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If you want to get serious about assessing your home’s energy efficiency, there’s no better way than with the Home Energy Rating (HERS) Index. The HERS Index is an official analysis of a home’s energy efficiency that’s used to quality the home for the federal Energy Star label, Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) and various tax incentives and rebates. Once your home qualifies for these elevated statuses, it’s easier to market if you want to sell it. However, if you want to stay put, a low HERS Index means substantial energy savings, plus better comfort.

Anybody who’s spent time in the upper Midwest during the summer knows how muggy it can get. They also know how easily humidity can pervade a home and compromise comfort, even with the air conditioning blasting away. The good news is that you can take a variety of steps to lower humidity in your home, and most of them are relatively simple.

The Twin Cities is well known for the coldest winters in the country, yet in the summer, the heat and humidity go way up. Much of this is attributed to the urban heat island effect, a phenomenon brought about by too much concrete and asphalt in the city, and tall buildings that keep the wind out. On days when temperatures are soaring, everyone takes refuge by staying in the air-conditioned comfort of their homes.
Nothing can be more frustrating, therefore, than turning on your air conditioner to find that hot air is blowing, a strange and unpleasant noise has taken over your AC, or absolutely nothing happens at all. When this happens, here is a short troubleshooting guide to run through before calling for Plymouth, MN AC repair experts like those at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc.

If you’re in the market for an air cleaner, you’ll want to know your options. There are quite a few of them, both in terms of scale and technology. But first, why would you need an air cleaner? If you or someone in your household has allergies, an air cleaner can be a good backup to reduce allergen sources in your home. Plus, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that in modern, relatively airtight homes, the indoor air may be two to five times dirtier on average than the air outside.

Now that summer is here in the Twin Cities, some eternal myths about air conditioning will make their rounds. However, if you can separate the truth from the baloney, you can save money this summer while improving comfort. Here’s the real scoop on five popular home cooling myths.

You’ve probably heard the word “ton” used in connection with the size of a central air conditioning unit, and may have even committed the common mistake of assuming that ton, in this context, actually means 2,000 pounds. Not so. Actually, in A/C parlance, ton refers to cooling capacity and dates back to the days when folks cooled buildings with ice harvested from lakes and rivers.

Do you think you might need an air purification system? Your home likely has pollutants that are causing concerns. If so, you may need advice on which air purification system to install. 

If your A/C is blowing hot air or just isn’t blowing air that’s cool enough, you’ve got a problem. But why would an air conditioner not produce cool air? There are a variety of possible reasons; some you can address yourself and some you’ll want to seek professional help to handle.

Cooling costs during a summer in the Minneapolis area can add up quickly, but you don’t have to sacrifice your comfort to keep your utility bills manageable. Here are a few simple ways to cut cooling costs by improving the energy efficiency of your home and HVAC system:

With the warm weather here, it’s time to start brainstorming ways to save energy at your business this summer. No matter how energy-efficient a business is run, there’s almost always room for improvement. Following are some relatively simple energy conservation tips for businesses. Some are specifically for the summer, though most can be implemented year round.