Temperatures are falling, and the cost of heating your home is rising. From the October 28th edition of the Star Tribune, “CenterPoint Energy, Minnesota’s largest natural gas utility, proposed a rate increase Monday that would raise its average residential customer’s bill by 8.7%”. Preventive maintenance is often overlooked as a cost-saving resource for families, yet … Read more
Imagine it’s the middle of a Minnesota winter and a snowstorm has just shut down the whole city. How can you make sure your company’s building is warm enough and all systems are performing properly? What if you could manage your buildings from home with your own laptop or even your smartphone? This is the … Read more
The recent Star Tribune article about ways to save you money on home cooling maintenance this summer was, to be frank, really bad. We want to make sure our customers know that you can cut back on expenses and still remain comfortable. Follow these simple tips when the temperature starts to rise. Reduce Air Conditioner … Read more
When your home is warm and cozy it can be hard to think about boiler inspection and maintenance. Just as you would have a car winterized to protect the engine from the plummeting temperatures, your home’s “engine” needs to be serviced too. When proper maintenance is done to your system, you can save energy and … Read more
Winter is upon us and heating costs are on the rise. Be smart about energy consumption this winter and save yourself some money. Follow these six simple home energy saving tips. Lower the temperature, just a little Lower your temperature to 68 degrees. For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree … Read more
There are many reasons to consider converting your oil burning furnace or boiler to natural gas. Here are three reasons why you should make the switch before the unforgiving Minnesota winter takes hold. Save money with natural gas At the current rate, your cost savings for converting to natural gas alone could pay for your … Read more
There is a lot that needs to happen before going on a relaxing summer vacation. Checklist items likely include packing, suspending the mail, and shutting & locking windows, to name a few. Many include shutting off the HVAC on this list, but this can come with significant consequences! Read on to learn why and at … Read more
Thermostat settings are all about staying comfortable while maximizing energy efficiency. The first step is to properly set a programmable thermostat for your general lifestyle. Next, make a habit out of observing local weather forecasts and shutting off your AC whenever possible. Lastly, take advantage of small ways to stay comfortable while allowing the thermostat … Read more
The variety of occupant demands on commercial buildings is unprecedented; and building systems must respond to meet the demands in remarkable ways. For example, schools must maintain a comfortable environment for learning by day and transform to host an array of community meetings and sporting events in various areas of the building by night. Tenants … Read more
Most of us already know that “green buildings” are synonymous with environmental friendliness. That means they are less expensive to operate while also being better for our planet. How important that really is might be shocking. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) estimates that commercial buildings are themselves responsible for 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, … Read more