Showing posts with label power company. Show all posts
Showing posts with label power company. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
BTUs and Your Air Conditioner
A British Thermal Unit -- or BTU -- is the measure of an air conditioner’s power output and cooling capability. Normal BTU range for most air conditioners goes from around 5000 for a small window unit to 30,000 or more for a central AC system. BTU output is directly related to the size and cost of a unit—lower BTU means less power and lower cost, higher BTU means more power and higher cost. When you’re shopping for a new air conditioner, pay special attention to BTU because this is the best indicator of whether the unit is powerful enough to meet your needs.What is a BTU?
If you’re talking about air conditioners, BTU describes the power capacity of a specific unit. Generally, BTU output corresponds to the size of the space an AC can cool—a unit with more BTU can cool a larger room. About 20 BTUs are needed for each square foot of space in a room or home. Other things to consider are the height of ceilings, size and number of windows, and amount of insulation.
Still, BTU is a fairly accurate indicator of cooling capability, though it usually makes sense to adjust down. For example, if your living room is 10 feet by 15 feet and has a total area of 150 square feet, you’d multiply that by 20 BTUs to get 3000. Therefore, you’d need an air conditioner with at least 3000 BTUs to effectively cool your living room. However, when you take into account the other factors that impact the space—like cathedral ceilings, large windows, or an unusually warm climate—you may find that 3000 BTUs are not enough to keep you cool. In that case, it’s obviously best to choose a unit with higher BTU.
BTU Range
There’s a wide range of BTU outputs available in both commercial and residential air conditioners. Most residential units average 5000 to 30,000 BTUs. 12,000 BTUs equals one ton of air; some units are marked with a measurement in tons rather than BTU. A “2-ton” AC, for instance, means that the unit has an output of 24,000 BTUs.
Portable air conditioners average about 5000 to 12,000 BTUs. Wall and window units can reach upwards of 24,000 BTUs at the high end. Mini split systems range from 9000 to 24,000 BTUs, while multi-split systems and central air conditioners can put out 30,000 BTUs or more. Industrial air conditioning systems frequently have BTU output significantly higher than 30,000.
Not only will BTU tell you how much room an air conditioner can cool, but it can also give you an idea of how much you’ll have to pay to run it. The more BTUs a unit uses, the more it will cost to operate. To save money on utilities, look for air conditioners with a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (or SEER). Additional features like programmable thermostats, timers, fans, and power-saving settings can reduce strain on your system, boost efficiency, and lower your energy costs while still keeping your home cool.
Related Air Conditioning Information from Horizon Services...
Friday, March 5, 2010
Purchasing Clean Electricity
The energy industry is changing steadily. Consumers concerned about the environment and their own bottom line are looking for newer, more efficient, more economical energy sources. Nowhere is this more apparent than with electricity.Today, almost 50 percent of electric customers have the ability to buy renewable energy straight from their power distributor, and every consumer has the option to purchase green energy certificates.
Most states offer at least one of several different programs that let consumers buy green energy.
Green pricing programs require customers to pay a small fee in exchange for electricity produced by green energy sources. This optional service is offered through many traditional power companies; the premium fee helps offset costs for the supplier that come from increased expenses related to renewable energy generation.
Competitive electricity markets give customers a lot of choice when it comes to energy efficiency and low environmental impact. Through competitive markets, customers can select to have their power delivered by an independent green energy supplier rather than buy it from the traditional provider active in their area.
The competitive market model works a lot like the restructured long distance telephone call system of years ago. Instead of allowing a single default supplier to provide power to all consumers in a specific geographic area, some states have allowed alternative energy producers in to market green energy products and services to customers. This has increased competition among service providers in these markets, giving consumers renewable energy options and in some cases even lowering prices for traditional electric customers.
Green certificates can be purchased by anyone, regardless of their access to green pricing or competitive markets. Sometimes called green tags, renewable energy certificates, or tradable renewable certificates, green certificates are essentially the environmental benefits that come from producing clean energy. In buying green certificates, consumers are able to help alternative providers produce clean, renewable energy no matter where they are. These contributions make it possible for companies producing green power to generate more of it, thereby feeding more renewable energy into the country’s electricity supply.
The process starts with clean power companies that separate the power they sell to suppliers from the environmental attributes associated with that energy. These attributes are the green certificates. The certificates are then sold to both businesses and individual consumers who want to help increase the amount of green energy entering the power grid.
The separation makes it possible for alternative energy suppliers to sell their products to traditional suppliers at competitive prices. Selling the green certificates helps cover the additional costs associated with producing renewable energy, as well as stimulating the research and development of more green energy initiatives.
There are many organizations that offer renewable energy certificates. No matter where you live, you have the opportunity to contribute to these alternative providers and, in turn, increase the amount of green energy that circulates through our nation’s electric systems.
For more information about buying green electricity or participating in renewable energy initiatives in your area, contact your local electric company or your state’s Department of Environmental Protection.
Links to Local Electric Utilities in DE, PA and MD:
Related Information from Horizon Services...
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