Spring 2016
Thank you for helping us reach our goal for Polar Bears International!
In February, Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. partnered with Polar Bears International in the #ThermostatChallenge. We challenged our Washington, D.C. community to turn down our thermostats by one or two degrees and make a big difference in reducing CO2 emissions. Polar Bears International created the campaign to reduce emissions and help save polar bear habitat.
According to The Green Book, if every household in the U.S. adjusted their thermostat by one degree, it would save the amount of energy Iowa uses in one year! Likewise, if all U.S. households properly used programmable thermostats, we would reduce CO2 emissions equal to the amount of CO2 produced by Los Angeles each year. Another way to significantly reduce CO2 emissions is by choosing a high efficiency cooling and heating system. Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating is a D.C. Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) participating contractor, who can help you choose the most efficient HVAC system that will be the best fit for your home.
We asked Washington, D.C. to show us they were participating in the #ThermostatChallenge by "Liking" us on Facebook. For every Facebook Page "Like" we received in February, we committed to donate $5, up to $5,000. Together, we reached our goal and were able to raise $5,000 for Polar Bears International! Thank you, Washington, D.C., and keep up the good work in saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions for the sake of polar bears and the environment as a whole. Watch for our next challenge, coming in April for Earth Day!
Rogers, Elizabeth, and Thomas Kostigen. The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time. New York: Three Rivers, 2007. Print.
Why a Heat Pump May Be the Best Decision You Ever Made
Heat pumps have improved over the last few years, making them more efficient than ever. If you’re looking for solutions to heating and cooling your house year–round, you may want to look into the options they offer. It could save you a great deal of time, money and worry.
A heat pump offers an alternative to separate heating and air conditioning units, combining the features of both into a single system. It works according to the same principles of air conditioning, but with a twist that allows it to heat your home as well as cool it. In the past, heat pumps worked best in places with mild winters like Florida and California. Recently, however, great strides have been made in the technology, and it’s not unusual to see heat pumps in places with much colder winters. If you’re in the market for a new system, you might want to think about the benefits that heat pumps offer. A good technician from a reliable company can explain the details to you and help you make the right decision for your home.
How They Work
Heat pumps follow the same principles of air conditioning. Refrigerant is cycled through a series of coils and valves that first compress and liquefy it (releasing heat into the surrounding air) and then expend and revert it to gas (which pulls heat from the surrounding air). In traditional air conditioners, the first part takes place outside, releasing the hot air away from your home, while the second part takes place inside, allowing the cool air to be blown through your ducts with a fan.
With a heat pump, that process is essentially reversible, allowing the refrigerant to cycle the other way and the various valves and coils switch their function. The hot air can thus be released inside your home and the cool air outside, allowing you to heat the home as easily as flicking a switch.
The Benefits
That may be all well and good, but why does a heat pump make more sense than a traditional air conditioning and furnace combination? In the first place, it costs less to run in the winter, since it’s merely transferring heat instead of consuming fuel to create it. That means lower bills in the winter time without losing any of your heating power. Heat pumps are also quieter and safer, since they don’t generate trace gasses or run the risk of a fire in the event something goes wrong. If that sounds like a good fit for you, talk to a professional about your options.