A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (or Any of the Other Boroughs)
posted by NYOHA @ 5:10pm, Monday, May 14th, 2012.
A little shade can go a long way - when you plant a tree, shrub or bush this spring. In addition to providing a beautiful way to "frame" a home and property - no matter if it's an apartment building or a detached home - a well-placed tree, bush or vine can deliver effective shade, and can result in savings off cooling bills.
Planting deciduous trees on the south and west sides of a house can help reduce cooling costs. Selectively placed, the trees protect the house from the hot sun, and provide an excellent source of shade (during the winter, these trees shed their leaves and allow the sun to warm the home). When choosing trees, you should keep in mind the height, growth rate, branch spread and shape.
You can feel "vine" about saving energy.
Another way to shade a home is to grow vines on trellises, which can shade a whole side of a house or windows. Also, planting small shrubs or bushes so that the ground near the home is shaded causes less heat to be reflected to windows and walls.
Welcomed shade from trees, vines and shrubs will not only cool a home - it will also cool the area surrounding the home by 9 degrees Fahrenheit. By taking the time to ensure that your landscaping is energy-efficient, you will be rewarded with up to 25% off your cooling costs.
Make sure you follow the rules.
If you are planting your own street tree, you must submit a free permit application to the NYC Parks Department's Central Forestry & Horticulture division. If the sidewalk must be broken in order to create a tree pit, you must also apply to the Department of Transportation for a permit. Here is the application and guidelines for planting your own NYC street tree.
Can't plant a tree? Install an awning.
Ensuring that "a tree grows in Brooklyn" - or anywhere else in New York City - may not be feasible at your home. Instead, try installing window awnings. According to the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association, depending on the region a home is in, awnings can save homeowners more than $100 annually.
Check out 3 more ways to conserve this spring and summer!
- Seal leaks around windows, doors, and even electrical outlets, with caulk, weather-stripping and foam insulation.
- Close curtains and blinds to keep the hot sun out of your home.
- Enter and leave your home quickly — every time an outside door opens and closes, there's a 21-square-foot hole in the wall to let in the hot air from the outside.
"May" We Suggest a Tune-up?
posted by NYOHA @ 12:44pm, Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012.
It's May - time for Mother's Day, Memorial Day and Must Get a Heating System Tune-up Day.
Wait ... what was that last one?
You read right - Must Get a Heating System Tune-up Day. Your heating system worked hard all winter long, and now is the best time to schedule your annual tune-up.
Why get a tune-up?
Tuningup your heating system will let you rest assured that it will run optimally during the heating season. There are many benefits to a tune-up:
- Your heating system operates more efficiently: A tune-up means making sure that your heating system is working efficiently, providing the same satisfying warmth by burning less fuel. A heating system working at its highest efficiency conserves energy and helps the environment.
- You'll save money on energy bills: By reducing the amount of fuel your heating system uses to heat the home, you'll be saving money as well! A tune-up could help you save as much as 10% OFF your annual fuel bill.
- You'll save money on service calls: Regular service can minimize breakdowns and uncover the need for parts that should be replaced. In other words, a tune-up can help you to avoid an emergency service call in the middle of a cold winter night!
What does a tune-up typically consist of?
Your Oilheat technician will:
- Visually inspect the entire heating system
- Vacuum clean all heating surfaces
- Check the flue pipe and chimney flue to be sure it's clear and in good condition
- Clean all burner parts including the air fan and housing, ignition electrodes, and burner head
- Replace fuel and air filters and bleed all the air from the fuel system
- Seal air leaks around the burner and heat exchanger
- Use combustion test equipment to measure efficiency
- Adjust the burner for high efficiency
- Record final combustion efficiency for the tuned system
- Start and stop the burner several times to ensure satisfactory operations
- Inspect the oil tank
Why do we suggest a tune-up in May?
Now that the warm weather is here, folks aren't thinking about their heating systems as much as they would in the fall - when everyone calls to arrange for their tune-up. Also, when the fall comes around, Oilheat technicians get busy with emergency service calls.
This is also a good time to look into pre-season deals on a new boiler or furnace - just in case your service technician asks you to consider replacing your equipment.
To read more about tune-ups, Oilheat equipment, upgrading and energy conservation, visit the Oilheat America website.
April 22 is Earth Day ... and Oilheat Is Getting Greener Every Day
posted by NYOHA @ 11:24am, Thursday, April 19th, 2012.
Earth Day is April 22nd. And there's no better way to celebrate than to talk about Oilheat - which is getting greener every day!
Oilheat Is a Green Fuel - and It's Getting Greener All the Time!
- Home heating oil is biodegradable.
- Today's Oilheat systems produce "near-zero" emissions into the atmosphere.
- In fact, Oilheat burns so cleanly that residential emissions aren't even regulated by the Federal Clean Air Act.
- With Oilheat, your "environmental footprint" is smaller than ever: New high-efficiency systems consistently produce more heat with less fuel. In fact, homes today use approximately 40% less fuel than in the 1970s.
Ultra-Low Sulfur Oilheat: Taking Green to a New Level
Oilheat is already a clean-burning fuel. In fact, it burns nearly 95% more cleanly than it did in 1970. And it's getting cleaner: The industry is voluntarily adopting low and ultra-low sulfur Oilheat standards across the country.
You may have heard that beginning on July 1, all heating oil in New York City must have a sulfur content limited to 15 parts per million. This will reduce the sulfur content in Oilheat by up to 99% as well as greatly benefit the environment and help Oilheat systems to work more efficiently.
Bioheat®: New York City's Green Fuel
Bioheat is standard heating oil blended with biodegradable, organic materials such as soybean oil, vegetable oil, corn or even algae. Containing between 2% and 20% renewable fuel, Bioheat is kind to heating systems as well as the environment.
By October of this year, all grades of heating oil in New York City will be Bioheat blends containing at least 2% biodiesel.
There are many benefits to using Bioheat:
- The biomass products (soy, corn, peanuts) to produce Bioheat can be grown in the United States and the fuel produced domestically - supporting our nation's farmers and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
- Bioheat is extremely clean-burning and environmentally-friendly. Testing conducted by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) found that a Bioheat blend of 80% low-sulfur heating oil and 20% biodiesel (B20) reduced sulfur oxide emissions by as much as 80% or more; nitrogen oxide emissions by about 20%; carbon dioxide emissions by 20%.
- Bioheat has the highest BTU content of any alternative fuel - for extremely satisfying warmth.
- Bioheat costs approximately the same as "regular Oilheat."
- You don't have to make any modifications to your burner or tank when using Bioheat; and you don't have to change your budget plan, payment plan, service contract or warranties.
To learn more about Bioheat, click here.
To find out about Earth Day celebrations in New York, click here.