Home Energy Retrofits

Good morning,
SMUD has just sent us an invitation to participate in their new rebate program for Home Energy Retrofits.

The purpose of the program is to give home and business owners additional encouragement to make energy saving improvements on their homes.

Currently, SMUD offers rebates for efficiency improvements including up to $650 for high efficiency air conditioning replacements. The new program will not only increase these values up to $3500 (potentially) but also encourages a complete look at the building's energy usage.

The federal government has also been working on a program called Home Star that will be offering similar rebates.

Furthermore, California has authorized a new finance vehicle that is being released county by county for the very same energy saving improvments.

As a result of these overlapping programs, great savings will be available! Bonney has been gearing up to offer these whole house energy retrofit options to our customers. We have already hired Scott Blunk to direct our program. An expert in green building, Scott has partnered with SMUD on many "green" projects. We are excited to have the best in the field of energy retrofits to head our program!

To briefly mention Placer County, Roseville Electric is continuing to have double air conditioning rebates (up to $1500) through May 31. Also, the county has recently launched mPower, their version of an easy to qualify financing program for energy efficient improvments.

Look for more news as these programs roll out! Consider your homes energy usage and call Bonney for a FREE whole house energy audit they we are offering for a limited time.

Bonney Plumbing, Heating and Air "... as Seen on the DIY Network"

Last week, I was contacted by a producer of the DIY Network television show House Crashers. They asked if we would install a ductless mini-split heat pump for a small remodeling project they were doing here in Sacramento.

Our Installation Manager, Gary, and our Lead, Matt, spent all afternoon and early evening Monday to assist with the project.

Matt and Gary did a great job filling their new roles as movie stars. However, as they were doing their tasks, the cameraman would stop them and say, "Could you do that again?" Needless to say, it took a bit longer to complete the job than normal.

A ductless mini-split heat pump was a perfect application for this job, turning a patio into a room. Most mini-splits are very efficient, very quiet, and very comfortable.

The show should premier sometime in April. I will post the date when it is available. In the meantime, here is a link to their site: http://www.diynetwork.com/house-crashers/show/index.html

Also, don't forget about those doubled Roseville Rebates. This is a unique opportunity for Roseville residents. Find out more at: http://www.rosevillerebates.com/

Roseville Rebates

Well I must say that if you live in Roseville and are even vaguely considering the purchase of a new heating and air conditioning system you should definitely check it out.

I have been in the Heating and Air Business (HVAC) for several years now and it is amazing how many incentives there are for folks who want to replace their comfort system. For instance, with the right efficiency you can get $1500 as a Federal Tax Credit (that's money in your pocket, not a deduction) rebates up to $1500 from some manufacturers, $850 from some Utility Companies and even Senior Discounts up to $250 from some local Heating and Air Contractors such as Bonney, Plumbing, Heating and Air.

And, if you happen to live in Roseville, you can even get up to $1500 with qualifying equipment from Roseville Electric. That's an amazing $4750 off on a new system that can improve the quality of your home's comfort while at the same time cutting your energy bills in most cases.

Sound too good to be true? Well, it's true. But the rebates run out May 31st, 2010, so if you are considering a new system this year there are more reasons than ever not to wait. Call Bonney Right now at 916-444-0551 or respond to this message via email now to have a free consultation from a trained, friendly Comfort Specialist in your home.

Going Green... FREE Home Energy Audits

As we are looking toward the future, it is apparent that our government will be creating incentives to move home owners toward energy saving improvements.

The motivation for this change is unique for the various participants. On the federal level, programs are being introduced, like the Home Star program, that will provide whole house energy improvement rebates, for the purpose of job creation and environmental protection.

In California, the California Energy Commision (CEC) is looking at a shortage in electrical production capacity and has decided that conservation is cheaper and easier than building new power plants. The CEC now has legal authority to force building owners to reduce electrical consumption. The goal is to reduce the energy use of every building in California 20 - 40% by 2020.

Fortunately, funds are becoming available to home owners seeking to make whole house energy improvements. If the Home Star program passes, up to $3,000 per home could be available for whole house energy improvements. As well, SMUD will be rolling out a program this summer which will be offering generous rebates for the same energy improvments. And Sacramento, as well as other counties, will be participating in a state program that allows for low interest financing for the energy improvements.

So, what does this mean for Bonney and you?

At Bonney, always wish to be on the cutting edge of home services. We are very involved in energy saving solutions for home owners through heating and air conditioning upgrades. But now, we will be offering other products and services that create home energy savings.

As an introduction to our new program, we are offering FREE whole house energy audits for a select number of customers each month.

If you are thinking about making energy efficient improvements to your home, and would like a free evaluation, call to get on the list.

And... keep an eye on the news, our website, and this blog for updates in the whole house energy market.

My Furnace is getting older, is it time to repair or replace?

Nobody wants to think about replacing their heating and air conditioner. There are many more things to do with our hard earned money, right? Especially in this economy.

Well, there are some good reasons to consider replacing your older furnace. The Department of Energy's Energy Star Program recommends replacing your furnace if it is more than 15 years old with a new one and replacing your air conditioner if it is over 10 years old. You can check out their recommendations here:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_checklist_consumers

Why 15 years on a furnace? Well, the first thing to consider is safety. You see, as a gas furnace ages it experiences stress in it's Heat Exchanger, which is where hot gasses from the flame flow through your unit. Over time these heat stresses can cause small cracks in the metal which can be very dangerous both for you and your family.

The next thing to think about is comfort. Furnaces have come a long way over the past 15 years. Now with features like Variable Speed and Modulating Gas Valves your home can feel more comfortable on those icy nights. Hot and Cold spots in your home can become a thing of the past if your Heating Specialist is able to recommend the correct Comfort System for your home.

Repairs are another thing to consider. If you are constantly having to repair your furnace the bills can really add up. And even if you haven't experienced repairs the chances of a breakdown really start to increase as the unit gets older-think of your car. If it was 15 years old, how do you think it would be holding up?

Operating Costs are another thing to consider as well. If your Furnace is one of the 80% furnaces it is wasting at least 20% of its fuel right out the flue pipe. A new, energy efficient furnace can reduce this costly waste to as little as 2-5% depending on what furnace you choose.

What shape is your duct-work in? Did you know that 30% of your heating energy could be escaping right out into your attic or crawl space? That's a lot of waste, and with today's new standards of sealing ducts this inefficiency can be virtually eliminated.

A lot to think about, but with the help of a professional heating and air company like Bonney Plumbing, Heating and Air these decisions can be made much easier. Call us or email and a friendly, helpful member of our staff will speak with you about your heating needs. Estimates are free, and we can even help with convenient payment plans that best suit your needs.

Roseville Rebates Doubled!!!

Good news for Roseville home owners! Roseville electric has doubled the rebates for the installation of a new, energy saving, heating and air conditioning system from now until May 31st, or until funds are depleted. For a qualifying system, and it isn't that hard to qualify, as much as $1500 is available!



This limited rebate offer alone should be enough reason to buy, but it represents just one of several rebates and credits that are currently available to home owners. Total credits and rebates easily top $4000 in a single system! This really is the best time for Roseville home owners to buy for the past few years.



Let me break it down...



Thanks to President Obama, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides a $1500 tax credit for qualifying systems through December 31st of 2010.



Next, some equipment manufacturers are offering rebates up to $1200. The timing can be tricky on these, and the systems are specific, but these systems are available.



Besides, Roseville Electric, PG&E has rebates up to $300 that are also available for Roseville residents for certain gas furnaces. Again, these are specific furnaces.



Bonney Plumbing, Heating and Air, is offering instant rebates up to $500 on these qualifying systems. These rebates are available as a special incentive to home owners while the double Roseville rebates are offered.



Finally, add the doubled Roseville Electric rebate and the total, for the right system, would be $5000.



Now, don't get me wrong, not all systems will qualify for a $5000 rebate. Most home owners will qualify for $3500 - $4000.



An example of a system that we just sold to a satisfied customer was a 15 SEER 12.5 EER with a 95% AFUE furnace (these are qualifying efficiency numbers.) This system qualifies for the federal tax credit of $1500, the top Roseville rebate of $1500, $200 from PG&E, $800 from the manufacturer, and $500 from Bonney for a total of $4500. This is a huge discount on the cost of a new system!

To summarize, this is a great opportunity for Roseville home owners. I would highly suggest taking advantage of this opportunity before the rebates exprie or the funds are depleted.

If you have any questions about these rebates, you can visit our website at www.BonneyPlumbing.com/rosevillerebates/ or give myself or James Merts a call at Bonney Plumbing, Heating and Air: 444-0551.

Don't miss out!