EnergyStar, the Environmental Protection Agency endorsed labeling system made to promote high energy efficiency on appliances, has a new tool for consumers looking to save money on their energy bills.

Called EnergyStar at Home, this interactive graphical website provides tips and tricks all around the house for saving on your energy bill.

The site is split up by room of the house as well as by individual appliance and offers numerous tips that could be useful to even the most energy conscious among us.

Arizona’s Air Conditioning by Jay installs air conditioners in Phoenix homes and businesses with the Energy Star label. If you’d like to learn more, use our privacy assured online form or call us at 602-266-3678.

The Green Choice Rate Program by APS offers a way for environmentally conscious Arizonans to make a difference by choosing to have their energy come from clean sources including wind, geothermal, and solar power.

According to APS “Green Choice options offer a way to help preserve the environment while providing for a secure energy source for our future. You’ll be making use of renewable resources, reducing pollution and ensuring a better quality of life for our community.”

Currently there are three options available to APS customers to fit various budgets. GPS-1 and GPS-2 make use of wind and geothermal energy and costs and additional $0.01 per kWh of energy on top of your usual costs. You choose how much clean energy you would like to buy either in blocks of 100kWh, or by percentage (10%-100%) and APS uses that amount of clean energy to power your home.

For those interested in solar power, the third option is called Solar-3. You can choose to have either half or your entire house powered by solar energy for a charge of $0.166 on top of your normal energy costs.

Go to the Green Choice Rate Program website for more information.

If you need help selecting the right environmentally friendly air conditioner in Arizona, Air Conditioning by Jay can help. We offer a wide variety of Arizona air conditioners and are sure to have one that meets your needs. Contact us today by using our privacy assured online form or call 602-266-3678.

APS is bound and determined to get more Arizonans to switch to solar power. Already, between APS incentives and government tax credits, a 3-kilowatt rooftop solar electric unit takes a hefty $21,000 price tag and reduces it to a much more reasonable $9,000.

Even with this large discount, there are still surprisingly few people switching to solar power for their home and Arizona air conditioner. Despite the electricity savings as well as the huge environmental benefits of using the sun as a renewable energy source, many are unable to meet the high upfront costs required to purchase a solar unit.

In order to encourage more people to switch over to solar power, APS has devised a way to entirely eliminate the initial costs of installing solar panels. In partnership with the Electric Gas & Industries Association (EGIA), APS is now offering access to GeoSmart ® Loans. GeoSmart loans are competitive unsecured financing specifically for people who want to invest in solar power for their home.

The loan covers the entire cost of purchasing the unit and offers rates between 7.99% and 12.99% depending on which options you choose. The loans are for anywhere between $2,500 and $50,000 and are for offer terms for 10, 15, or 20 year periods.

This program is an excellent option for those who are concerned about the environment, or anyone who simply wants to save money on their monthly energy bills.

If you need help selecting the right environmentally friendly air conditioner in Arizona, Air Conditioning by Jay can help. We offer a wide variety of Arizona air conditioners and are sure to have one that meets your needs. Contact us today by using our privacy assured online form or call 602-266-3678.

The more heat that enters your home, the harder your Arizona air conditioner has to work to keep you cool this summer. By preventing heat gain, you can stay comfortable while saving money on your Arizona air conditioning bill.

Heat gain comes from a number of areas including walls, doors, ceilings and most importantly windows. Windows account for almost 50% of the heat gain that your home experiences each year. Many seek to combat this heat gain by installing new specially designed windows, however these are expensive and take a number years to recover the investment. Here are five ways you can stick with the windows you have while fighting heat gain.

• Check your windows for cracks or issues with caulking. Fix or replace if necessary.
• Install shade screens on windows and regularly inspect them for rips or tears.
• Use trees and shrubs to provide shade for your house. Deciduous trees are a popular choice because they provide shade during the summer, and shed their leaves during the winder for more sunlight.
• Use reflective window films to block out the sun. When buying these films, look for a heat gain coefficient of .40 or less.
• Install awnings over the windows.

By following these easy steps, you can stay cool for less without having to overwork your Arizona air conditioner.

To find out more about saving money on your Arizona air conditioning, call Air Conditioning by Jay at 602-266-3678. You can also visit our website at http://acbyj.com/.

Much like your car, keeping your Arizona air conditioner in great shape requires you to pay attention to its needs and maintain it regularly. Most people take their car in for an oil change regularly yet many fail to properly look after their Arizona air conditioner. With a few easy maintenance tips, you can keep your unit running smooth year after year.

The most important step you can take to maintaining your Arizona air conditioner is to change your air filters regularly. Depending on the type you buy, you might need to change these every month or sometimes every three months but be sure to make the change regularly. This goes a long way for the health of your system and your comfort.

Here are some other useful steps you can take to keep your A/C unit in top shape:

• Watch out for bugs. Small insects occasionally attack your air conditioner and can cause problems over time. Be sure to call in pest control from time to time.

• Keep your equipment level. Your air conditioner rests on a pad that supports the unit. Over time this pad can become unlevel and may potentially cause problems.

• Clear any junk from around the unit. Sometimes leaves, branches or other objects can form around your system and cause problems. Be sure that your air conditioner is always cleared of debris.

• Keep your vents up and running. Avoid blocking any of the vents or grills in your house with furniture or other objects. Correct air flow is essential for your unit.

• Have your system regularly maintained. Many people only call in a technician when they need Arizona air conditioner repair. Unfortunately, because they do not have a professional maintaining their system, it breaks far sooner than it would have otherwise.

By following these easy steps, you can keep your air conditioner running better than ever and also save yourself a lot of money in repair costs.

If you need help with Arizona air conditioning repair or you want to purchase a new unit, give Air Conditioning by Jay a call. We guarantee same day service for Arizona air conditioning repair and installation. Go to www.acbyj.com or call Valley wide at 602-266-3678 to schedule an appointment today.

Air conditioning in Arizona allowed what was once a desert wasteland to become a thriving metropolis and ever popular vacation destination. Without the help of air conditioners, Arizonans would never have been able to withstand such harsh summer heat and create the expansive city we see before us today.

The first attempt at air conditioning was made in the 1830s by Dr. John Gorrie in Apalachicola, Florida to cool down hospital patients.  It worked by blowing air over a bucket of ice and was used for malaria and yellow fever patients.

Over 50 years later, in 1881 a similar device was created for keeping dying president James Garfield cool and comfortable. This contraption kept the room over 20 degrees cooler, but at the expense of nearly a half million pounds of ice in two months.

By 1902, the first device that resembles a modern air conditioner was created by Willis Carrier, whose company still continues to make high quality air conditioners to this day. The machine cooled air and lowered humidity by using chilled coils.

After the first air conditioner was created, sales took off as many companies looked to purchase them for their industrial buildings and offices. The first home air conditioner was sold in 1914 to Charles Gates in Minneapolis. Unfortunately, the first models were incredibly large, expensive and highly toxic, so there was a lot of room for improvement.

Carrier continued to be an innovator by finding ways to replace the toxic chemicals as well as significantly reducing the size of the unit. Additionally, deals were made with movie theaters in 1925 which dramatically increased the popularity of the device.

After world war two finished, sales shot up dramatically with over one million units sold in 1953.
Air conditioners have continued to advance significantly as the years have passed, and have allowed millions to move to hotter states such as Arizona.

Air Conditioning by Jay can you help you keep cool this summer without a half million pounds of ice. We offer a wide variety of Arizona air conditioners and are sure to have one that meets your needs. Contact us today by using our privacy assured online form or call 602-266-3678.

Did you know that an improperly sealed home can waste up to 15% of your energy bill compared to a home that is properly sold? Chances are, unless your home was built recently, you have numerous leaks that allow the cool air that your Arizona air conditioner provides to escape.

Weatherstripping and caulking your home are two of the least expensive ways that you can save money on your Arizona air conditioning bill and keep your home cool this summer.

You can use caulking to seal small cracks and holes in your home that are responsible for some of your energy loss. This is a relatively cheap and easy process if you know of any cracks or holes that need to be fixed. There are a number of different types of caulk available including acrylic which can be painted over and cleaned with water, silicone, which is good for tile, glass, and metal, and adhesive caulk works best with countertops and sinks.

Weatherstripping involves sealing doors and windows that are responsible for most of your home’s energy waste. A typical front door has a quarter inch crack at the bottom which is constantly letting cold air out of your house while bringing the warm air in. Using weatherstripping allows you to eliminate those cracks from both the doors and the windows and can save you a lot on your energy bills.

There are a number of types of weather stripping available including self adhesive foam, felt, interlocking metal, V-strips, and tubular rubber. The difficulty of installation and price for each of these methods varies greatly with the self adhesive foam tending to be the easiest and cheapest while the interlock metal is often more expensive and requires a professional to install.

If you need help keeping your Arizona air conditioning bill low give Air Conditioning by Jay a call. We guarantee same day service for Arizona air conditioning repair and installation. Go to www.acbyj.com or call Valley wide at 602-266-3678 to schedule an appointment today.

We’ve all heard the line about how much air conditioning in Arizona is environmentally harmful and how we should not settle in such unsustainable climates. At the same time, we have the image of the “green” New Englander using a wood stove that does little harm to the environment.

Is it possible that the reverse is true? An article on Wired Magazine’s website claims that air conditioning actually emits far less CO2 then heating. It makes sense too. Taking 70 degrees as the ideal temperature, we see that in Phoenix we only need to lower the temperature by 40 degrees from 110 to get to ideal. However, during the winter months when we need little more than a sweater, the New Englander is facing 0 degrees and must heat his house up by 70 degrees. That’s 30 degrees more then what we in Arizona faced during the summer.

A typical house heated by oil fuel in the north east emits near 13,000 pounds of CO2 annually. During that same year a house in Arizona will only produce 900 pounds of CO2. That’s really quite a difference when you consider that Arizona Air Conditioners continue to improve in efficiency every year.

If you need help selecting the right Arizona air conditioner for your home, Air Conditioning by Jay can help. We offer a wide variety of air conditioners in Arizona and are sure to have one that meets your needs. Contact us today by using our privacy assured online form or call 602-266-3678.

An environmentally friendly system allows you to stay extra cool this summer and avoid the guilt over using outdated air conditioners that pollute the environment. Using the new refrigerant called Puron, Carrier has eliminated the harmful effects to the greenhouse that many believe are at least partially responsible for global warming. Plus, by choosing a highly efficient unit, you will not only be saving money on your energy bills, but you will also reduce the amount of energy that power companies produce in ways that are harmful for the environment.

Here are two of our favorite “green” Carrier air conditioners that you can use to stay cool this summer.

Infinity Series 24ANA1

The Infinity Series 24ANA1 is a top of the line Carrier air conditioner with the features to match. With a 21 SEER rating it is one of the most energy efficient air conditioners in Arizona.  Additionally, thanks to its Puron refrigerant, it is harmless to the environment. It’s also Energy Star compliant which means that it is rated by the U.S. government as having superior energy efficiency.

Other features of the unit include the Infinity Control for remote programming, a noise level of only 70 dB, durable construction, and humidity control. The unit is covered by a 10-year compressor limited warranty and a 5-year parts warranty.

Comfort Series 24ACA4

The Comfort Series 24ACA4 is an air conditioner for people who are concerned about the environment but want an economical alternative to the Infinity Series. With a 14 SEER rating and Puron refrigerant, this unit is still an excellent choice for anyone looking to “go green” or for anyone who just wants to save some money on their energy bill.

The 24ACA4 has durable galvanized steel construction with WeatherArmor to provide protection against the elements. And with a noise level of only 74dB, chances are it is a lot more quite then air conditioners that you are used to.  The unit is covered by a 10-year compressor limited warranty and a 5-year parts warranty.

If you need help selecting the right environmentally friendly Carrier air conditioner in Arizona, Air Conditioning by Jay can help. We offer a wide variety of Carrier air conditioners and are sure to have one that meets your needs. Contact us today by using our privacy assured online form or call 602-266-3678.

APS wants you to start thinking about Arizona air conditioner repair and they are prepared to pay you up to $250 to do so. If you hire a BPI certified contractor to test your duct system and repair leaks APS will refund you up to $250.

According to a recent APS study, many Arizona homes have as much as 33% of their systems airflow completely lost because of leaky ducts. That’s a full third of their cooling bill completely wasted every month.

What’s more, on average 15% of cooling capacity is wasted due to duct leakage. With properly sealed ducts, the waste goes down significantly. And since the average home spends 50% of their annual energy bill on heating and cooling, the money you save by eliminating leaky ducts can be phenomenal.

Many who have had their ducts sealed properly have reported savings of more than $200 on their annual energy costs.

So to recap, APS will pay you $250 to get your system tested and in addition you will likely save $200 every year on your energy bill. That is a total of $450 save your first year, and a $200 savings for many years to come.

So what’s the catch? There isn’t one, you just have to make sure that the contractor you hire is BPI certified and that they are aware of and participating in this program. They will know exactly what to do and take care of the rest for you.

Air Conditioning by Jay is a BPI certified contractor and our technicians have been performing same day air conditioning repair in Arizona since 1983. We have helped many of our clients participate in this program and we can help you too. Call us today at 602-266-3678 or contact us using our privacy assured online form.