APS Rebate Changes Summary

How to calibrate a variable speed pool pump in Arizona

Congratulations on choosing a variable speed pool pump over a single speed pump. Single speed pool pumps have been outlawed in several states and Arizona will follow in 2014 and for good reason too. Variable speed pool pumps are proven to use 80% less energy, are quieter, last longer and leave you with a cleaner pool than its single speed counter part.

Variable speed pool pumps slow down the RPMs of the pump motor to have you hundreds of dollars a year, it's comparable to driving a Pruis compared to a dragster to the grocery store. The magnetic drive is super quite and your pool is actually left cleaner because the water spends more time circulating and more time passing over the pool filter.

To fully realize the potential of your variable speed pool pump you will want it properly calibrated. A variable speed pool pump left uncalibrated can end up costing you more money if left unchecked.

Their are several items that go into a pool pump calibration including:

1. Pool volume
2. Type of filter and cleaning system
3. Static pressure of the suction and discharge lines
4. Hours of operation
5. Amperage and watts used of the variable speed pool pump

Both APS and SRP follow the National Sanitation Organization guidelines for pool pumps, stating that for a clean pool, the pump needs to turn the pool over completely once a day. If the pump turns your pool over more than once per day on a regular basis, it is overkill and wasting energy. If we have a dust storm of course you should run the pump more but not everyday.

Fortunately for you, you don't need to invest $500 in the equipment for calibration, there is a simple chart and guidelines you can use to get your variable speed pump started. Keep in mind, Green ID offers a free variable speed pool pump calibration for APS and SRP customers in the Phoenix area. All you have to do is contact us on the web @ http://www.greenintegrateddesign.com, leave your name and phone number in the contact form  and include the make and year of your variable speed pool pump. 

APS Rebates for Home

APS has come out with great rebate programs and solidified their commitment to 1) energy retrofits upgrades like duct sealing and insulation, 2) renewable energy products like solar panels for electricity and hot water and finally for 3) switching out old appliances.  Each of these rebate programs are separate entities that sometimes get confused since they are always changing.  For example, APS solar rebate program has seen better days when solar electricity rebates used to be at $3.00 per watt.  Every couple of months for the last 2 years APS has dropped their solar rebates until the current amount of $1.45 per watt.  Now the best and most affordable way to get solar is through a solar lease program that significantly buys down the costs of solar panels.

APS Home Energy Audit Rebates

Now the hot program is APS’s and SRP’s Home Performance With Energy Star.  This is a national Energy Star program to make homes more healthy, comfortable and efficient.  APS and SRP adopted the program to ensure a whole-home approach to reducing energy bills while keeping homeowners safe and with better indoor air quality.  APS requires a $99 energy audit be performed on a home to diagnose the causes of high energy bills, uncomfortable rooms or excessive dust.  Once the audit is complete a report will be generated using building modeling software that gives cost savings for each upgrade.  The APS rebates will help pay up to $1,000 (or more if you have two or more AC units) off the costs of the energy retrofit.  The rebates for the Home Performance With Energy Star program are broken down below.

Duct sealing 75% off up to $250 per unit.  For most homeowners, 20% of their heating and cooling bill is wasted from duct leakage.

Air sealing 75% off up to $250.  Air sealing work can be complex as your auditor must determine

Insulation75% off up to $250

Shade screens $1 per sq ft up to $250

APS has a great visual summary of their rebate program here.

http://www.aps.com/main/rebates/residential.html?source=pgrj

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=hpwes_profiles.showSplash

APS rebates for pool pumps

$200 for variable speed pool pump.  Each pump has to be calibrated to your pool to ensure that it is not over turning your pool.  This upgrade will reduce your bills $200 - $350 per year.  APS also provides a $75 rebate for pool timers.

APS Rebates for AC units

Air conditioning systems have become more efficient from federal standards and better technologies.  Surprisingly, APS does not overlap its duct sealing rebates with its air conditioning rebates.  With every unit we install, we include a whole home duct seal to maximize the high efficiency AC unit with a properly sealed duct system, otherwise it’s like using an umbrella with holes in it.  APS will help you pay for a higher efficiency AC unit depending on the efficiency ratings.  In the AC efficiency world there is a SEER rating, the seasonal energy efficiency ratio, EER rating, the energy efficiency ratio, and HPSF or .  In Phoenix, the EER is a more important number to pay attention to because of how hot it gets here.  The EER ratio gives a better idea of how an AC will perform under very hot conditions (100 degrees) were the SEER rating gives an idea of performance under milder conditions (89 degrees).  SRP recognizes and awards a higher rebate with higher EERs in their AC rebate program, but APS does not.

APS also has a quality installation standard similar to the post test done for the home energy audits that has to be met when installing heat pumps and furnaces in the Phoenix area also.  Only APS qualified AC companies can apply for their rebate for you, but not all of them will perform a duct testing and sealing upgrade.  These rebates and companies are separate from the solar rebates and the home energy audit rebates.  All the APS approved AC companies are required to do a sizing calculation called the Manual J calculation.  You should ask to see the results from your own home to ensure this was done.  The AC rebate program also includes a check of the refrigerant charge to make sure that the unit is properly charged to manufacture specifications and a check of the air flow.  Below is a list of the AC rebates available from APS.

SEER 13 with EER 10.8 receives $175 APS rebate

SEER 14 – 16 with EER 10.8 receives $425 APS rebate

SEER 17 with EER of 10.8 receives $525 APS rebate

All units must be installed by and APS approved AC contractor.

All contractors must perform a Manual J calculation to properly size the unit (you should verify this since it is not something a typical contractor will do).

All contractors should properly charge the unit and check airflow.

For more information on APS AC rebates, check out their link here.

http://www.aps.com/main/green/choice/choice_3.html

APS Solar Rebates

APS solar rebates are divided into solar electricity rebates and solar hot water rebates.  Solar electricity for my home was my dream growing up and has proven to be an attractive idea to thousands of homeowners across the Phoenix valley.  APS perhaps did not realize how attractive solar electricity would be since they have lowered their rebate amount dramatically since its inception.  As of May 2011, APS solar electricity rebate is at $1.45 per watt.  You can view their current budget and remaining monies available at the link below.

http://www.aps.com/main/green/choice/solar/funding.html

APS Solar Hot Water Rebates

After City and County applications have been approved, APS does random inspections of the installation.  The solar hot water system must be SRCC rated and have proof onsite.  The first 5 feet of your hot and cold water piping should be insulated to at least R-2.6.  The panels must be un-shaded during the day for the entire year.  The APS solar water heater rebates are currently at $0.50 per kWh of estimated first year savings (based on the OG-300 ratings), up to 505 off the system’s cost.  The OG-300 rating system is based on the manufacturer’s rating by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation.  Also important to consider for solar hot water systems is the federal tax credit of 30% off the cost and Arizona state tax credit of $1,000, which makes solar hot water much more attractive.  Typical solar hot water rating systems are around 2,890 kWh per year.  An example rebate table is shown below.

Solar Hot Water Cost $5,400

APS Solar Rebate $1,445

 Arizona Tax Credit $1,000

Federal Tax Credit $1,620

Net Cost $1,335

Annual Savings $425

Simple Payback 3 years

APS Appliance and Tree Shading Rebate

APS also provides a $30 rebate to replace your old refrigerator and they will even come and pick it up for free.  Also, a understated home comfort and energy saving rebate APS offers is to plant external shading along your home to block direct sunlight.  The requirements of this rebate are that you attend a free tree shade workshop and can legally and physically plant shading trees along your home.  Visit the link below for more information.

http://www.aps.com/main/green/choice/choice_126.html

Save Energy While on Vacation or Away for the Summer

A good number of the APS and SRP home energy audits I do are for eco-conscience snowbirds.  These residents typically reside in the Phoenix, Surprise and Scottsdale areas during the winter and go back north for the summer months.  Even though homeowners are only here for part of the year, many are still motivated to have the upgrades done because of comfort and air quality problems.  Other homeowners will have efficiency upgrades like duct sealing, air sealing and insulation work done because of the APS and SRP rebate program and to drive down energy costs.  During the homeowner interview, I am always interested to find out what each homeowner does to “summarize” their home.  For Phoenix’s permanent residents, the summer is a time many will take vacation for more temperate climates.  Either way presents opportunities listed below to save energy and money while away.

Tips for “Summerizing” Your Home While on Vacation

-          Turn the water heater off completely at the breaker or shut the gas line off.  At the least, set the dial to vacation mode to minimize stand by losses.

-          Turn the thermostat up to 90 degrees.  This will keep your home cool enough to not damage the structure or your belongings.

-          Fill gallons of water and place several throughout the house to add moisture over time.

-          Unplug energy vampire’s aka electronic devices.  TV’s will use more energy in stand by mode than when turned on.  Prevent wasteful spending by simply unplugging your electronics while away.

-           Keep window shades closed and sun screens on the exterior windows to minimize heat gain during the daytime.

For more tips on “summarizing” your home while away, visit here.

How to stop home allergens

This spring I was surprised to hear a friend tell me she was glad her spring allergies are back, because that means the winter is over.  Although nobody likes the itchy eyes, sneezing and running noses that some unfortunate people suffer through every year, your allergies can be prevented while in the comfort of your own home.  That is an important distinction that some people never notice and are suffering unnecessarily. 

Cleaning furniture and flooring and keeping windows and doors closed are things everyone should be doing to reduce dust and pollen inside but there may be hidden causes that may be the main culprit in circulating unwanted pollen.  These culprits have most likely been present since the home was built and are also causing you to overpay your utility bill.  They are air and duct leakage and how the framing, drywall and insulation were installed aka the thermal boundary and they may be residing in your home.

The Problem: Our Homes

Small and large holes from any penetrations and duct connections in the house are not only a major source of energy loss but also can have negative health and air quality affects.  Every other week your home may get a good cleaning from dust build-up and the regular activities; now imagine how much more you would have to clean if a 12-inch by 12-inch hole was made directly to the attic and was just left there.  Put a large fan above the hole pushing your attic air into your home, and you’ll get a clear picture of the negative effects of duct and air leakage on an average home in the US.

Duct leakage explained

Duct leakage is common to every home and it is so important because the air handler is putting the distribution system under a lot of pressure, so a hole the size of a penny becomes a hole the size of a basketball under pressure.  On the return side where you change your filter, a negative pressure is sucking in dirty attic air post filter and distributing that throughout the house.  Want to stop indoor allergies; don’t clean your ductwork until you seal your ductwork first.  Do unwanted critters frequent your home?  Try sealing all the holes in the house from wires and plumbing vents to recessed lights.

Insulation performance explained

All attics are dusty but if the insulation is not in contact with the drywall, you can bet your attic will be excessively dusty and that dust will find a way into your home through air and duct leakage.  Insulation is like a blanket, it needs to be touching your body to keep you warm.  If the insulation is not in contact with the drywall (attic floor or kneewalls) as is sometimes the case because of electrical wires walking studs, recessed lighting or changes in the ceiling height that insulation is not working.  The gap between the drywall and the insulation allows air to pass through the insulation, depositing dust and dirt on the insulation.  That’s why you may see a cloud of dust form if you just touch your insulation.  If the insulation was installed directly over an electrical penetration, leaky recessed lights or any gaps between the drywall- that insulation will be darkened with dust deposits.  All the dust in the attic is more likely to enter the home and worsen allergen reactions. 

Both the APS Home Energy Audit program and SRP Home Energy Audit program will assess and measure the condition of a home’s ductwork, air leakage and insulation performance among other tests.  A cost savings analysis is given to each homeowner upon completing the home energy audit but the main benefit that some homeowners will feel is the cleaner indoor air quality, reduced dust and allergens and a more comfortable home.  Learn more energy saving tips here and visit our friends at everyday health to learn many more tips on stopping home allergens here.  We hope you enjoy the beautiful weather out and stay healthy and happy while at home.

Solar, hybrid and tankless water heaters and your choices

With triple digit temperatures last week, we have successfully made the jump right past spring into summer here in the Valley of the Sun.  Here a week of 110 degree weather is considered normal and hot water during the summer is not a choice, it’s the only choice.  Hot water heating can be the second or third biggest energy user in the home, right behind the air conditioner and saving on water heating can knock off up to 20% of your total utility bill.  Using the power of the sun to supply your hot water needs is an efficient method of heating water, but there are more cost effective technologies outlined below that will keep more green in your pocketbook.

A tankless water heater is preferable to solar water heaters for gas-fired tanks.  To prevent cold water sandwiches, tankless water heaters now feature a 20-gallon reserve tank and still heater the water only when needed.  Tankless heaters use a sealed combustion venting type that prevents carbon monoxide from backdrafting into the home or garage.

A hybrid water heater is ideal for Phoenix residents and preferable to solar water heaters if you have an existing electric water heater.  The hybrid water heater uses a heat pump, which sits on top of a traditional electric water heater to heat the water.  The heat pump works just like your refrigerator or AC condenser, but in reverse.  That is it takes the ambient heat out of the surrounding air and uses that to heat the water and expels a small amount of cool air (perfect for a garage application).  Your refrigerator will extract the surrounding cold air and circulate it to provide chilled food while giving off a small amount of heat on the bottom of the unit.  Hybrid water heaters are more than 50% efficient compared to solar water heaters for half the cost.

Solar water heaters may be good for a large family who like to take long showers (most of the energy used to heater water goes to showers).  An 80 gallon tank or two 50 gallon tanks will be installed with solar water heaters, so there will never be a shortage of hot water but can be overkill for most homes.

Some homeowners are even switching from gas water heaters to electric because they are putting solar panels to generate their own electricity.  The thought is that a big enough solar array will cover the energy needed to heat the water.  Solar hot water proponents will argue that homeowners should have both – a solar water heater and a smaller solar electric system because the efficiency of the solar water heaters (1.2 efficiency factor) is greater than the efficiency of a conventional electric (0.89 efficiency factor) or gas tank.  I definitely agree that efficiency steps should be done to stretch that solar electricity dollar, but the cost of a solar water heater makes other water heating options such as a tankless water heater or hybrid water heater a smarter choice (which are all more efficient than using solar electricity).



Bottom line if you are considering solar hot water:

-  Homeowners with gas water heaters and families with children should go with a tankless water heater with a 20 gallon reserve

- Homeowners with electric water heaters should go with a hybrid water heater

- Homeowners should consider solar hot water if they are planning on living in the same house for more than 13 years

Solar leasing has become popular, how about leasing an electric car battery?

The average costs for electricity from APS or SRP is around $0.12 per kWh.  Imagine paying $450 per kWh for electricity.  That’s what most of today’s electric vehicle (EV) owners are paying for a battery to power their cars.  To put this into perspective, the Chevy Volt will cost owners 2 cents per mile to drive compared to the 12 cents per mile on gasoline at a price of $3.60 a gallon.  Or a trip from Phoenix to Tucson would run a measly $1.98 on electricity or almost 6 times that at $11.88 on gas.

 Shocking as the $450 per kWh may be, a decrease to $300 per kWh is considered the tipping point to mass market uptake.  An article published by webtech company, GigaOm, sites that leasing the battery is one solution to bring down the battery costs.  If you have thought about installing solar panels for your home, you’ve probably heard about solar leasing programs or PPA’s for larger solar applications, some groups are applying this concept to the electric car market.  It will be interesting to watch if and how automakers and startup companies adopt the electric vehicle lease; and also how the EV infrastructure is built-up to meet demand.

Phoenix Energy Audits and the Energize Phoenix Program

There is no lack of variety of housing types in the City of Phoenix.  Phoenix neighborhoods include the idyllic Arcadia District, the lively Camelback Corridor, the newly formed Lightrail Corridor and the beautiful historic district to name a few.  In addition to a great weatherization program, The City of Phoenix has developed a new Energy Efficiency program, Energize Phoenix.  The City of Phoenix is offering huge cash incentives to make your home more energy efficient.  Energize Phoenix is a large scale rebate program for residents who live along the Lightrail Corridor.  Residents receive APS-matching rebates from the City of Phoenix and for qualifying residents, a 60% Federal grant with no upper limit is available to fund efficiency upgrades like energy efficient AC units and furnaces, duct sealing, air sealing, shade screens and insulation.  If you live along the Lightrail Corridor, Energize Phoenix is making going green as easy with little upfront money, reduced utility bills and a more comfortable home.  There has never been a better time to go green

 Program Overview:

1. Have a home energy audit performed to identify the largest sources of energy waste.

2. Your Energize Phoenix approved contractor will walk you through each recommendation, its costs and offsetting rebates and cash incentives available through APS and Energize Phoenix.

3. Complete and submit the Energize Phoenix paperwork and your Energize Phoenix contractor will complete any work you requested and facilitate the rebates on your behalf.Rebate Overview:Rebates are available upon 6-8 weeks of completion of install and include the following.

- 10 free CFLs
- 2 free low flow faucet aerators
- 1 free low flow showerhead
- 1 free low flow kitchen sink aerator

- Home energy audit - discounted to $99

- Duct sealing - 75% off net costs up to $250 rebate per HVAC system from APS; matching rebates up to $250 from the City of Phoenix

- Air sealing - $250 rebate from APS; matching rebates up to $250 from the City of Phoenix

- R-38 insulation - 75% off net costs up to $250 rebate from APS; matching rebates up to $250 from the City of Phoenix

- Shade screens - $1 per sq ft rebate up to $250 from APS; matching rebates up to $250 from the City of Phoenix

- High efficiency AC units and furnaces - $175 to $525 rebate from APS; matching rebates up to $525 from the City of Phoenix


Visit Energize Phoenix's homepage and the AZ Home Performance With Energy Star for more information.

How to Winterize Your Home in Phoenix

Yes, even the desert gets cold at night.  Since it can get chilly enough to wear a sweater during a Phoenix evening, here are some things you can do around home to save energy, improve your indoor air quality and be comfortable enough to walk around barefoot, even in the dead of the winter. 

1.     Seal up your air leaks

Warm air raises and can escape out the chimney of a fireplace.  A chimney pillow can be installed in the flue to stop heated air from escaping during the winter.  Just be sure to leave the tag on and remove the pillow come summer.  Also check around potential leakage “hot spots” such as old windows, doors, plumbing penetrations under sinks and electrical outlets.  By replacing old weatherstripping around the doors or caulking around the windows or plumbing penetrations you can effectively keep your conditioned air where it belongs, inside.  Check the local hardware store to find outlet sealers to add a little insulation behind light switches too.

2.     Get up to snuff with your insulation

For Phoenix and central Arizona, the DOE recommends at least 12-inches of blown-in cellulose or an R-38 value to slow the transfer of cold air into the home.  If your attic has fiberglass batt insulation, it should be in contact with the attic floor at all times to work properly.

3.     Have your furnace or heat pump inspected

A seasonal tune-up may be in order if not done annually.  If the temperatures will never reach the temperature set-point the HVAC system may be low on refrigerant or something else may be awry.  Best to have it checked by a professional.

4.     Remove shade screens

During the Phoenix winters, solar gain through windows can help significantly warm the home, lowering energy bills from decreased heat use.  Shade screens can be unclipped and stored until it comes time for summer.

5.     Stay safe

Install CO detectors if you have a fireplace or gas appliances 3-6 feet from the ground.  Use a bubble solution to check for gas leaks around fireplaces, water heaters, furnaces and feeder lines.  Be sure that the furnace or water heater has a good clearance to allow for fresh air intake and that they are not located in the same room as a dryer.

Follow these tips for a safe and comfortable winter in the Valley of the Sun.  Also check out how a typical home in Phoenix uses energy or see some tips on how to save energy.