When replacing the HVAC system in your Auburndale, FL, home, it’s important to make efficiency a top priority. Summers in Auburndale are long, hot, and oppressive. Winter offers little relief. You need reliable, high-performing equipment for year-round humidity extraction and temperature control. The following are several reasons why targeting energy-efficient options is essential.
Reduce Your Monthly Energy Bills
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), HVAC use could account for up to half of your home’s energy bill. This is especially true during the hottest and most humid months of the year. Shopping for a highly efficient heat pump or air conditioner will help you curb your monthly overhead costs. This way, you won’t have to sacrifice your comfort to keep your budget on track.
Limit Your Carbon Footprint
Most HVAC systems in Auburndale rely solely on electricity. Unlike natural gas-fired appliances, electric appliances don’t directly produce greenhouse gases (GHGs). However, although there’s an increasingly diverse range of ways to produce electricity without contributing to global warming, many electricity producers still burn fossil fuels to achieve their ends. Also known as gray emissions, the GHGs are generated by electricity production. Fortunately, you can reduce the number of gray emissions connected to your HVAC use by simply choosing appliances that use less electricity.
Electricity Rates in Florida Are on the Rise
Legislators are increasingly pushing Florida residents to install solar panels and pursue other clean energy solutions. Between 2022 and 2024, state residents saw an astounding 17% increase in electricity rates. Worse still, this rise isn’t slowing. Opting for heat pumps or ACs that efficiently convert electrical energy into heating and cooling power is the best way to minimize the effects of future rate hikes.
Take Advantage of Impressive Tax Credits, Rebates, and Other Incentives
Shopping for efficient HVAC equipment could help you qualify for impressive tax credits and other incentives. For instance, under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, you can get a federal tax credit of up to $2,000 when installing a qualifying air-source heat pump. Opting for a qualifying air conditioner instead could result in a tax credit of $600. Although federal tax credits won’t put cash in your hand right away, they will offset your end-of-year tax debt or add to your tax return.
Auburndale residents can also take advantage of state-sponsored rebate programs such as the Home Energy Improvement (HEI) program for additional savings. HEI and other similar programs are managed by local utility companies and can reduce the costs of upgrading to more efficient HVAC equipment by an additional $1,600.
Leverage Advanced Technologies for Enhanced Economy and Convenience
If you aren’t targeting efficient HVAC equipment when making replacements, you’re missing out. According to ENERGY STAR, even simply upgrading to a smart thermostat could cut your heating and cooling costs by as much as 8% each year. In addition to saving consumers money, smart thermostats come with cutting-edge capabilities like:
- Energy tracking and reporting
- Geo-fencing
- Remote accessibility
- HVAC performance alerts
- Filter change reminders
All the latest and most innovative HVAC features and functions are typically found in highly efficient heat pump, AC, and heater models.
Florida Doesn’t Have Natural Gas Reserves
According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), Florida doesn’t have natural gas reserves. Although touted by the Florida Natural Gas Association (FNGA) as being safe, affordable, and environmentally friendly, natural gas isn’t a locally sustainable fuel source. More importantly, it isn’t needed.
With winter temperatures rarely dipping below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, Auburndale has the perfect climate for year-round heat pump use. The even, steady heat supplied by heat pumps works well on even the coldest winter days, while the ultra-high heat and rapid heating provided by natural gas are overkill.
Some heat pumps produce four times as much heating and cooling energy as they consume in electric energy, especially in climates like Florida’s. This makes them easily the most cost-effective choice for many consumers. With electricity rates rising and Florida’s natural gas reserves rapidly declining, it just makes sense to target highly efficient HVAC equipment.
We’re committed to helping residents of Auburndale cut their carbon footprints and save cash. We’ve been proudly serving the region since 1991 with exceptional heating, cooling, plumbing, and indoor air quality services. For help finding efficient HVAC equipment for your home, contact Snowbird Heating & Cooling today.
