People Gas & North Shore Gas Holiday Bonus Programs

Residential Prescriptive Rebate Program

Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Holiday Bonus Programs

The weather is getting colder, and homeowners and businesses are starting to pay more attention to their HVAC systems and how they can lower their natural gas bill as winter approaches. To help you make the decision to go high-efficiency, People’s Gas and North Shore Gas are offering a special bonus to customers who participate in their programs prior to the end of 2012. 

Residential and C and I Prescriptive Rebate Programs 

Replace your furnace or boiler by November 30, 2012 and receive double the standard rebate (attic insulation rebate excluded). For example, the standard rebate for a 95% efficient furnace is $500. With this bonus, the consumer will receive $1,000.
 
In addition, the Small Business Energy Savings Program is also offering a bonus program. 
 
Visit People’s Gas for a complete list rebates. 

Or visit North Shore gas for a complete list of rebates.


Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.

New Furnace Minimum Efficiency Standard

90% AFUE furnaces set to become the Legal Minimum on May 1, 2013

 The DOE is implementing a regionalized system (vs. one rule for the entire country).  The minimum efficiency required in Illinois will be 90% AFUE.  This applies to both new construction and replacement equipment. This means that distributors are likely to start reducing their stock of 80% furnaces this winter so they are not stuck with inventory that is illegal to install. 

80% AFUE furnace with sheet metal flue pipe.

If you have a furnace that has a sheet metal flue pipe that vents into a chimney, you have a furnace that has an efficiency rating of 80% AFUE or less (the percentage of heat that makes it into the home vs. the amount wasted up the chimney). After May, you will not have the option of replacing it with a similar furnace that can be vented into a chimney or vertical metal flue. The minimum efficiency furnace available will be 90% AFUE which requires venting via 2" or 3" PVC piping directly through an outside wall or through the roof. 

There are many situations where this may not be practical such as finished basements where the furnace is not adjacent to an outside wall, or in condominiums that are not on the top floor of the building which may require running new PVC vent piping through neighbors' units above - between the furnace and the roof. 

There are also many codes and procedures for venting 90+ furnaces which may prohibit using the closest outside wall such as: minimum height off the ground, not venting within 4 feet of a window or electrical/gas meters, or venting beneath an outdoor deck, among others. There are also complications with having a water heater being the only appliance venting into an old unlined chimney. The chimney was originally sized for a lot of heat from inefficient furnaces and water heaters being dumped into them during winter. This allowed the flue gases to make it all the way out the top of the chimney. When the furnace is updated to a 90+ and no longer vented into the chimney, there will not be enough heat from the water heater flue gases to prevent them from condensing half way up the chimney causing damage to the brick and mortar, and creating potentially hazardous conditions.

Of course we always recommend replacing an old ineffeicent furnace with a 90% or higher AFUE model as the best long term option. But for a few more months you still have a choice.

 

Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.

Are You Prepared For The Reduction in R-22?

 

The U.S. EPA is proposing to significantly reduce allowances to produce and/or import virgin R-22 ranging from 11 to 47% per year over the period of 2012 to 2014 for servicing existing R-22 equipment. Under this proposal, 2012 allowances would be reduced between 55 to 80 million pounds, 2013 allowances would be reduced to between 46 to 69 million pounds and 2014 allowances would be reduced to between 36 to 58 million pounds.  Click here to download the flyer.

Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.

December Deadline: Tax Credit for Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades Will Expire Soon

A federal tax credit for energy- and money-saving home upgrades will expire on Dec. 31. But you can beat the deadline by making energy-efficient upgrades now.

Put Energy-Efficient Upgrades in Use by Dec. 31

The tax credit in question applies to improvements “placed in service” through Dec. 31, 2011. The IRS defines “placed in service” as the point when the products or materials are fully installed and are ready for use – not the time of purchase.
So, it’s not enough just to put the order in for a new door or window by Dec. 31 – you’ve got to install it, too. The tax credit applies to how much you paid for the improvement, excluding labor for building components like windows, doors and insulation – but including labor for HVAC components like air conditioners, heat pumps and water heaters.  Learn more about the how the tax credits work.

What Does The Credit Apply To?

Five basic energy efficiency upgrades are among the six items that are eligible for the tax credit:

• Insulation
• Windows, doors and skylights
• Non-solar water heaters
• Metal and asphalt roofs
• HVAC systems
• Biomass stoves

Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.

Last Heat Wave For This Year?

Looks like temperatures will be in the 90s again later this week. If your A/C is on it's last legs, late summer through early fall is great time to replace your system. Some R-22 units are still available, and manufacturer's often give us great deals on overstock or remaining 2011 models this time of year. Call for a free estimate to replace an existing system, or for new installations.

We're still running our $99.00 air conditioning clean and check special for new customers for a few more weeks. Go to www.Perri-Aire.com or call for details.

Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.

Flood Recovery: Heating, Air Conditioning, Water Heaters

Consumer Product Safety Commission Alert

Submerged gas control valves, circuit breakers, and fuses pose
explosion and fire hazard! Replace all gas control valves, circuit breakers, and fuses that have been under water:
GAS CONTROL VALVES on furnaces, water heaters, and other gas appliances that have been under water are unfit for continued use. If they are used, they could cause a fire or an explosion. Silt and corrosion from flood water can damage internal components of control valves and prevent proper operation. Gas can leak and result in an explosion or fire. Replace ALL gas control valves that have been under water.
Read the full CPSC alert here.

Here's another informative article from the PENNSYLVANIA  DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.


Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.

Guess Which Cities Are The Least Green

Guess Which Cities Are The Least Green
The U.S. and Canada Green City Index, part of a research project conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, recently released its ranking of cities throughout North America regarding their environmental performance. Click the link above to check out the cities that excel in green and the ones that are ranked at the bottom (via www.siemens.com).


Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.