Analyzing Your Utility Bill

Last year (2005), when a barrel of crude oil cost $53 and gasoline at the pump was hovering around $2/gal, Government predictions were that winter heating costs would rise as much as 45%.      Now that we’ve seen gasoline prices at the pump hover around $3/gal and a barrel of oil close at the end of July in excess of $77, we can’t help but wonder what is in store for us this heating season…especially if the weather is as severe as some are predicting.      Of course if money is not that important to you…if it doesn’t matter to you what things cost…if matching your income with your expenditures is of no special concern…then read no farther, but…      …if dollars are important to you…if $3/gal gasoline and other rising living costs are a concern…if for example you hate to open the utility bill at the end of the month, then this graphic may be of interest. Source: ENERGYSTAR, Department of Energy.         * Other: Represents an array of household products, including stoves, ovens, microwaves, and small appliances. Individually, these products account for no more than about 2% of a household’s energy bills.         It is relatively easy to take the dollar amount of your utility bill and divide it by the percentages shown above, to see what things cost to operate and the area(s) where possibly savings might be effected.      For example, spending time or money to reduce the use of tv’s, computers or a dishwasher would not be cost productive.      Conversely, as nearly 50% of most energy dollars are spent on heating and cooling (HVAC), a closer look is not only warranted but might yield substantial savings…and never forget this important principal: “The dollars you save from the energy you DON’T use, are worth MORE than similar dollars added to your income! Don’t believe it? See explanation at bottom of letter.         Any list of reducing the costs of operating HVAC systems must begin with an evaluation of your present system to see if it is operating at maximum efficiency.      After that has been determined, then depending (1) on the age of your equipment (2) history of repairs and the (3) degree of comfort satisfaction you are experiencing, might cause you to consider other options. We’ll address them in future newsletters but right now is still an excellent time to get that heating system cleaned, tuned and evaluated…and save money too. See below: 4th NOTICE:      Already you have missed the cut-off dates for the whopping 40% seasonal discount to have your heating system “cleaned up and tuned up” with our famous 32 point checkup for the coming winter and there are just 11 days left, to get the 30% discount. You must act today, if you are going to take advantage of our annual Fall discount schedule. You can see this sliding scale of discounts and/or make your on line reservations by clicking here. You can also see specific definitions of each of the 32 points we check by clicking here.      If the current reports and predictions about rising fuel prices have you shivering, even though Fall is still 4 days away, then whether you heat your home with oil, natural gas, or electricity, our 32 point “tune-up-check up” to your heating system is the best way to get ready for cold weather.      The cost of the "check-up/tune-up" is a small price to pay for superior equipment performance that result in lower energy bills and extended life performance. Remember, THE MAJOR CAUSE OF EQUIPMENT FAILURE IS INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE.   Look Who’s Reading What!       About 250 visitors, look in on the Climatemakers website every day. Click here to see the “Top 50” pages viewed last month and if you see a title you like, click on it!            And finally, please remember, if you have any questions about the HVAC system in your house; how we can be of better service to you, or about our web site, please email them to me. I'd like to hear from you. Climatically Merry Sherman 2nd Generation President Phone #: 757-468-5800 Fax #: 757-468-5805 email: comfort@climatemakers.com Web site: http://www.climatemakers.com "Your family's indoor comfort is our family's business"

     P.S. This newsletter is not an orphan. In our newsletter archives, there are over 125 letters with similar tips and helpful hints to make your life in your house, more comfortable. You can see the list by clicking here.

     P.P.S. To keep our website as current as possible, we have just added 3 new pages to the ever growing total (now in excess of 250+ pages). We think you will find the new page depicting “Climatemakers Cartoon Family” especially interesting. You can see it by clicking here.

     This constantly updating of our website is not only to add content but to make it easier for you to navigate…so that you can find answers to your questions about HVAC, quicker than ever before. If you haven’t visited the website recently, and especially if you have any qualms about the performance or the cost of cooling this summer, you will find many items of interest.

     For example, on one of our newest web pages entitled 101 ways to save energy, you can see a detailed list of the many ways you can use to reduce energy costs (just click here). Or you might want to see one of our newer pages, "The Amazing Scroll Compressor" where you can see an animated explanation of what many people claim to be the greatest technological improvement in heating and air conditioning history by clicking here.

     P.P.P.S. You can also see for yourself, the professional response your call for services generates (and the response you can expect), by clicking here to see our recently updated overview of operations.

      To see all the page titles of our 250+ page web site at a glance, click here.

     Or you can select from some of the most popular accessories like a programmable thermostat that automatically regulates the heating/cooling in your house to suit your lifestyle (click here) or an electronic air cleaner that removes dirt, dust and pollen to improve your health (click here) or an automatic humidifier to add moisture to the air in the winter (click here) or how to add a zoning system that will  saves you money as it increases or decreases the heating/cooling in those rooms where and when it is not needed (click here).

     Explanation re Energy $$$ saved:

     Reducing your energy costs by a dollar gives you a dollar saved....to spend on anything you want. In order for you to spend an addition dollar from what you earn, you have to make between $1.20 and $1.70 (depending on your tax bracket) the additional amount is for the most part, due to taxes, etc.