Carbon Monoxide Detectors Required Under New Law

News Release courtesy of the NYS Fireman’s Association

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS REQUIRED UNDER NEW LAW

Amanda’s Law, passed in the 2009 Session of the New York State Legislature, will establish a new requirement for installation of carbon monoxide detectors in homes.

Under the law, one-family homes, two-family homes, dwellings located in condominiums or cooperatives, and multiple dwellings must have a carbon monoxide detector installed regardless of the date of construction or sale.

The law was named after Amanda Hansen, a teenager whose life was tragically ended by a carbon monoxide leak from a defective boiler while she was sleeping at a friend’s house in January 2009.

The new law requires that the carbon monoxide detector be a device meeting New York State standards, and that it be installed in an operable condition in dwellings where there are appliances or systems that may emit carbon monoxide or have an attached garage.

Prior to Amanda’s Law, carbon monoxide detectors were required in one-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and dwellings located in condominiums or cooperatives only if they were constructed or offered for sale after July 30, 2002.

For multiple dwellings (such as a tenement, hotel, and dormitories) carbon monoxide detectors were required if they were constructed or offered for sale after August 9, 2005. As a result of Amanda’s Law, a carbon monoxide detector will be found in nearly all residential structures in the state. This creates a safer living environment for New York residents and creates a greater awareness of home safety issues that are intensified by seasonal heating issues prevalent in the Northeast.

Amanda’s Law takes effect on February 22, 2010.

We believe in solar so much we’re installing it at our homes

Solar is a great way to go. We encourage it for a lot of our clients as a good way to reduce energy costs and to help the environment.

We believe it so much that we’re installing solar systems not only at our company headquarters in Binghamton, but at the homes of our three principals – Glenn, Ed and Richard.

To be honest, we followed every principle we encourage our customers to follow. We looked at our needs, designed the system that met them, then found the best financing to create the best return. In fact, the solar systems are eligible for a tax credit worth 30 percent of the total job cost.

We’re going to be so much more comfortable for it.

• At our company headquarters, the Buderus SKS4.0 solar panels and Buderus boilers will provide hot water, comfortable heating and will even melt the snow at critical entries. (We hate shoveling as much as you do.)
• Glenn’s house will have a similar system, with similar snow-melting capabilities. Glenn really hates shoveling.
• Ed and Richard are installing systems that provide heat and hot water.
  

The solar panels circulate glycol and water through a heat exchanger that provides hot water. That’s as opposed to a photovoltaic system that provides electricity. Just in case of excessive darkness and extra use, we’re also installing a supplemental boiler to help the solar system.

The result is that we’ll save money while maintaining our comfort. And we won’t have to shovel as much.

State and federal governments make HVAC improvements easier, cheaper

It’s not just in your best interest to be energy-efficient, it’s in the best interest of your community – and the nation.

That’s why the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the federal government offer grants, low-interest loans and other funding incentives for both commercial and residential heating, ventilation and air-conditioning projects.

It’s a good policy. If the states can reduce their demand for energy, they can reduce reliance on foreign and domestic oil to fuel your boiler, or the power plant that generates your electricity. And they can reduce natural gas consumption, too.

That helps the environment. And it helps keep utility rates down. So when you take steps to save money, your neighbors save money, too.

Fortunately, Sure Temp is extremely well-versed in the available incentives. Our consultants can help commercial, industrial, institutional and residential customers find the programs and financing to make the projects affordable today, to save tomorrow.

Commercial and industrial projects

For commercial and industrial projects, NYSERDA provides:

• Up to $30,000 in incentives for pre-qualified efficiency projects on existing facilities.
• Up to $50,000 in technical assistance incentives.
• Between $7,500 and $15,000 for LEEDS-certified buildings, depending on size.

And the federal government adds:

• A tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot of facility for energy-efficient heating, ventilation, air conditioning, hot water and lighting projects.
• Accelerated depreciation for smart electric meters and other energy-savings equipment.
• A tax credit of up to $2,000 for energy-efficient new homes, plus low-cost federal bonding for qualified green housing projects.

Residential projects

For residential projects, NYSERDA provides:

• Up to $20,000 in low-cost financing for qualifying energy-efficiency projects on existing homes.

And the federal government adds:

• A 30 percent tax credit, up to $1,500, for energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment. That credit lasts through 2010.
• A 30 percent tax credit, with no limit, for solar energy systems, small wind systems, geothermal heat pumps, and residential fuel cell and microturbine systems through 2016.

And as a further boost, New York State Electric & Gas Corp. offers rebates from $100 to $1,000 for installing energy-efficient furnaces and boilers.

Each program has its own requirements, so you need an expert in how they work to help you before you hire an expert to make the project work for you. Good thing Sure Temp has experts in both.

New tax credit change makes geothermal more affordable

A new law that took effect this year can help home- and business-owners save thousands of dollars as they improve their heating systems.

Under the old law, enacted in 2008, owners could qualify for a 30 percent tax credit up to $2,000 to install geothermal heat pumps in any property they own, not just their primary residence.

But the new law removes that cap, so you can take a 30 percent tax credit on the entire purchase and installation cost of a geothermal system.

Here are some of the other features of the new law, which is effective through 2016:

• The credit includes labor costs properly allocable to the onsite preparation, assembly, or original installation of the property and for piping or wiring.
• Qualified geothermal heat pump must meet federal Energy Star program requirements in effect at the time the installation is completed.
• The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence, but must be within the United States.
• Systems must be placed in service from Jan. 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2016.
• Tax credit can be used for more than one property owned by the taxpayer during the effective period.
• Can be used in more than one year
• Can be combined with solar and wind tax credits
• Can be combined with energy efficiency upgrade credits such as qualified windows or Energy Star appliances.

Regional YMCAs Go Green with Sure Temp's Help

Renovations on YMCA facilities in Binghamton and Johnson Citywill help the organization meet its goal of reducing its carbon footprint - and they'll save money doing it.

Sure Temp worked alongside SunMaxx Solar and Eastern Energy Solutions to complete the installation of solar tubes for domestic hot water.

Three hundred tubes sit atop the Binghamton building. They will harness the sun's energy to heat water at the facility. We estimate that the system will be capable of heating some 218,000 gallons of water annually.

Total renovations included new lighting, heating and ventilation systems. The facilities may save as much as 48 percent on energy bills, as a result of the improvements.

We applaud businesses and organizations that act as examples of good environmental stewardship for the rest of the community.

Want to help the economy? Support local business

Everyone’s worried about the economy these days, and most of us feel like there’s not much difference we can make on the personal level.
But did you know that you can make a big difference in your local economy by supporting locally owned business of all kinds?

For example, a study conducted in 2007 showed that independent bok stores contributed $54 million annually into their local economies. Meanwhile, Internet and chain bookstores only contributed a fraction of that, at $8 million. Imagine how much bigger that number would have been if more people decided to support local bookstores.
The numbers are similar for all other types of business, from retail to big box home improvement.

Most importantly, doing business with local vendors increases the sense of community. Think of a time not that long ago when your parents or grandparents knew the owner of the local grocery store, and the store owner probably knew the farmers whose products he sold.

Many of Sure Temp’s customers have that kind of relationship with us, and we couldn’t be happier about it. Not only does it provide a sustainable business model that benefits the community, it also helps us ensure top-notch customer service, because we have the chance to really get to know our customers’ needs.

So the next time you need something, whether it’s a new furnace or a new book, ask yourself how you can shop locally.

Give Blood, Win a Chance at a Free Thermostat

Sure Temp is supporting the Red Cross blood drive by offering all donors a chance to win a free programmable thermostat.

The blood drive will be from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday, April 27, and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 28 in the lecture hall at Lourdes Hospital, 169 Riverside Drive.

Every person who donates will have a chance to win a programmable thermostat, which can help you save 10% or more on heating and cooling costs.

Maker an appointment to donate by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or going online to www.donateblood.org.