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narenner
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Posted: Fri Oct 10th, 2008 12:44 am |
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Glendale resident Nora Paola used to set her thermostat between 76 and 80 degrees, adjusting for when she was away from home to save money. Recently she decided to take steps to curtail high cooling bills and is hoping to move the thermostat up several degrees – permanently.
“In comparison to last year I just know that I was much warmer this year with the air conditioning set at the same degree,” Paola said. “I had to keep lowering the temperature in order to stay cool.”
Rather than sweating it out, Paola decided to do what she could to mitigate high energy bills. She recently installed a system in her attic to improve the temperature of her home, keeping it cooler and helping conserve energy. This temperature adjustment also saves nearly 6,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year - 2,000 pounds for every two-degree adjustment on the thermostat, according to environmental Web site http://www.stopglobalwarming.org.
After building a successful business in Texas, Efficient Attic Systems entered the Phoenix market late last spring and has helped nearly 100 homes conserve energy and beat the high cost of desert dwelling with an innovation that makes homes more comfortable – an attic-installed radiant barrier.
While Paola’s system is new, others who have installed the system have experienced about a 30 percent savings in their utility bills. Currently, Paola spends nearly $300 each month on her energy bill, 38 percent of which comes from the usage of heating and cooling systems.
“My utility bills were getting worse and worse,” she said. “I just knew I had to do something about it.”
Efficient Attic Systems offers a three-pronged system that works in unison in an attic to keep it cool – radiant barrier spray, insulation and attic vents. By cooling the attic, the rest of the home stays cooler, longer.
The radiant barrier is a high-tech coating that is applied to the underside of a roof deck to block up to 75 percent of the sun’s radiant heat.
High-grade insulation keeps warm air from seeping into a cool house during the summer and cold air from flowing into a warm house during the winter. Proper insulation helps a home maintain a comfortable temperature with less use of heating and cooling systems.
A combination of attic vents helps pull air through the attic to prevent heat build-up during warm months and remove warm, moist air generated by showers, laundry, etc.
As a result, air conditioning systems kick on less, homes stay cooler, the value of a home increases and energy is conserved.
“More residents are staying in their homes this summer and fall because of the volatile economy,” said Efficient Attic Systems’ Arizona Director Bob Clardy. “This system allows residents to enjoy a comfortable temperature in their home while still conserving energy and cost savings.”
The installation process takes just a few hours and costs consumers a fraction of the price of solar panels and other expensive heating and cooling alternatives. In addition, consumers typically see a much quicker return on investment.
"With average monthly utility bills of more than $300, the return on investment is going to be pretty quick," Clardy said.
Paola said she is hopeful that her investment provides quick results.
“I kept investing in other parts of the house to try to keep it cool,” she said. “Finally I thought ‘why don’t I get this system installed and stop the heat at its source?’”
Efficient Attic Systems has been popular in the East Valley – with installations in more than 60 homes in Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa – and is starting to make a real impact in the West Valley. Despite attic temperatures that can reach 148 degrees during the warm season, the company's installers have kept busy and made homeowners happy.
“Summers can be unbearable here – especially when they extend into the fall months,” Clardy said. “We’re excited to offer a system that not only provides consumers some relief from the heat, but that also does its part to reduce the amount of energy used in each household.”
More information is available at http://efficientattic.com.
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