On July 1st 2014, a few major changes to a California law called Title 24 went into effect. What exactly are these changes and how do they affect you? Well, three of the most notable changes to HVAC requirements are: mandated air duct sealing and testing in all climate zones, a raise in the minimum insulation required in air ducts in certain climate zones, and new requirements added to Home Energy...
View Article Continue ReadingAlps Air Conditioning and Heating is proud to be a certified HERO Contractor. This allows us to offer homeowners financing through the HERO program. This special financing program has partnered with local governments to offer a number of benefits. It allows homeowners to make the energy-efficient upgrades they need with low-cost financing. HERO Financing does not look at your credit score to determine if you are eligible for a loan....
View Article Continue ReadingA home energy audit, or a thorough examination of the energy use in your home, can be very beneficial to homeowners like you who might be looking to save a little money and increase the comfort of your living space. A general rule of thumb is this: the older a home is, the more likely it is to benefit from audit-recommended improvements. Certain styles of homes, such as multi-story or Cape...
View Article Continue ReadingIf you are part of the 80% of Americans who own a clothes dryer in your home – take a look at this. Energy Star, the most widely recognized champion for energy efficient appliances in the world, just announced the release of over 40 new models of energy efficient, certified clothes dryers. The U.S. Department of Energy, washer/dryer manufacturers, retail stores, and environmental groups all throughout the U.S. collaborated in...
View Article Continue ReadingWith the spring season almost upon us, it is important to think about getting the air ducts in your home cleaned. Some benefits of cleaning your air ducts include: getting rid of mounds of old dirt and dust particles that build up in the air ducts over time, eliminating pet dander or harmful chemicals that might be clinging to the sides of the ducts, and increasing the efficiency of your...
View Article Continue ReadingIt seems like every day there are new ways to automate your home. More importantly, these tools for home automation are becoming accessible to more people. You no longer need to be ultra-wealthy to consider automating part or all of your home. However, most home automation for the masses isn’t going to start with a smart refrigerator or a microwave that can be controlled by your smartphone. Home automation is...
View Article Continue ReadingLight bulbs aren’t exactly what they used to be. In the last few years, they have gone from your standard bulb to being a lot more efficient. Now, you can control your lights – even their color – from anywhere with your smartphone. While you might not need all of the 16 million colors available from some of these bulbs, there are definitely some other benefits to having smart light...
View Article Continue ReadingHere at Alps, we talk a lot about reducing your energy use. However, we wanted to take the time to explain how reducing your energy use affects you and those around you. Although there are a lot of secondary benefits of reducing your energy use, there are three primary reasons to make your house more efficient. Reduce Your Bills Let’s be honest for a minute. If reducing your energy meant...
View Article Continue ReadingFrom all of us here at Alps Air Conditioning and Heating… THANK YOU! Because of our fantastic customers who donated, we were able to help less fortunate children receive gifts for the holidays this year. It was such a success that we plan on doing it again next year and hopefully get even more of our customers involved. We hope you all have a Happy New Year!
Continue ReadingAs new technology progresses, it’s clear that the home is becoming increasingly connected. With smart thermostats like Nest that allow you to monitor and adjust your home’s temperature from an app on your phone, it’s only a matter of time before you can control many items in your home from your phone. Although there are many independent appliances and pieces in your home that can be controlled separately, it’s obvious...
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