ENERGY STAR: What it Means and How it Can Help You

Here’s a startling fact: heating and cooling a home costs the average homeowner about $1,000 a year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) energystar.gov. And if you live in the desert, that doesn’t factor in the costs of air conditioning repair in Phoenix.

If you live in Arizona, you don’t really have a choice about using air conditioning. Not using it could be dangerous, and even deadly. According a study done by to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), from 1979-2002, a total of 4,780 heat-related deaths in the United States were attributable to weather conditions. From 1993-2002, the incidence of such deaths was three to seven times greater in Arizona than in the United States overall.

Although air conditioning is a necessity, high energy bills and AC repair in Phoenix are not. There are many ways to save money – and energy – this summer.

The ENERGY STAR Program

Established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992, ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect the climate through superior energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR was established to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants caused by the inefficient use of energy and to make it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy-efficient products that offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance, features, and comfort.

To earn the respected ENERGY STAR label, products must contribute significant energy savings nationwide and deliver increased energy efficiency with the features and performance demanded by consumers. In addition, if the qualified product costs more than a conventional, less-efficient version, the purchaser must be able to recover their investment in increased energy efficiency through utility bill savings within a reasonable period of time.

Increased Efficiency Equals Decreased Costs at Home

Summer doesn’t have to equal exorbitant energy bills and costly air conditioning repair in Phoenix. For example – did you know that replacing your air conditioning system with an ENERGY STAR qualified model could cut your annual energy bill by $200, depending on where you live?

To receive the ENERGY STAR label, a central air conditioner must have a higher seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) and energy efficiency ratio (EER) rating that make it over 15% more efficient than conventional models. In addition, the system needs a blower motor to blow the cool air through the duct system.

Is it time to cut out the rising costs of AC repair in Phoenix and replace your current air conditioning system with a more efficient, ENERGY STAR labeled system? Chas Roberts Air Conditioning & Plumbing offers several ENERGY STAR products to choose from. To schedule an appointment, visit ChasRoberts.com or call (602) 943-3426 in Phoenix, (520) 618-1884 in Tucson or (505) 264-7257 in New Mexico.