectors as a significant "red-flag" condition. Conditions cited by home inspectors may not always prove to be truly defective, but when electrical compliance is in doubt, a wise inspector will always err on the side of safety.

A very important aspect of air conditioning system maintenance is the air filter. Be aware that there is no established time requisite for the scheduling of air filter changes. Filters should be changed when they begin to become dusty, and this can happen sooner or later, depending on a number of variables. Check filters periodically to become familiar with the needs of a particular system. Routine maintenance is strongly recommended. Air filters that are sorely neglected may accumulate thick dust layers for periods of several years and reduce efficiency of the system and cause damage.

To locate a qualified inspector near you, call CREIA at (800) 388-8443, or visit their website at www.CREIA.org. Since 1976, CREIA, a non-profit voluntary membership organization has been providing education, training, and support services to the real estate inspection industry and to the public. Inspectors must adhere to CREIA's Code of Ethics and follow the Standards of Practice developed by the association. These Standards of Practice have been recognized by the State of California, and are considered the source for home inspector Standard of Care by the real estate and legal communities.

CREIA requires its members to successfully pass a comprehensive written examination of property systems and complete 30 hours of continuing education each year. Members can accumulate credits through various sources of education including monthly chapter meetings, conferences, and other approved activities. CREIA keeps records to ensure that members are complying with the requirements. Educational topics cover a variety of technical subjects including updates and advances affecting the profession of real estate inspection. CREIA is dedicated to consumer protection and education.

Walkers take on the cold for heating bills

2005-03-06T22:29:00.000-08:00

Walkers take on the cold for heating bills:

"OTTAWA COUNTY -- Erin Kauth and her staff at the Ottawa County Community Action Agency are seeing more people than ever this winter, asking for help to pay their home heating bills.
'And, at the same time, the amount of funding we're getting from the state and federal government is declining,' Kauth said.
That is the reason walkers in Holland, Grand Rapids and Muskegon turned out Saturday for the annual West Michigan Walk for Warmth. "

About 100 walkers participated in a 3-mile trek between Hope College and Kollen Park, which raised about $6,300 for the agency's heating assistance programs.

The Muskegon walk -- at The Lakes Mall -- raised $1,300, while figures from the Grand Rapids walk were unavailable Saturday.

A combination of colder weather and higher prices for heating oil and natural gas has put many area families in a tight spot this winter, Kauth said. Her agency has seen a 35 percent increase in requests for heating assistance, while its funding sources have been cut by 40 percent.

She said most of those increases were coming from people who lost jobs in the past year, and were either unemployed or working for considerably less than what they were making in their previous job.

"They've never been in this situation before," Kauth added.

Because of the increased demand for assistance, the agency was forced to make changes in its program this year. Instead of providing assistance to a family once a year, it now helps a family once every two years to make the funds last, program assistant Susan Cervantes said.

Between 500 and 700 Kent County families will have gone without heat at some point by winter's end, said Karen Tolan, associate director of the Area Community Service Employment and Training Council.

By walkers collecting pledges, organizers of the Grand Rapids walk hoped to raise about $20,000, or enough to help about 150 families.

"When utility costs go up, people on fixed incomes begin spending a larger proportion of their resources on them, and it becomes a balancing act of robbing Peter to pay Paul," Tolan said.

She said she expected the need in Kent County this winter to outpace resources by about $200,000.

"We're really not sure how it's going to shake out, but we thought it would catch up to us before now."

About 30 students from the Kappa Delta Chi sorority at Hope, most of them in matching maroon sweatshirts with the sorority's name and logo, took part in the Holland walk as part of their community service.

"It's sort of a tradition. We do this every year," said sorority president Stephanie Ross, a senior from suburban Chicago.

Being energy efficient saves money and the environment

2005-03-01T21:58:00.000-08:00

Being energy efficient saves money and the environment

Making your home more energy efficient will expend less of the earth's fossil fuel whether you use oil, gas or electricity. Our planet is covered by a blanket of gases that behave as a giant greenhouse to keep us warm. Our continuous use of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, increases the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere causing further warming and alters world weather patterns. Conserving energy in our homes, cars and businesses is the most important action we can take to stop climate change.

Here are ways to save energy and reduce pollution:

1. Stop Air Leaks. About 44 percent of the energy used in our homes is for heating and cooling. Most of the heat and cooling lost is from air leaks. Make sure you seal the biggest causes of air leaks which are from attic doors, whole house fans, holes in the floor and ceiling for plumbing and wiring, electrical coverplates and gaps in the wall. Check for duct leaks by using a smoke pencil or incense. Seal leaks with approved duct tape. Caulk or expanding foam should be used to stop air leaks between the house and attic.

2. Insulate Your Home. You can decrease energy waste and lower your utility bill by insulating the ceilings, walls, attic and floors of your home. Insulation is discussed in terms of R-values. High R-values provide better insulation. The Department of Energy recommends the following optimal R-values for Connecticut: Attic -R49, Walls - R18, Floors- R25. Also, blow insulation into outside wall cavities and insulate hot and cold water pipes in the crawl space and all ducts in unheated areas. Place a plastic cover over bare earth underneath your home to decrease moisture in the crawl space. Go to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website, www. eere.energy.gov, to learn more about insulation.

3. Cut Hot Water Bills. Wrap insulation around the water heater and insulate all hot water pipes and cold water pipes near the tank. For safety, only use insulation designed for wrapping around hot items. Use low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators which provide a forceful spray at the same time wasting less water. Set the water heater at no more than 120 to 140 degrees.

4. Improve Window and Door Efficiency. Stop air leaks around windows and doors by caulking the trim to the wall. Put weather stripping on edges of windows and doors. Storm windows can be used to decrease heat loss but they are not recommended for doors.

5. Saving Air Condition Costs. Trees, especially deciduous trees, can keep your home and air condition unit in the shade and save on air condition costs. A trellis, awning or sunscreens can also keep the house cooler. Closing curtains and shades in the summer will also keep the house cooler. Trees keep their surrounding atmosphere cooler by absorbing carbon dioxide and through moisture evaporation. In the winter their leaves fall and let in the sun to better heat your home. So consider planting more trees.

6. Use ENERGY STAR Appliances. The ENERGY STAR label is the government's seal of approval. It was created by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Go to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website, www. eere.energy.gov, and click on information for Consumers to learn how to read the labels and what to look for when looking for an energy efficient refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer, thermostat, air conditioner, windows, heat pumps or gas and oil systems. For example, consider using a programmable thermostat which can automatically change the temperature and save energy and money.

7. Cut Lighting Costs. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of standard incandescent bulbs. Each bulb last 10 times longer, saves electricity costs, and eliminates 500 pounds of atmospheric pollutants. For your outside lights, avoid all night lighting and consider motion activated lights instead.

8. Decrease Auto Emissions. Auto emissions account for 60% of ozone pollution in cities. Keep your car tuned and its tires inflated to reduce pollution. When your air conditioner is serviced insist that the mechanic recycles the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCS) used for the refrigerant. CFCS causes the thinning of our ozone layer. And please consider buying a fuel efficient car. Every gallon of gas you save prevents 20 pounds of CO2 from polluting our planet.

Remember, saving the environment is OUR responsibility!

ExxonMobil, Qatar Reach Natural-Gas Deal

2005-02-27T21:20:00.000-08:00

ExxonMobil, Qatar Reach Natural-Gas Deal

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Feb 27, 2005 — Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil on Sunday announced the launch of a huge $12.8 billion liquefied natural gas project in Qatar that aims to ferry gas to Britain for the next 25 years.

Qatar Petroleum officials dubbed Sunday's deal the world's largest-ever liquefied natural gas development effort and largest energy financing, involving $7.6 billion in investments from 57 different institutions, including Islamic banks.

The tiny nation of Qatar, which sits atop one of the largest reserves of natural gas, stands to be the world's top seller of liquefied gas and one of its wealthiest countries shortly after decade's end.

Separately, Qatar Oil Minister Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah said Sunday the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries would stick to its current production ceiling of 27 million barrels a day when it meets in Isfahan, Iran, March 16.

"We will study the market supply and demand but I don't think there will be (a production) cut," the minister said, according to Dow Jones news service. "There will be a rollover of the output ceiling."

In the long term, the growing shipments of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, are "absolutely crucial" in helping gas replace oil as a fuel in heating and electrical power plants, said Youssef M. Ibrahim, director of Dubai-based Strategic Energy Investment Group.

Oil prices have hovered at record levels beyond $50 per barrel, and analysts said cheaper gas fuel is more desirable for its cleaner-burning qualities.

"It will make Qatar, on a per-capita basis, probably the richest country on the earth," Ibrahim said.

Britain will be the chief market for the liquefied gas in the venture announced Sunday, receiving 17.2 million tons of LNG per year, for 25 years. The first shipment is expected to arrive by late 2007, Qatar Petroleum said in a prepared release.

State-controlled Qatar Petroleum owns 70 percent of the joint venture, named Qatargas II, with ExxonMobil holding up to 30 percent.

Production and transport of liquid natural gas is a complex and expensive process, requiring sophisticated shipping and receiving infrastructure.

Home builders get reprieve from judge - stricter heating rules on hold for now

2005-02-25T22:14:00.000-08:00

Home builders get reprieve from judge - stricter heating rules on hold for now

Some Mid-Michigan home builders are worried about stricter energy rules for new homes. The rules were set to take effect next week. But there's been a last-minute reprieve.

The new energy rules are designed to help offset rising prices for natural gas and home heating oil. But an Ingham County judge has set aside those new rules -- at least for now.

Some builders were so panicked about the new codes that they rushed to get housing permits in before they were to take effect on Tuesday.

So when a Lansing-area judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state from enforcing the new rules, some were relieved.

A Genesee County builder says his homes -- which figure in the $225,000 to $500,000 range -- already include most of the new energy-saving rules, with one exception.

"I would have to insulate the basement walls and that would add to the cost of my homes," said builder Dave Crawford.

Crawford says builders that feature lower-priced homes would be especially hard hit since they'd be required to add more insulation and energy saving appliances.

Those changes could add thousands of dollars to the price of a new home and some builders warned that could cost jobs.

Barry Simon of the Flint Area Builders Association calls the situation a real mess that would also cause headaches for building-enforcement officials.

The proposed regulations don't appear to be going away. They're just not taking effect next week.

New home energy law delayed

2005-02-24T22:48:00.000-08:00

New home energy law delayed

Michigan's home builders were granted a preliminary injunction Thursday blocking next week's scheduled start of stricter, and more costly, energy rules for new homes and condominiums sought by the state.

State officials wanted to upgrade energy codes in new residences in part to help offset rising prices for natural gas and home heating oil in recent years. But some builders said the proposed regulations for added insulation and more energy-efficient appliances could add up to $4,000 to the cost of a 1,000-square-foot home.

"We feel the court agreed with our arguments that the upgraded energy codes did not meet state requirements and would have unfairly hurt our industry," said Stuart Michaelson, president of Windmill Group Inc. in Farmington Hills, which plans to build 100 homes this year.

In granting the injunction, Ingham County Circuit Judge Joyce Dragonchuck ruled that the state homebuilders association would likely win its case, filed earlier this month against the state. The judge's ruling added there would be irreparable harm to home buyers and small builders if the proposed regulations were allowed to take effect before the issue was fully decided with a trial.

A trail date has yet to be scheduled.

Henry L. Green, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth's Bureau of Construction Codes and Fire Safety, declined to comment on Thursday's ruling.

The case was filed by the Michigan Association of Home Builders, a Lansing-based trade association. Lynn Egbert, CEO of the home builders group, said the new energy code did not meet the state's own requirements that the regulations pay for themselves within seven years. He contends it would take up to 17 years before the rules provided cost savings.

"The state's regulations would stop thousands of first-time home buyers from achieving the American dream of owning their own homes," Egbert said.

He added the proposed regulations would dampen demand for new homes significantly and lead to the loss of "hundreds of jobs."

"Unbelievably, (the state) argued that more people would buy homes if the costs went up," Egbert said.

Metro Detroit home builders are coming off their best year on record. Last year more than 2,200 builders filed for 26,500 permits. Demand was fueled in part by low interest rates, now hovering at 5.5 percent for a 30-year mortgage.

Windshield wiper blades: Another need for winter

2005-02-23T22:34:00.000-08:00

Windshield wiper blades: Another need for winter:

"Q Driving home in the snowstorm the other day, my husband and I each had the same experience -- our windshield wipers iced up so badly that we could hardly see out of our windshields. Mine was so bad that I got off the highway onto a country road so I could pull over to clean the windshield. I tried everything, turning the wipers on high, the fan on high, the heat all the way up, even opening a window -- nothing helped. While many other cars looked like they were in the same situation, I saw a few cars with absolutely no accumulation on their windshields. What's their secret?
Simple. A set of winter wiper blades. These blades, which include squeegee-like rubber 'refill' and the metal or plastic 'blade' it is mounted on, are surrounded by a flexible rubber boot. This boot keeps snow and ice from building up in the blade mechanism and ensures that the wiper makes smooth, complete contact with the glass. They retail for under nine bucks each, and they can make life much better and safer when driving in a snowstorm."

LNG port aims a high natural gas demand

2005-02-23T22:25:00.000-08:00

LNG port aims a high natural gas demand:

"The sister company of Distrigas of Massachusetts, which delivers liquefied natural gas to a port in Everett, is pursuing a $900 million deepwater port 10 miles south of Gloucester. Neptune LNG LLC, a subsidiary of Tractebel LNG North America LLC, is eying a spot 22 miles northeast of Boston that it says has limited aesthetic impacts and avoids Boston Harbor shipping lanes and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Neptune says the project will meet New England's rising demand for natural gas.

'We need all of the existing natural gas facilities we have, plus new ones - and they're needed soon,' Tractebel North America President and CEO Rick Grant said in a statement released Monday.

The Neptune ship mooring port will be designed to provide an average of 400 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to the New England market, enough to heat about 1.5 million homes. Neptune anticipates a 15- to 18-month project development and regulatory phase, with construction of the port taking an additional three years. With a wind farm project pending on Cape Cod and another LNG port under consideration in Fall River, the Neptune proposal adds to the mix of pending energy projects."

Zamil Air Conditioners awarded new projects in Saudi Arabia

2005-02-22T23:25:00.000-08:00

Zamil Air Conditioners awarded new projects in Saudi Arabia

Zamil Air Conditioners (ZAC), a sector business of Zamil Industrial Investment Company (ZIIC) and the leading Middle East and international manufacturer of air conditioning systems, has been awarded eight principal projects, in the educational, commercial and industrial sectors in the three major provinces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for a combined value exceeding SR 25 million (USD 6.6 million) in January of this year.

Work on five projects in the eastern province is underway for Skaka Hospital, Dammam Girls College, SHARQ Petrochemical Company and the Royal Commission’s Jubail College and luxury apartment complex. Once completed, the combined cooling capacity of the installed HVAC equipment - which includes 800 fan coil units, 40 air-handling units, eight water chillers, and a number of packaged units and central split systems - will be approximately 5,700 tons of refrigeration.

In the central region, ZAC innovative climate control solutions will provide a cooling capacity of approximately 7,500 tons to Riyadh’s Al Salam Commercial Center and Azizia-Panda Hypermarket.

“ZAC has developed tremendous expertise through the years in the medical care and commercial sectors. Our highly specialized air conditioning applications have been deployed in the landmark International Medical Center in Jeddah, the Khamis Mushayt Hospital, the Staten Island University Hospital, and a medical center in Zurich, Switzerland most recently. Likewise, most shopping malls and super stores have been supplied with ZAC ‘Classic’ and ‘Cooline’ brands both in the home market of Saudi Arabia and the GCC and as far as Bangladesh and Australia.” said Osama Bunyan, Vice President, ZAC.

ZAC’s Jeddah branch was also awarded the Shoiba Power Plant project to showcase its engineering and special product manufacturing capabilities. The scope calls for the provision huge HVAC equipment such as 16 large ventilation units, 8 double skin chilled water air handling units, 34 roof top packaged units and 10 highly specialized ventilation units for various buildings.

“This recent project for the power generation industry is further testimony to our position as the leading Middle East and international manufacturer of air conditioning systems. ZAC’s special application solutions are designed and manufactured to the most stringent specifications in the industry. We have supplied Ghazlan power plant, Shoaiba phase I power plant, and Ras Laffan facility in Qatar, with the most advanced and the largest equipment ever for the power generation industry in the Middle East. Our commitment to our domestic market is as strong and important as that to clients in the more than 75 international markets we serve,” concluded Osama Bunyan.

Zamil Air Conditioners awarded new projects in Saudi Arabia

2005-02-22T23:19:00.000-08:00

Many Mass. electric customers will see bills rise

2005-02-21T23:30:00.000-08:00

Many Mass. electric customers will see bills rise

Starting next month, more than a million Massachusetts households face 3 percent to 13 percent hikes in their electric bills in a new phase of the state's seven-year-old utility deregulation process.

The increases will hit 63 percent of residential customers and 55 percent of small businesses. For the small businesses, who typically pay more than homeowners, the March 1 increases could go over 20 percent, The Boston Globe reported.

The increases affect customers whose existing accounts predated 1998 and who have not moved since, or have moved but continued to use the same utility. These customers have had "standard offer" service, a state-controlled rate which is being phased out in a week.

Those customers will move to a less predictable market-based rate plan that has been known as "default service," but is being renamed "basic service." Those rates, which will be adjusted in six months, could go up more, depending on global energy prices.

The state deregulated the industry to give customers more choice in energy providers, as they do for phone service or home heating fuel. But most residential and small-business owners do not have a cheaper competitor to their existing utility.

"For small consumers, the policy is far from living up to the hype," said Frank Gorke, energy policy analyst for the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, which fought electricity deregulation seven years ago. "There's no competition for small customers, which was one of the biggest things that was promised."

Critics say that utility deregulation hasn't lived up to the promises of its proponents, who said consumers and business would save millions of dollars, and environmentalists would see new clean-burning gas-powered plants. Then-Gov. Paul Cellucci said deregulation would be a "major victory for Massachusetts taxpayers."

The ultimate goal of deregulation was to get utilities out of the power generation business. NStar, Massachusetts Electric, and others were required to sell their power plants and energy purchase contracts, with ratepayers covering utilities' losses in the sale of the plants.

But a predicted flood of companies offering household and small-business electricity never materialized, because the standard-offer rate was so low that new companies couldn't compete. As of December, just two percent of residential customers used a competitive supplier; virtually all of them are members of the Cape Cod Light Compact, a local power-buying cooperative formed to negotiate lower rates.

Large commercial and industrial customers in the state, however, can and do buy from competing companies like Constellation Energy Group and Dominion Resources Inc. Fifty-two percent of electricity sold to large companies come from such suppliers, and save millions of dollars.

The state's top utility regulator, Department of Telecommunications and Energy Chairman Paul Afonso, said electricity deregulation is "a work in progress, but a good work in progress."

Carbon monoxide a lethal danger

2005-02-20T22:34:00.000-08:00

Carbon monoxide a lethal danger:

"We are hearing and reading more and more these days about emergency calls to homes where the carbon-monoxide detector has gone off. This bespeaks the importance of having these life-saving devices installed in the home.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless gas � or liquid � and practically odorless, which makes it especially dangerous in the home. It is virtually undetectable without a device.
It is given off during the burning of certain fuels, such as gas, kerosene, wood or charcoal. It can emanate from leaky chimneys or back-drafting from furnaces. It can also get into the house from automobile exhaust in attached garages. It is even given off in tobacco smoke.
At low concentrations, carbon monoxide causes fatigue in healthy people and chest pains in people with heart disease. At higher concentrations, it causes impaired vision and coordination, headaches, dizziness, confusion and nausea. It can cause flu-like symptoms that disappear upon getting out of the house.
At very high concentrations, it can be fatal.
Homes without gas stoves would typically test at .5 to five parts of carbon monoxide per million. Levels near properly adjusted gas stoves would usually measure five to 15 parts per million. Near improperly adjusted stoves, readings of 30 parts per million or even higher would be typical.
The Environmental Protection Agency issues these recommendations for avoiding carbon-monoxide problems:
** Keep gas appliances properly adjusted.
** Consider buying a vented space heater when replacing an unvented one.
** Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.
** Install and use an exhaust fan vented to outdoors over gas stoves.
** Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
** Choose properly sized wood stoves that are certified to meet EPA emission standards. Make certain doors on all wood stoves fit tightly.

** Have a trained professional inspect and clean central heating systems (furnaces, flues and chimneys) annually. Repair any leaks promptly.

** Do not idle the car inside the garage.

Carbon-monoxide detectors should be installed wherever any of the potential for production of the gas exists. Anyone who has a police scanner in the home, as we do in the newsroom, can attest to the increase in the number of incidents lately involving carbon-monoxide poisoning.

This is a home accident that is entirely avoidable. A detector is a very inexpensive safeguard that can keep people alive and healthy.

Don’t take a foolish chance on the family’s security. A carbon-monoxide detector is as important a part of home safety as a smoke detector.

Warmer Winter Has Heating Prices Stable, but Higher

2005-02-20T22:03:00.000-08:00

Warmer Winter Has Heating Prices Stable, but Higher: "

Warmer than usual winter temperatures have helped keep costs for heating oil and propane stable through the season.
Stable, but higher than the previous year.
The demand for heating fuel is lower, which means people are paying for less fuel, according to Rick Koontz, vice president of Holtzman Corp.
Prices haven�t really improved this winter, but the weather has been warmer and demand hasn�t been as high as in the past, Koontz said.
�That�s probably helped keep prices where they are,� he said.
Heating oil prices are about 30-40 cents higher than last winter, according to Robert W. Claytor, president of H.N. Funkhouser & Co., which operates area Handy Marts.
While prices are driven by supply and demand, most heating oil prices have hovered around $1.89, he said. This year the price hasn�t fluctuated as much as last winter, Claytor said.
The average homeowner spends between $550 and $1,000 a year in heating, he said.
But people shouldn�t expect to pay much more for heating this winter, he added. The area is about 60 percent through heating season.
While the heating season is almost finished, prices are still high, he said.
Most of the reasons driving the high cost of heating oil are international, Claytor said.
Inventory levels are low and have been for last six months, this is in addition to a fear factor because of Iraq�s continued instability. Fears are that oil pipelines could be bombed and the supply chain disrupted, Claytor said.
�There�s no question that has a real bearing on it,� he said.
Another world factor is China.
China is importing 30 percent more oil this year than last year, Claytor said. It�s bidding against all other companies for a share of the world�s oil which drives market prices.

A weak dollar on the international market is also contributing to high prices, he said.

Supply and demand has also driven propane prices, Todd Holtzman, manager of Holtzman Corps. propane division, said.

Like heating oil, the mild winter has kept propane prices stable because the demand is down, he said.

“It’s supply and demand. When you have a lot of demand it pushes prices up,” he said.

Propane has been running between $1.89 and $2.09 per gallon, he said.

A Bookkeeping Error Adds to Heating Bills Statewide

2005-02-19T23:23:00.000-08:00

A Bookkeeping Error Adds to Heating Bills Statewide

hile it has been a relatively mild winter, it may not feel that way for people who heat their homes with natural gas. Heating bills in New York State have increased by more than 20 percent since last winter as the price for natural gas has gone through the roof. But for some people the spike is even bigger because they are still feeling the effects of a bookkeeping error that sent the gas market haywire in November.

It all started around noon on Nov. 24 when a federal agency known as the Energy Information Administration issued its weekly report on natural gas inventories. The report indicated erroneously that there would be one-third as much gas put into storage that week as the industry expected, sending energy traders on a buying frenzy.

"It was a complete panic," said Saul Horowitz, chief executive officer of Econnergy, a company based in Spring Valley, about 20 miles north of Manhattan. "The price for natural gas went from $6.30 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas to $8.05 in less than hour." The error led Econnergy to pay more than $6 million extra for its gas, a charge that is being passed to its 160,000 customers.

Part of the mistake was caused by Dominion Transmission Inc., an interstate gas transmission company based in Clarksburg, W.Va., which submitted incorrect numbers to federal regulators. But even though company officials notified federal regulators of the mistake later the same day, the Energy Information Administration, an agency within the Department of Energy, did not publicly correct the mistake until it printed its next report, a week later.

Last May, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission adopted new rules against market manipulation that required utilities to give back profits earned as a result of data that was intentionally misconstrued. But against the arguments of consumer advocacy groups, federal regulators decided not to require utilities to return profits based on data that was unintentionally misconstrued.

On Friday, Senator Charles E. Schumer sent a letter to the energy administration requesting an exact figure on how much New York customers paid for gas bought at the price that had been inflated in error. A spokesman for Mr. Schumer said that federal officials had estimated that the mistake inflated consumer fuel costs nationwide by $200 million to $1 billion.

David C. Flanagan, a spokesman for the New York State Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities in the state, said that the commission had asked the Energy Information Administration to begin publishing its reports daily rather than weekly so that problems could be caught sooner.

Econnergy and other small energy providers in the state were hit hardest by the mistake because they depend more on short-term markets for buying gas.

Larger utilities like Consolidated Edison and KeySpan Energy Corporation are less vulnerable to short-term markets because they usually buy much more gas in advance.

"The impact we felt was ameliorated by the fact that we keep a diverse portfolio of short- and long-term contracts," said Chris Olert, a spokesman for Consolidated Edison, which has about 1.1 million gas customers. An average Con Ed residential gas customer, who paid about $888 for home heating fuel from November 2003 through January 2004, paid about $1,040 for the same period ending last month, he said. For competitive reasons, Mr. Olert said he could not disclose how much the utility bought from short-term markets or how much of this winter's price increase was a result of the energy administration's error.

The manager of regulatory affairs for KeySpan, Joan Graves, said that its 1.5 million gas customers in the New York City region would probably face an 11 percent increase in their bills this winter from last. Although she could not estimate how much the utility had been affected by the recent error, she said that the bigger variable had been the nationwide increase in natural gas prices.

The price of natural gas has increased by more than 30 percent nationwide in the last year.

"New York customers are simply too vulnerable to the short-term fluctuations in energy spot markets," said Gerald A. Norlander, executive director of the Public Utility Law Project in Albany. "The state needs to catch up with the national trend in which utilities are becoming less dependent on short-term buying."

In an Oct. 7 petition to the Public Service Commission, Con Ed requested that state regulators push all utilities to buy more of their gas from longer-term markets in an effort to stabilize prices. The commission denied the petition in December.

"We still don't have a figure on how many people in New York were affected by this mistake," said John B. Howard, chief of staff for State Assemblyman Paul D. Tonko, chairman of the Assembly's Energy Committee. "But I think it's pretty clear that we need more regulations on how these utilities operate."