Summary of Lighting Legislation Product Effects

Incandescent & Halogen Reflector Lamp Products: A-Type Incandescent lamps will begin to be phased out due to federal minimum efficiency standards. The law covers Globes, Chandelier and PS lamp shapes, in addition to A-Shape. The legislation will start with 100W lamps in 2012, continuing with 75W lamps in 2013 and 60W & 40W lamps in …

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Summer Time is coming to Alaska!

Well fellow Alaskans, it is that time of year. The days are getting longer, and the nights are getting shorter, which means our next season is upon us – Construction. To us lifelong Alaskans, we also associate Construction with Summer.  Long days at work, and longer nights playing in our big backyard. With all the thoughts of …

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6 Tips for Hiring a HVAC Contractor

6 Tips for Hiring a Heating, Cooling, Plumbing Contractor 1. Study up — Find out about license and insurance requirements for contractors in your state. And before you call a contractor, know the model of your current system and its maintenance history. Also make note of any uncomfortable rooms. This will help potential contractors better …

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Tips to maximize your HVAC System

Heat & Cool Efficiently As much as half of the energy used in your Business goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your building’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of …

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Summary of Lighting Legislation Product Effects Summer Time is coming to Alaska! 6 Tips for Hiring a HVAC Contractor Tips to maximize your HVAC System

Jan
18

Summary of Lighting Legislation Product Effects

Incandescent & Halogen Reflector Lamp Products:

  • A-Type Incandescent lamps will begin to be phased out due to federal minimum efficiency standards. The law covers Globes, Chandelier and PS lamp shapes, in addition to A-Shape. The legislation will start with 100W lamps in 2012, continuing with 75W lamps in 2013 and 60W & 40W lamps in 2014. Because most Incandescent lamps will not be able to meet the new standards, they will eventually disappear from the market. Halogen lamps and CFLs are the most common substitutes for these applications.
  • Standard PAR Halogen faces a similar fate as incandescent reflectors starting in July 2012. Most PAR, BR and ER type lamps will go away except continuing exemptions for R20 (45W or less); BR30, ER30, BR40 and ER40 (50W or less); BR30, BR40 and ER40 that are exactly 65W. Rough Service, Vibration Service and Safety-Coated lamps are also exempt.
  • For the lamps going away, it is due to the product’s general inability to meet new stricter efficiency guidelines. Some of these lamps will remain, but they are likely to be the more expensive gas mixtures or IR capsule models. There are a few exemptions based on wattage and lamp size.

General Service Fluorescent Lamps:

  • Broadly speaking, the majority of T10 & T12 lamps will begin leaving the market by July 2012, as they are unable to meet the new federal minimum efficiency guidelines. Certain high CRI (over 87) and color lamps will remain. Other specialty lamps will also be exempt from these guidelines, but likely will be further addressed by emerging legislation.
  • In the same legislation as T10 & T12 lamps, T8 lamps are also addressed, and 700 series F32T8 and FB32T8 lamps will be eliminated.
  • Note: Previously general service fluorescent lamps were exempt at 82 CRI for high color rendering, which was slated to change to 87 CRI in January 2012. The DOE clarified on March 22, 2011 that due to the language in the legislation, the 87 CRI level became effective immediately when the law was signed. A grace period has been given until June 20, 2011 to come into compliance with the legislation.

High Intensity Discharge Products:

  • As of January 2009, magnetic ballasted probe start Metal Halide systems may no longer be used in new fixtures with only a few exceptions.
  • Mercury Vapor ballasts cannot be produced or imported as of January 2008. The lamps may continue to be sold and can instead be used with an appropriate standard, non-pulse start, Metal Halide ballast. Many MH ballasts are rated for Mercury Vapor lamps and include the equivalent codes for easy reference. It is likely that Mercury Vapor lamps will be completely phased out in January 2016 due to emerging regulation.

FTC Lighting Facts Label

  • Product labeling will depict product performance and energy usage information using required package and on-lamp disclosures. The stated objective is to move consumers away from selecting lamps based solely on wattage and encourage behavior wherein product selection is based on performance and annual energy usage cost.
  • Provides consumers with point-of-sale product performance and energy usage information in a format not that dissimilar to the Nutrition Facts label in terms of design and layout.

Information provided by Halco Lighting Technologies (http://www.halcolighting.com)

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May
02

Summer Time is coming to Alaska!

Well fellow Alaskans, it is that time of year.

The days are getting longer, and the nights are getting shorter, which means our next season is upon us – Construction.

To us lifelong Alaskans, we also associate Construction with Summer.  Long days at work, and longer nights playing in our big backyard.

With all the thoughts of Hiking, Biking, Riding, Fishing, and Camping, are you still rememebering to give you owned/managed buildings the attention that they need?

This is the time of year to make sure that you get your springtime HVAC Preventative Maintenance done.  This includes, but is not limited to: Filter Changes, Coil Cleaning, Chiller and A/C Start-up, Tightening of the electrical connections, and set the temperature settings on the thermostats.

This is also time to make sure that you have turned down your snowmelt systems, scheduled service for your boilers, and schedule any repair projects that you came across during the winter.  It is also a good time to discuss with your HVAC Provider cost savings projects that can be done.

As always, we at CRL Services are here to help with all your Commercial and Industrial Mechanical / HVAC solutions.

Please call 907-563-6569 to schedule any estimates, seek any consultations, or to discuss how CRL Services can start saving you Money TODAY!

 

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Mar
10

6 Tips for Hiring a HVAC Contractor

6 Tips for Hiring a Heating, Cooling, Plumbing Contractor

1. Study up — Find out about license and insurance requirements for contractors in your state. And before you call a contractor, know the model of your current system and its maintenance history. Also make note of any uncomfortable rooms. This will help potential contractors better understand your heating needs.

2. Call references — Ask contractors for customer references and call them. Ask about the contractor’s installation or service performance, and if the job was completed on time and within budget.

3. Expect a site visit — The contractor should spend significant time inspecting your current system and home to assess your needs. A bigger system isn’t always better; a contractor should size the heating and cooling system based on the size of your house, level of insulation, and windows. A good contractor will inspect your duct system (if applicable) for air leaks and insulation and measure airflow to make sure it meets manufacturer’s specifications.

4. Get written, itemized estimates — When comparing contractors’ proposals (bids), be sure to compare cost, energy efficiency and warranties. Even though you bvelieve you are comparing apples to apples, there are more than one kind of apple. A lowest price may not be the best deal if it’s not the most efficient because your energy costs will be higher.

5. Get it in ink — Sign a written proposal with a contractor before work gets started. It’ll protect you by specifying project costs, model numbers, job schedule, and warranty information.

6. Pass it on — Tell friends and family about CRL Services, LLC! Spread the word, and we can all make a big difference. At CRL Services, we are committed to providing you with peace of mind and to help you reduce your energy costs. We believe that we have the proper balance of time invested to keep your system operating within manufacturers specifications, while reducing repair costs by providing a thorough inspection of equipment and executing a proper preventative maintenance program.

LOW BID- It’s unwise to pay too much but it’s unwise to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the very thing you bought it to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot…… it can’t be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.
John Ruskin (1819-1900)

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Mar
10

Tips to maximize your HVAC System

Heat & Cool Efficiently

As much as half of the energy used in your Business goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your building’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

 

 
Change your air filter regularly

Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down airflow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.

Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly

Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a quarterly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.

 

Install a programmable thermostat

A programmable thermostat is ideal for your building is unoccupied during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $300-$500 every year in energy costs.

Seal your heating and cooling ducts

Ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent — and sometimes much more.

Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage.  After sealing the ducts in those spaces, wrap the ducts in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. 

Consider installing ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling equipment

If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, you should have it looked at by a professional HVAC contractor. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading, consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency heating and cooling units can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs. But before you invest in a new HVAC system, make sure that you have addressed the big air leaks in your building and the duct system. Sometimes, these are the real sources of problems rather than your HVAC equipment.

Remember that getting the proper size and a quality installation is essential to getting the most from your new equipment. When replacing HVAC equipment, bigger doesn’t always mean better. If the unit is too large for your home, you will be less comfortable and might actually have higher utility bills. Oversized equipment will operate in short run cycles, not allowing the unit to reach efficient operation and remove humidity from the air — resulting in an uncomfortable building. CRL Services can determine the right size for your HVAC equipment.

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Mar
08

Alaska’s Leading Service Contractor

Alaska’s Leading Service Contractor

I would like to introduce CRL Services to your organization. CRL Services was formed to purchase C.R. Lewis Co., Inc. service department in October 1995. With this purchase, we have been able to retain the personnel that has worked in the service department for the last six years. Also, we obtained the plumbing and sheet metal trucks and tools to provide full mechanical services for our customers plumbing, heating and air conditioning needs.

CRL Services presently has twelve service type vans in operation, available 24 hours a day. The vans are equipped with modern technology and well trained technicians. We have the capability to tackle any situation that may arise in the heating, air conditioning and plumbing market. Our normal response time is an average of one hour from the time a call comes into the office.

We are presently servicing over 100 buildings located throughout the state of Alaska. Attached you will find a list of the types of service presently available to our customers and a list of references.

Thank you for taking the time to review this information. Should you have any questions please contact me direct at (907) 563-6569.

Sincerely,

Rock Reber, Member Manager
CRL Services, LLC

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