Archive for the ‘Funding & Grants’ Category
Muskoka: Frigidaire iQ Zone lets you customize your comfort by dividing your home into several independent comfort zones, all powered by your iQ Drive system.
Sunday, May 1st, 2011In Muskoka, how do I size the air conditioner for my home, what do I need to know?
Thursday, April 14th, 2011Cooling loads should be determined by a qualified air-conditioning contractor, using a recognized sizing method such as that specified in CSA-F280-M90: “Determining the Required Capacity of Residential Space Heating and Cooling Appliances.” Do not rely on simple rules of thumb for sizing, but insist on a thorough analysis from the sales representative.
Select a central air conditioner size or capacity to just meet the design cooling-load calculated. Oversizing the unit will result in short operating cycles, which will not adequately remove humidity, resulting in an unpleasantly cold and damp home. Undersizing the unit will keep it from attaining a comfortable temperature on the hottest days.
The equipment cost for a central air conditioning system is much more proportional to size than for heating equipment. Unnecessary oversizing will increase the purchase price and increase on-and-off cycling, which will decrease the unit’s overall efficiency.
Properly sizing your new high efficiency air conditioning system for your Muskoka home is critical, but not sufficient information to ensure a good installation. Call today for details!
WaterFurnace Geothermal Energy Grant
Sunday, October 3rd, 2010Why is Geothermal Heating and Cooling the best heating system for my Muskoka home or cottage?
Saturday, April 24th, 20101. Reduce your energy costs:
Providing you with an unheard of efficiency of up to 400%, the Envision WaterFurnace geothermal system can deliver up to $4 of free earth energy for every $1 of electrical energy used.
2. Heating, cooling and hot water in one unit:
One compact WaterFurnace unit provides heating, central air conditioning and supplemental domestic hot water all in one packaged system.
3. 10-year worry-free warranty:
The 10-year Worry-Free Warranty comes standard with the Envision WaterFurnace unit. This warranty covers the unit and provides you with a worry-free labour allowance. The warranty is with the manufacturer, not the distributor or the installing dealer and regardless of what happens to your dealer, you still have a warranty.
4. Long-lasting technology:
The WaterFurnace reputation for reliability has been earned by using only the highest-quality components, design and workmanship. WaterFurnace has been making geothermal systems for over 20 years.
5. Low-maintenance:
When installed properly, the buried loop will last for generations. And because the WaterFurnace unit is housed indoors, it is protected from the harsh weather conditions, increasing the lifespan of the equipment.
6. Quiet operation:
WaterFurnace systems do not require noisy outdoor units that create unsightly additions to your home’s appearance.
7. Safe operation:
There is no combustion, flames or fumes and no chance of carbon-monoxide poisoning because natural gas, propane and oil are not required to operate a WaterFurnace unit.
8. Reduce your carbon footprint:
Installing a WaterFurnace system can be the environmental equivalent ofplanting 750 trees or removing two cars from the road. No fossil fuel means no harmful emissions or greenhouse gases
9. Save future power plants:
If one in 12 Ontario homes installed a geothermal system, the energy saved would equal the output of three new power plants.
10. Increase the value of your home:
With a high-efficiency rating, the value of your home will go up. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are approximately 30 per cent more energy efficient than those built to minimum building code standards. The increased efficiency of these homes translates into reduced energy costs for homeowners.
Geothermal reference – money savings!!
Friday, September 4th, 2009Gravenhurst Plumbing Heating & Electric Receives Geothermal Award
Friday, September 4th, 2009Rebates: Province Matches Federal 25% Increase
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009Rebates: Province Matches Federal 25% Increase
Ontario homeowners can now unlock substantially increased rebates for energy efficiency upgrades from roof to basement. Ontario is more than doubling its investment in its popular Home Energy Savings Program. Rebates for changes like fixing insulation in ceilings, foundations, basements, and crawl spaces as well as upgrading leaky windows and doors are increasing by 25 percent or more. Making simple efficiency upgrades at home can make a noticeable difference on energy bills.
More evidence geothermal heating is the best way to heat your Muskoka home and provide the maximum energy savings
Monday, June 8th, 2009WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it will offer nearly $50 million in funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to accelerate the deployment of geothermal heat pumps (GHPs). Also referred to as ground-source heat pumps, GHPs generally achieve higher efficiencies than air-source heat pumps, because the ground maintains a relatively stable temperature throughout the year, even during heat waves and extreme cold snaps. They can provide space heating and cooling and water heating for residential and commercial buildings. According to the DOE, GHPs can substantially reduce the electricity demand for buildings, providing building owners and residents with lower utility bills and reduced maintenance costs.
Important notice from NRCAN regarding Geothermal Installations when retrofit. Important Muskoka Geothermal NRCAN Canadian GeoExchange Coalition
Friday, May 8th, 2009
Notice to Homeowners
Install a CAN/CSA-C448 compliant earth-energy system (ground or water source) that is certified by the Canadian Geoexchange Coalition
To receive an incentive for the installation or replacement of your earth-energy system, it is mandatory that the system complies with the CSA-C448 standard. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has contracted the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) to ensure that each system receiving a grant under the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program meets this criteria.
Therefore, each homeowner applying for a grant under ecoENERGY must obtain system-certification by the CGC. To accomplish this, your CGC accredited system-installer will have to complete the GeoExchange System Certification application form. Once completed, this form must be sent to the CGC either by fax at 1-514-807-8221, by email to reg@geo-exchange.ca or by mail at Canadian GeoExchange Coalition, 1030 Cherrier St, Suite 501, Montreal, QC, H2L 1H9.
A fee of $125 is also required for system certification which is payable to the CGC by either the homeowner or installer as they may have already included this fee in the cost of your system installation.
Once the CGC has received the required documentation, they will advise NRCan, usually within 10 business days, whether your earth-energy system meets the ecoENERGY program criteria. When it has been certified, NRCan will process your grant application for payment. You can then expect to receive your cheque from within 30 days of receiving certification.
It is also very important that the homeowner name that appears on the ecoENERGY grant application form is identical to the one that appears on the geothermal certification documents.
Please note that it is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure the above steps are taken to avoid delays in processing your grant application form.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Natural Resources Canada
Important Notice to Ontario Homeowners: Chimney vented furnaces are no longer available after December 2009
Monday, May 4th, 2009IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ONTARIO HOME OWNERS
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NO LONGER ALLOW THE SALE OF 80% FURNACES AFTER THIS YEAR? WILL THIS EFFECT YOU?
WHY?
To ensure that minimum efficiencies for furnaces reaches 90% in all homes.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE AN 80% FURNACE IN MY HOUSE?
Take a look at the top of the furnace where the flue gas leaves the appliance. If you see an aluminum or steel vent off the top, you more than likely have an 80% furnace.
IF YOU HAVE TO CHANGE TO A HIGH EFFICIENT FURNACE WHAT WOULD BE A BIG CHANGE FROM THE EXISTING FURNACE?
New 2” or 3” venting would be required to exhaust the flue gases from the furnace out the sidewall of your home. If this venting has to travel through finished portions of the home, expensive drywall or woodwork might also be required to refinish areas and hide unsightly plastic vent pipes.
CAN I REPLACE MY EXISTING 80% WITH ANOTHER 80% FURNACE?
Yes. You can replace your existing furnace with another 80% furnace but that change will have to be done this year. Note you might want to consider a 92+ efficient furnace because of the government grants available for Energy Star appliances.
HOW DO I DECIDE IF I SHOULD CHANGE OUT MY FURNACE?
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If you want to take advantage of attractive government rebates that are available now, up to $1125.00 (we have included a rebate schedule for you convenience)
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The active life span of your furnace is between 15 and 20 years. If it is older than this, this would be a good time to change the furnace
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If you think venting might have to run through already finished portions of the home, at least have us come take a look. We will look at the installation, at no cost to you, to see if any changes will have to be made and avoid surprise expenses in the future.
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If you have had and any service calls in the past and are unsure of dependability of your furnace
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If you are not satisfied with how much you have to pay each month to run your furnace. A higher efficient furnace will help ease those payments
HOW CAN I AFFORD TO CHANGE MY FURNACE?
We understand that this is not like buying that flat screen television, but we can make it as simple.
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With the government rebates we can lower the cost of the overall purchase by as much as $1125.00.
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Financing is available for low monthly payments
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An easy Rental program for the equipment is available, that can be paid monthly from your bank account, PAP.
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We offer a free 10-year parts and labour warranty so you will have no surprise expenses on your home comfort system
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Our equipment has a 10-year Quality Pledge so that if the major component of the furnace was to fail we would replace the entire unit
Free sites to support information in this letter:
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/regulations/bulletin/gas-furnaces-dec08.cfm?attr=24
http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/index-eng.cfm
Please call us today for your FREE in home evaluation of your home comfort system. With your input, we will only give you the straight facts on what is the best solution to your home comfort needs.
