Clean Comfort & Green Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Savings
There are a number of green plumbing and HVAC ways to maximize your comfort while minimizing your energy use.
With our 139 years of knowledge and quality products, we can assist you in coming up with a plan to turn your home or business greener - while saving you green in the process.
Clean comfort, monthly savings and environmental responsibility: you can’t go wrong with PDM’s green plumbing and HVAC services.
What are sustainable HVAC systems?
If you want to take care of the environment while maximizing your comfort, consider these environmentally-friendly heating and cooling tips. For more than 130 years PDM has been offering green eco-saving service for homes and businesses in SW Chicago suburbs.
- A smart thermostat is the best green upgrade you can make. Save up to 12% on heating energy and up to 15% on cooling. Plus, get utility rebates up to $125.
- A well-maintained HVAC system is more environmentally friendly. A furnace combustion safety analysis improves energy efficiency and gives you peace of mind.
A new energy-efficient HVAC system helps keep the environment clean. Energy Star air conditioning and furnaces can be up to 98% efficient and save 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Simply put, furnace or boiler replacement means you can cut emissions and energy usage by 15% to 30%.
What is Green HVAC?
Here is what’s new in Green HVAC technology:
- Geothermal Well Heat Pump- The Environmental Protection Agency reports geothermal well heat pumps are the most energy-efficient, eco-friendly and cost-effective compared to standard HVAC. Although drilling a well or excavating can be costly, you will save up to 70% off an average home energy bill while reducing your carbon footprint.
- Hydronic Radiant Heating & Cooling - This means that heated or cooled water is pumped through tubes installed in your floor. Some estimates show radiant heating is 30% more efficient than traditional systems. Radiant cooling can be up to 50% more efficient.
Passive Solar Heating - Save money on heating by designing the building with plenty of sunlight and right placement of windows where the sun can soak into walls, floors or other surfaces. Once the heat is soaked up it can be stored in a thermal mass like a water tank or a slab made of stone, concrete or ceramic tiles. The heat then naturally radiates throughout the house or it can be blown through the ventilation system with fans.
What are some greener HVAC systems?
Direct Current solar air conditioners use the DC power produced by photovoltaic panels. Because these systems don't require an inverter to change the power to alternating current, they're optimal for off-grid applications.
Alternating Current solar air conditioners are designed to work with your home's existing electrical system. This means that the DC current collected from the solar panels is converted into AC power for use with the solar air conditioner, which can be used on the electrical grid.
Hybrid solar air conditioners use a combination of electricity from the grid and solar power to reduce the overall cooling costs of your space or whole home. More specifically, an AC/DC hybrid system uses grid electricity to run the unit's fans, but solar energy to run the compressor.
Green Heating & Air Conditioning
Replace Energy Star HVAC, Central AC or Furnace - While it may seem like a major expense, the long term benefits of a new energy efficient HVAC, central AC or furnace make it worth your while with both comfort and efficiency.
Technology is always improving, making the newest models the most green and eco-friendly yet. Plus, newer HVAC units are close to whisper-quiet, as opposed to the loud roar of older machines.
Regular HVAC Maintenance - Even the most energy efficient HVAC system can turn into a power drain if it’s dirty and not working correctly. Regular maintenance can make sure your green HVAC system is working to its full potential and prevent system downtime.
Smart Thermostats - Maintaining the heating or cooling in your home is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Weather changes throughout the day, there are unexpected changes in temperature and many other factors that can alter your AC needs.
A smart thermostat is able to learn the ebb and flow of your cooling or heating needs and adjust accordingly. This energy efficiency provides you with greater savings, and the less energy you use, the better it is for the environment. Plus utility rebates.
Automated Bathroom Humidity Sensing Ventilation Fan - Does your exhaust fan clear a fogged-up mirror and humidity quickly? If it is time to upgrade an old, or undersized bathroom ventilation fan we have a great idea.
Choose a humidity sensing ventilation fan that automatically turns on and off. A smart choice and the most efficient use of the fan helps you only use the fan as needed. A fan should have a CFM rating high enough to replace the air in your bathroom at a rate of eight times per hour.
Green Plumbing Solutions
Water Heaters - Older water heaters can waste 27% of energy. Upgrade to a new efficient water heater for more hot water and lower heating costs. Time to upgrade to a tankless water heater? Newer tankless water heaters save energy by only heating the water as it is needed, reducing energy costs in an eco-friendly way. Not only that, but the hot water is on demand - no more running out of hot water! Water heater maintenance can also help improve efficiency and give more hot water by flushing the water heater.
Healthier Water - Test your water for hardness and contaminates. Install whole house water filtration for healthier water and longer appliance life. Remove chlorine and more with activated carbon filters or reverse osmosis drinking water filters. Rusty water concern? Learn more.
Reduce Water Usage:
Toilet - An average family of four uses 881 gallons of water per week just by flushing the toilet. EPA studies say 20-40% of toilets leak water down the drain. Check for toilet leaks. Add food color to the toilet tank and wait 30 minutes. Then check the toilet bowl to see if coloring appears. If so, your toilet leaks. Flush the toilet promptly to make sure the tank is not stained. Learn why your toilet is leaking. If it's time to replace your toilet PDM can help. Save water with low flush toilet that uses two to five times less water per flush than a standard toilet. Learn about a smart bidet toilet cleansing seat. Faucet - Faucet drip can waste 2,086 gallons a year. Fix a faucet drip, you'll feel better. Faucet aerators can reduce water consumption by 25%. Low flow shower head can reduce usage up to 60%. And then there are touch-free faucets and smart shower valves to make your life easier. Dishwasher - Energy Star dishwashers are on average 40% more energy efficient and water-efficient than standard models.
Eco Friendly Plumbing – Greywater - Water-recycling systems are the new rage in plumbing. Rather than flush away this less-than-perfect resource, water flows into gardens or lawns instead. While taking a swig of greywater is not for you, plants actually love the stuff. It provides them with the nutrients they need to grow healthy and strong.
Rain Barrel. Ask your city water dept. if they offer a rain barrel program. City of Joliet offers a subsidy. A 55 gallon rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from a homeowner’s roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains and streams. Lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40% of total household water use during the summer.
Insulated Pipes - Pipes may do the job of getting water where it needs to go in your home, but if they are uninsulated they may not bring all the heat with it.
Insulated pipes help to hold in the heat, making your home more energy-efficient and saving the time (and wasted water) you use warming up your tap. In the colder months, the insulation helps prevent pipe damage from freezing, saving you on costly repairs. Learn about frozen pipes.
Air Infiltrates Through Every Nook & Cranny
About one third of air loss - and therefore energy waste - is because air infiltrates through the openings in your ceilings, walls and floors.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save 10% or more on your monthly energy bills just by plugging air leaks in these places in your home.
While PDM does not offer insulation service, we recommend you eliminate air leaks, then insulate!
Ceilings, walls and floors - 31% of air infiltration Air ducts - 15% Plumbing pipe penetration in roof or wall - 13% Fireplace - 14% Fans and vents - 4% Doors - 11% Windows - 10% Electrical outlets - 2%
Ready To Take The Eco-Friendly Green Plumbing & HVAC Plunge?
Then it’s time to begin your own green initiative! Save some green and make your neighbors green with envy by letting PDM remake your home or business into an energy-efficient oasis. Contact the PDM pros online or call us at 815-726-6264 today for green plumbing & HVAC ideas!
