Geothermal Tax Credits and Incentives for 2023

May 20, 2023

Paying taxes is a natural part of life. Every year, you need to file with the IRS. Whether you work for a company or yourself, you pay a rate based on how much you made in the previous year. Taking deductions is a great way to reduce the total amount you owe. You’ll find deductions when you donate to a charity or work from home and have a dedicated office. There is also a geothermal tax credit for 2023 that helps you save as well as other incentives for making your home more energy efficient. What Is Geothermal Heating and Cooling? Geothermal heating and cooling systems are alternatives to traditional HVAC systems. This system consists of various pipes filled with a special type of liquid. When the sun beats down on the ground, it heats the earth and creates a form of thermal energy. When you install a geothermal system, places pipes around and under your home. On cold days, the pipes collect this energy and use it to heat your home. The earth stays at around 55 degrees Fahrenheit, which is much warmer than the air. As the liquid flows through the pipes, it warms up. The liquid then...

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10 Ways Commercial Buildings Improve Air Quality

May 9, 2023

Commercial buildings are those used by businesses and other organizations to conduct their operations, such as office buildings, warehouses, retail stores, and factories. These structures often house many people, making the air quality inside them a key concern. Poor air quality is linked to numerous health problems, such as asthma and allergies. It can also lead to decreased productivity and increased employee absenteeism due to respiratory illnesses. According to the World Health Organization, poor air quality is a major environmental health risk worldwide and can even lead to premature death. Fortunately, commercial building owners and managers can consider the following tips to improve the air quality inside of their buildings. 1. Adequate Ventilation Ventilation entails introducing fresh air into a building while removing stale or polluted air. Proper ventilation helps to clean indoor air by diluting and dispersing contaminants like dust, mold spores, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Commercial buildings can adopt natural ventilation techniques such as opening windows and doors when the external air quality is good and the weather is suitable. Ceiling fans can be utilized, too. They can also opt for mechanical ventilation systems, such as HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) units. For residents of St...

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What Are the Pros and Cons of Geothermal Systems?

May 1, 2023

Since the ground stays at a fairly constant temperature, especially in comparison with the air, it works well as a heat source in the winter. Ground-source heat pumps, also known as geothermal systems or geothermal heat pumps, take advantage of this. They’re able to transfer heat from the ground and send it into homes. In the summer, these heat pumps also provide a valuable service. They take heat from homes and transfer it into the ground, where it’s readily accepted. Geothermal energy comes with many advantages, but like with anything else, it has some disadvantages as well. How Geothermal Heat Pumps Work Geothermal systems transfer heat between your house and the earth using water or refrigerant circulated through long loops of underground pipes. In cold weather, the heat pump removes the heat energy collected in the fluid, concentrates it, and transfers it to your home. Alternatively, the heat pump removes heat from the building in summer and deposits it underground. In most systems, conventional ductwork is used to distribute heated or cooled air from the geothermal heat pump throughout the building. This means that you do not have to replace the ductwork in your house when having a geothermal system...

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How Much Is an IAQ Test for a Home?

April 14, 2023

How Much Is an IAQ Test for a Home? Indoor air pollution can be five times as high as outdoor air pollution. A big reason behind that is the fact that indoor air doesn’t have anywhere to go naturally like outdoor air can. Most Americans spend nearly 21 hours a day indoors, and a lot of that is at home. Indoor air quality, also known as IAQ, is important. You can have it tested so you know what’s going on inside your home, but you might also wonder how much an at-home IAQ test is going to cost you. IAQ Residential Testing Costs The average basic indoor air quality test conducted by a professional will run you approximately $422. However, professional tests often range from $285 to $563 for basic testing alone. Two factors that drive up the cost of testing include your home size and how sophisticated the evaluation is. Comprehensive IAQ testing can easily hit $1,000 based on the specific pollutants or problems that you are having testing done for. Basic testing might miss several pollutants, and you might have to request specific add-ons to detect certain pollutants. Warning Signs of Poor IAQ If anyone in your home...

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The 5 Best Wi-Fi-Enabled Smart Thermostats in 2023

April 14, 2023

The 5 Best Wi-Fi-Enabled Smart Thermostats in 2023 For homeowners these days, smart home technology offers an easy way to add new modern home conveniences to their daily lives. And among the many types of technology popular today, none offers a better return on investment than a Wi-Fi-enabled smart thermostat. That’s because they offer a potent mix of HVAC efficiency improvements, enhanced comfort, and advanced feature sets for a relatively small investment. However, with so many smart thermostats on the market today, it’s not always easy for homeowners to decide on which model would make the best addition to their home. To help, the experts here at have put together this list of the five best Wi-Fi-enabled smart thermostats in 2023. 1. The Amazon Smart Thermostat If you’re looking for a Wi-Fi smart thermostat that offers excellent features at a fair price, the Amazon Smart Thermostat may be for you. It’s the best smart thermostat in the sub-$100 category, hands down. It’s Energy Star certified, which means it’ll save you an average of $50 on your energy bills each year. It’s also natively compatible with Amazon Alexa, so you can operate it with voice commands if you already have an...

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How Much Does a Geothermal Installation Cost?

April 5, 2023

How Much Does a Geothermal Installation Cost? If you’re thinking about the future of heating and cooling in your home, then you might be considering a geothermal system as an option. This kind of system holds lots of appeal to homeowners who want to reduce their environmental footprint and save money at the same time. However, the cost of installation is a common concern because it’s very different than just buying a conventional HVAC unit to replace another conventional model. Geothermal systems might cut your heating costs in half and even reduce your cooling costs by one-third, but they have much higher installation costs. There are a number of factors that go into this. What Will a Geothermal System Cost Me? The average homeowner can expect a total geothermal installation to fall in a price range starting at $18,000 and going up to $30,000. Bigger homes with a high-end system might need to spend $30,000 up to $45,000. Your home size, your location, and your current ductwork all factor into the price equation. So does your available land, the kinds of soils present, and your local climate usability. Fortunately, prices for geothermal systems are trending downward over time. Annual growth...

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All About Geothermal Installation for Your Home

March 20, 2023

All About Geothermal Installation for Your Home Geothermal heating and cooling systems are becoming an increasingly popular option for homeowners looking to reduce their energy costs and environmental footprint. These systems use the stable temperature of the earth to provide efficient heating and cooling for homes, offering a renewable and sustainable alternative to traditional HVAC systems. While geothermal systems require a significant upfront investment, they provide significant long-term savings on energy costs and will even increase the value of your home. What Is a Geothermal System? Geothermal heating and cooling systems, also known as ground-source heat pumps, use the constant temperature of the earth to provide more efficient heating and cooling for buildings. The system consists of a network of pipes, known as a loop, that is buried in the ground either horizontally or vertically. This loop is filled with a water or refrigerant solution that absorbs heat from the earth in the winter and releases it into the home, and vice versa in the summer. A heat exchanger is used to transfer the heat from the loop to the home’s heating and cooling system, which then distributes the heated or cooled air throughout the building. Because the temperature of...

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All About IAQ Tests

March 12, 2023

All About IAQ Tests Maintaining good indoor air quality is crucial for ensuring a healthy living environment for you and your loved ones. Indoor air quality is affected by a variety of factors, including outdoor pollution, household chemicals, and compromised ventilation systems. Poor indoor air quality can lead to health problems such as headaches, fatigue, respiratory issues, and even long-term health effects like heart disease and autoimmune disorders. Regular testing of indoor air quality is essential to identify potential sources of pollution and take appropriate measures to mitigate them. Testing indoor air quality at different times during the year can also help you identify seasonal changes that may affect indoor air quality, allowing you to take preventative measures to keep your home safe and healthy. Factors That Impact Your Indoor Air Quality What factors affect your indoor air quality? At any given time during the day, you may be surrounded by mold and mildew spores, volatile organic compounds, dust, and pet dander that can exacerbate respiratory issues and cause other health issues as well. Some of the more common factors affecting your indoor air quality include: Outdoor Pollution Outdoor pollutants such as smoke, dust, and pollen can enter your home...

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Does It Make Sense To Upgrade Your Thermostat to a Smart Thermostat?

March 2, 2023

Does It Make Sense To Upgrade Your Thermostat to a Smart Thermostat? If you enjoy a comfortable home in St. Louis, then having the right thermostat can make all the difference. Although a basic thermostat can accurately maintain the temperature in your home, newer thermostats offer more features that allow you to take total control over your home’s comfort. The newest category of thermostats, smart thermostats, offer the most features. However, just because something is newer and has more features doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth your investment. To understand the benefits of smart thermostats, check out this guide from so that you can understand if a smart thermostat is right for your home. What Is a Smart Thermostat? Smart thermostats are digital thermostats that have Wi-Fi connectivity. They also have a separate power supply that allows them to have large screens to easily access all of your HVAC system’s settings. Smart thermostats also fall into the larger category of programmable thermostats. However, while all programmable thermostats allow you to specify certain times for your HVAC system to turn off and on, only smart thermostats allow you to access these settings remotely, thanks to their Wi-Fi connectivity. Thanks to these features,...

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12 Telltale Signs That It’s Time to Replace Your HVAC System

February 14, 2023

12 Telltale Signs That It’s Time to Replace Your HVAC System When it comes to your home comfort in St. Louis, your HVAC system plays a major role. However, even the best and most reliable systems can experience problems affecting their efficiency and performance over time. That’s why it’s important to know when it might be time to consider getting a newer energy-efficient HVAC system. Here are 12 signs that indicate that it might be time to replace your HVAC system with a newer, more energy-efficient one. You Have an Old or Outdated (HVAC) System HVAC systems can become less efficient and require more frequent repairs as they age. This can lead to a less comfortable living or working environment, and you may see a spike in your utility bills. A newer energy-efficient HVAC system can improve indoor air quality and provide more consistent heating and cooling. Additionally, newer systems often have advanced features such as programmable thermostats, air purifiers, and humidifiers. Your Energy Bills Have Been Consistently Increasing An inefficient heating and cooling unit means you’ll pay more monthly for utilities since these units tend to operate at lower efficiency levels than today’s newer units. Upgrading to an ENERGY...

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