fbpx

Chula Vista | Solar Panels, Battery Storage, Roofing, HVAC

Do Programmable Thermostats Save Money? In short, yes, programmable thermostats really do save money. Chula Vista’s climate is highly rated on the comfort scale due to our mild summers and temperate winters. While we do have beautiful weather almost year-round, we like to control the temperature in our homes using the most energy-saving heating and air conditioning in Chula Vista, and using a smart programmable thermostat can help.  In fact, Chula Vista is a national leader in energy conservation and renewable energy. We even have a Clean Air Initiative that can offer free assistance to help you lower your monthly energy bills by installing solar, so check it out! For a simple way to save on energy costs, read on!   If you are looking for a quick and straightforward way to help save a little money and conserve energy immediately, a programmable or smart thermostat is a cost-effective way to help you! Average savings with a programmable thermostat Well, according to EnergyStar, 45 percent of your energy bill goes toward heating and air conditioning in your home. It comes out to an average of $2,100-$2,500 a year!  With a programmable thermostat, you can save on energy by setting it to run only when you need it. Many smart thermostats track your usage and analyze it, and will adjust to help you conserve energy! These are easy to install. You can also call us for any heating and air conditioning services in Chula Vista. We can go over your choices with you and even install it if you would like us to. Using a smart or programmable thermostat can save about 10 percent on your energy bill.  Programming thermostat to save max money and energy While some users report savings of up to 30 percent, that would be a difficult number to hit because Chula Vista does not have extreme weather fluctuations. But, you can still save money by installing one if you use it to learn about your usage. If your system is an older model, call us today, and we can give you an honest assessment to see if you should upgrade to save energy and money. We can help you with any heating and air conditioning installation in Chula Vista!  So, here is how you save money using a programmable thermostat:  We recommend setting it using the following guidelines, and then adjust it every month or so until you find the best settings for you. In the summer, when you are home, program your thermostat to 78 degrees. While you are away at work, bump it up a few degrees. You can program your thermostat to begin cooling again before you get home, so the house is comfortable when you arrive! In the winter, set your thermostat for 68 degrees while you are home, and lower it while you’re away or when you are sleeping. No need to warm your home when you are not there! You can usually get away with lowering it 10-12 degrees while you are sleeping. In fact, most of us sleep better in a cooler environment, so take advantage of the nighttime coolness to get better rest! Since evenings are generally mild in Chula Vista, many residents will program their thermostat to stop cooling in the evening, and they take advantage of the drop in temperature by opening their windows and letting in some cold fresh air! Remember, that to maximize your savings during each season, set it to help you conserve energy while you are away! For every 1 degree, you adjust your thermostat, you use 1% less energy!

If you live in Chula Vista, you’ve probably considered joining the ever-growing community of solar-powered homes and businesses. Semper Solaris offers information on switching to solar in San Diego County by helping you get the financial support you need to get started. We’re happy to offer guidelines on where to find financial assistance to support your switch to solar energy. For starters, the staff at the Public Works Department is always ready to provide up-to-date information on solar financing and incentives. Switch to solar panels and enjoy a clean, renewable energy source that makes a difference on your home’s energy usage and utility bills. Federal Solar Incentives – Tax Credits Taxpayers are eligible to apply for a Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit or a Business Energy Investment Tax Credit that can be equal to 26 percent of costs related to photovoltaic panel system installation. For more information on incentives related to solar, San Diego residents can find more information on our website. Property Assessed Clean Energy Programs (PACE) PACE offers low-cost, long-term financing for energy-saving projects like solar system installation, repaid as a special assessment/tax on your regular property tax bill. Semper Solaris can help you confirm eligibility, which is based on equity and ability to pay, through Ygrene Energy Fund. Secured Financing Semper Solaris offers secured financing through local credit unions, including Metropolitan Federal Credit Union and Point Loma Credit Union. With this type of financing, homeowners use their home as collateral for the loan. Typically, these loans provide lower interest rates than unsecured loans, and the interest is usually tax-deductible. Federal Housing Administration 203(k) Rehabilitation Loans are mortgage programs provided through lenders that have been approved by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). These mortgages are intended for various home upgrades, among other photovoltaic (PV) systems. PowerSaver Loans (which can be both secured and unsecured) that can amount to $25,000 are intended for single families who want to have small to moderate home improvements aimed at better energy-efficiency and renewables. Unsecured Financing Fannie Mae Energy Loan is a direct, unsecured loan for energy-efficiency home improvements in the maximum amount of $20,000. The loan has a fixed rate, low interest and quite long pay back terms in comparison with bank loans. Clean Energy Upgrade Financing Program ABX1 14 is an unsecured loan for residential and small commercial property. This program targets owners who want to install renewable distributed generation, the infrastructure for charging electric vehicles or energy- and water-efficient systems. The program can provide financing up to $25 million through the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA). Third Party Ownership Solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) are arrangements in which the customer sites a solar panel system and buys the electricity at a low cost from the third party that owns, maintains and operates the system. The benefit for the customer in this case is the zero-out-of-pocket aspect for installation costs. Solar Lease Programs are very similar to the previous arrangement, but in this case the customer pays a fixed monthly amount regardless of the energy used and is responsible for operating, monitoring and maintaining the system. Other Methods of Financing Feed-in Tariff allows the owner of the renewable distributed generation to get a refund for the electricity they produced but sent back to the utility grid because they didn’t need it. Virtual Net Metering is designed for multi-metered properties. Production credits form one PV system can be sent to individual homeowners. Are you ready to go solar in San Diego County? Contact us to learn about going solar and see how much you can save on our highest efficiency solar panels.