Campaign Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2 Degree Pledge Campaign?
The 2 Degree Pledge campaign is an effort by a group of utilities, trade associations and nonprofits to educate consumers about how to optimize their residential heating and cooling systems’ efficiencies, without compromising their comfort.
The 2 Degree Pledge is a simple call-to-action aimed to focus consumer attention on ways to save energy by properly using and maintaining their cooling and heating systems, and if it is time to replace old, inefficient equipment, how to make sure it is installed correctly.
What prompted the 2 Degree Pledge Campaign?
Everyone should be aware that indoor cooling and heating accounts for about half of the energy consumed in a home. With energy prices soaring, consumers today are likely feeling the pain. Utilities are facing peak-load demands that will force them either to reduce that load or build new plants.
Part of the energy saving or load-reduction solution is to encourage the replacement of old, less efficient heating and cooling equipment, but the other part of the equation is this campaign’s three call-to-actions: make sure new equipment is installed correctly, maintained properly and used wisely to optimize efficiency. The pledge component provides consumers with a tangible way to reduce the energy consumed by their heating and cooling systems.
What are some greener technologies that help save energy and improve comfort?
If your system is 10, 15, 20 years old, you should be planning to replace it soon. The worst thing to do is to wait for your system to fail. It usually happens at the hottest or coldest time of year when installers are busy and your comfort, and even safety, is in jeopardy.
In a crisis situation, you don’t have time to consider all your options, and a busy installer may not have time to fine tune your system to optimize its efficiency and your comfort.
For example, a contractor may suggest dividing your home into zones using multiple thermostats and dampers to deliver the conditioned air to the areas of your home where you need it, when you need it. Zoning combined with a programmable thermostat can accomplish both superior comfort and energy savings.
What are some ways consumers can maintain their systems’ efficiencies?
Our goal is to educate consumers about how to optimize their systems’ efficiencies, while saving energy. And, if they aren’t achieving the comfort they desire – we want to give them the information they need to work with a qualified contractor to improve their systems’ efficiencies and their comfort.
Other common things consumers should do to improve their systems’ efficiencies are:
- Change the filter. The dirtier the filter, the harder the system has to work to keep a house warm or cool.
- Install a programmable thermostat and use Energy Star recommended temperature settings.
- Don’t crank the thermostat. Too many people crank their thermostats way down or way up, mistakenly thinking that they can cool or heat their homes faster. But this won’t work and they will just drive up their energy bill.
- Have a professional perform regular maintenance. An HVAC technician will check that the system is functioning properly, is properly charged with refrigerant, drain lines and vents are clear, the units are clean and clear of debris, and motors are operating properly, and so on.
Are there any signs to help people identify if their systems were not installed correctly?
With a central cooling and heating system, consumers will want to pay attention if the following situations occur:
- Cycling on and off too much or constantly (could be oversized or dirty filters).
- Using too many kilowatt hours – maybe they have increased significantly over previous years or they installed new, more efficient equipment and their kilowatts haven’t decreased.
- Not providing them with the comfort they expected. This could be from duct leakage, an improperly sized system, or it could indicate the need for zone controls.
- The temperature in the home varies from floor to floor or room to room – again, this indicates zoning could help.
- Noise from registers, which could indicate the ductwork was not installed properly.
What should homeowners look for when searching for someone to service/replace their air conditioning or heating system?
First, we recommend homeowners work with a contractor who employs NATE-certified technicians. NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence. This is a certification body that administers a rigorous test to gauge a technician’s skill and experience with properly installing cooling and heating systems. Ask each contractor you call if they employ NATE-certified technicians. If they don't, make another call. Consumers can find contractors who employ NATE-certified technicians in their area by using NATE’s contractor locator tool on the 2 Degree Pledge Web site.