Frequently Asked Questions

1. How are carbon footprint details calculated?

Carbon footprinting relates directly to the pounds of CO2 (carbon dioxide) that are emitted into the atmosphere during electric generation. Approximately 42% of all electricity generated in the US comes from coal-fired plants. The burning of coal to generate electricity results in the release of approximately 1.9 lbs of CO2 per kiloWatt/hour of electricity produced. So, the equation is simple (total number of kWh consumed X (1.9 * .42)) = lbs carbon emitted. Of course, this is a national average, your actual emission may be more or less than this figure depending on how much of your electricity is obtained from coal-fired plants.

2. When I work the demo I noticed that some adjustments in time or temperature produced changes in the estimated energy expense box, but some changes did not. Why?

The algorithm for estimating energy usage is taking into account the differences in the environment, such as outdoor temperature. In addition, it also takes into account how long your system will be running at these settings. In some cases, your adjustments will produce little or no results to the estimate because it does not affect your heating or cooling system runtime.

3. When I work the demo occassionally I get a pop-up box telling my setting was incorrect. What am I doing wrong?

The software checks for inconsistencies in your settings and prevents you from the unpleasant effects that could result from running your heating or cooling system at the same time. For example, it would not be desirable to have the cooling setting below the heat setting, as this would cause the systems to be in conflict with each other, and also significantly raise your energy bill.

4. In simple terms tell me the best way to save on my energy bill

There are several things you can do to minimize your energy expense:

• Adjust your settings (high for cooling, or lower for heating) for when you are away
• Increase the distance between cooling and heating settings. The larger the distance the more potential savings.
• Slightly increase your cool setting (or decrease your heat setting) during times when you are sleeping.
• Engage the family in the process of saving energy and the environment. Make it a family challenge.
• Engage your business family in the process. Challenge them to create settings that will still provide comfort while still promoting savings and protecting the environment.

5. Why does ENERMAC concentrate on heating and cooling systems?

According to DOE and EPA studies heating and cooling systems consume nearly 50% of all home energy usage. It makes sense to concentrate on the major energy users first then move on to to lesser offenders. ENERMAC has plans to offer a scheduler and duty-cycler that will allow you to control your other energy consuming devices (lights, hot water heaters, pool warmers, etc...). Check back here frequently for updates on this.