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Energy Saving Products
- Geothermal Systems
- Ceiling Fans
- Boilers\Furnaces
- Residential Refrigerators
- Central Air Conditioning
- Programmable Thermostats
- Energy-Saving Fact - "Did You Know?..."
Geothermal Systems
Geothermal systems are similar to ordinary thermal systems, but they use energy stored in the earth to provide heating, cooling and hot water. Because they use the earth's natural heat, they are among the most efficient and comfortable heating and cooling technologies currently available; all this is accomplished through a process that is amazingly simple:
In the winter...
Heat is absorbed from the ground or groundwater and carried to the geothermal unit via an underground piping system or well. The heat is transferred to the air, which is distributed through duct work similar to that used in any forced air heating system.
In the summer...
The unit provides central air conditioning by rejecting heat from your home. A portion of the heat can be used to produce hot water, while the remainder is pumped back to the underground piping or well system, where it harmlessly dissipates into cooler ground/water.
ENERGY STAR® qualified geothermal heat pumps use about 30% less energy than a standard heat pump; they are also quieter than conventional systems.
Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. By choosing ENERGY STAR® and taking steps to optimize the performance of your heating and cooling equipment, you are helping to prevent global warming and promoting cleaner air while enhancing the comfort of your home.
You may also be interested to know:
> Though these products can be more expensive to purchase up front, the cost difference will be paid back over time through lower energy bills.
> When buying new equipment, sizing and installation are as important as product quality.
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You can get better heating and cooling performance at home with ENERGY STAR home sealing (insulation and air sealing) and duct sealing.
> Consider regular maintenance to maintain your heating and cooling system performance.
Since Geothermal Systems are controlled in essence by the environment, systems vary depending on your area. Next Generation Modular will plan & design for your specific project needs.
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Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fan/light combination units that have earned the ENERGY STAR® rating are about 50% more efficient than conventional fan/light units. This can save you $10 per year on utility bills plus any additional air conditioning or heating savings you may gain when your fan is operated properly.
Earning the ENERGY STAR®
While ENERGY STAR® qualified ceiling fans use improved motors and blade designs, you can dramatically increase your savings with ENERGY STAR® qualified lighting. If your fan doesn't include lighting, be sure to purchase an ENERGY STAR® qualified light kit. This lighting is efficient and long lasting, so you won't have to make frequent bulb changes.
The choice of ceiling fan fixtures is endless; for this reason, we prefer to let our customers make a selection that best fits their taste and needs. Our electricians will install any lighting appliance you select for your Next Generation Modular Home or Addition.
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Boilers/Furnaces
Whether gas or oil, ENERGY STAR® qualified boilers use about 6% less energy than a standard boiler.
ENERGY STAR® qualified boilers have annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings of 85% or greater. They achieve superior efficiency with improved features, including:
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Electric ignition, which eliminates the need to have the pilot light burning all the time |
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New combustion technologies that extract more heat from the same amount of fuel |
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Sealed combustion that uses outside air to fuel the burner, reducing draft and improving safety |
Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. By choosing ENERGY STAR and taking steps to optimize the performance of your heating equipment, you are helping to prevent global warming and promoting cleaner air while enhancing the comfort of your home.
You may also be interested to know:
Though these products can be more expensive to purchase up front, the cost difference will be paid back over time through lower energy bills.
When buying new equipment, sizing and installation are as important as product quality.
You can get better heating and cooling performance at home with ENERGY STAR home sealing (insulation and air sealing) and duct sealing.
Consider regular maintenance to maintain your heating and cooling system performance.
Furnaces are the most common residential heating system in the U.S. ENERGY STAR® qualified oil and gas furnaces have annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings of 83% and 90%, or higher, making them up to 15% more efficient than standard models.
In this rapidly changing field, we pride ourselves in staying informed of the most up-to-date energy-efficient HVAC technology. Next Generation Modular offers the latest innovation in residential and commercial heating and cooling.
ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators require about half as much energy as models manufactured before 1993. ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators provide energy savings without sacrificing the features you want.
Earning the ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use high efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to improve energy efficiency.
ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards and 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001.
Many ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models include automatic ice-maker and through-the-door ice dispensers. Qualified models are also available with top, bottom, and side-by-side freezers.
ENERGY STAR qualified freezer models use at least 10% less energy than required by current federal standards. Qualified freezer models are available in three configurations:
a. upright freezers with automatic defrost
b. upright freezers with manual defrost
c. chest freezers with manual defrost only
ENERGY STAR compact refrigerators and freezers use at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards. Compacts are models with volumes less than 7.75 cubic feet.
Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. In most households, the refrigerator is the single biggest energy consuming kitchen appliance. Replacing a refrigerator bought in 1990 with a new ENERGY STAR qualified model would save enough energy to light the average household for nearly four months.
You may also be interested to know that you can reduce the amount of energy your refrigerator or freezer uses, whether with a standard or an ENERGY STAR qualified model:
> Position your refrigerator away from a heat source such as an oven, a dishwasher, or direct sunlight from a window.
> To allow air to circulate around the condenser coils, leave a space between the wall or cabinets and the refrigerator or freezer and keep the coils clean.
> Make sure the door seals are airtight.
> Keep your refrigerator between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
> Minimize the amount of time the refrigerator door is open.
> Recycle older or second refrigerators.
Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign
Announcing a new, fun and engaging way to help you shed your old, energy-guzzling refrigerators, lower your utility bills, and protect the environment. Did you know there are more than 47 million fridges over ten years old in the U.S.? This new, nationwide effort, brought to you by the U.S. Department of Energy and the government's ENERGY STAR program, encourages every American who owns an old, inefficient refrigerator to take another step to save money, energy and the environment by recycling that old fridge. And if a replacement unit is needed, you can also save when you buy a new ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator.
Visit RecycleMyOldFridge.com for more information! Spread the word.
Central Air Conditioning
Heating and cooling costs the average homeowner about $1,000 a year — nearly half the home's total energy bill. About one-seventh of all the electricity generated in the US is used to air condition buildings. This number increases in areas like the Northeast where heat and humidity where the need for air conditioning is often more vital than a luxury. If your central air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old, replacing it with an ENERGY STAR qualified model could cut your cooling costs by 30 percent.
Earning the ENERGY STAR means products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
ENERGY STAR qualified central air conditioners have a higher seasonal efficiency rating (SEER) than standard models, which makes them about 14% more efficient than standard models.
Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. By choosing ENERGY STAR and taking steps to optimize the performance of your cooling equipment, you are helping to prevent global warming and promoting cleaner air while enhancing the comfort of your home.
You may also be interested to know:
- Though these products can be more expensive to purchase up front, the cost difference will be paid back over time through lower energy bills.
- When buying new equipment, it is important to get a quality installation. Make sure you get a contractor who can do the job right.
- You can get better performance out of your cooling equipment by sealing your home and making sure your ducts don't leak.
- EPA offers additional suggestions for improving the performance of your cooling system as well as general home improvement advice.
To help us select Qualified Equipment to heat or cool your Next Generation Modular home, we use an online database that was developed by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) and the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI). All equipment listed in this online database meets the specification requirements for ENERGY STAR. This online database is solely maintained and operated by CEE and ARI.
Note:
New ENERGY STAR Specification to Take Effect January 1, 2009
On January 1, 2009, ENERGY STAR Tier 2 requirements for central air conditioners and air source heat pumps will take effect. The Tier 2 requirements are as follows:
Programmable Thermostats
Did you know that properly using a programmable thermostat in your home is one of the easiest ways you can save energy, money, and help fight global warming? An ENERGY STAR® qualified programmable thermostat helps make it easy for you to save by offering four pre-programmed settings to regulate your home’s temperature in both summer and winter — when you are asleep or away.
The average household spends more than $2,000 a year on energy bills — nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. Homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings. The pre-programmed settings that come with ENERGY STAR® qualified programmable thermostats are intended to deliver savings without sacrificing comfort. Depending on your family’s schedule, you can see significant savings by sticking with those settings or adjust them as appropriate for your family. The key is to establish a program that automatically reduces heating and cooling in your home when you don’t need as much.
Use the ENERGY STAR® Programmable Thermostat Calculator to see what you can save with set-back temperatures that work for your family.
The pre-programmed settings for an ENERGY STAR® qualified programmable thermostat are:
