Archive for the ‘Recent News’ Category
04.06.2010
Thinking of Planting Trees This Spring?
We all seem to get the itch to plant in spring. It’s the way God designed us. Sun shines, soil warms, man wants to grow huge plants all around side of house to make pretty. Sound familiar? Consider these simple points before loading up the kids and dog for the local nursery. Remember that we live in a pretty warm zone (Zone 7 for you gardener types). But we also have a decent drop in temperatures over the winter. That means you want to take advantage of passive solar heating in the winter and natural cooling in the summer. Translation? Where you plant the trees and shrubs is just as important as the kind of plants/trees you choose. Remember from your elementary school science class that the winter sun is lower in the horizon than the summer sun. This means you will receive more sun on the front, southern side of your house in winter and more overhead sun in the summer. (Our last house baked on the west side during late summer afternoons.) Which way does your house face? Plant deciduous trees (ones that lose their leaves) on the southwest corner and west sides. This gives you protection from […]
03.17.2010
Inspiration from Thomas Edison's Catnaps
We’ve been on the road again. This time south, thank goodness, to Florida for the annual Comfort Institute Conference. CI is a partner of ours dedicated to training companies in the Whole House Solution. We’re always excited about this training, which is an ongoing commitment for our company. It wasn’t all work, though. We did take a fieldtrip. Matthew is an electricity nerd so I knew my idea would be well-received. While in Fort Myers, Florida we visited the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford; they were neighbors and best friends. The houses were beautiful, with spectacular views. The stories of Edison in particular were awe-inspiring. During his 84 years, he applied for over 1,000 patents and was the brain behind numerous inventions which still affect our lives. Amidst all the evidence of Edison’s genius, it wasn’t his patents that impressed me, or his self-made wealth, or his relationship with other self-made men. Being a gardener, I wasn’t even that impressed by his 10,000 plant research in trying to find an American source of latex to manufacture rubber. What impressed me was his sleeping habits. You see the man only slept a mere 4-5 hours each night supplemented by catnaps, anywhere, any time, in front of anyone (including […]
03.05.2010
Recessed Lighting Wreaks Havoc on Energy Bills
I confess I’m a fan of decorating shows. It began with “Trading Spaces”; the cardboard wallpaper room was my favorite episode. I’m now under no illusions that my neighbors are clamoring to decorate my “space” so I have progressed to watching “Clean House” just to make myself feel better there are people with more stuff than me. (Oh admit it; you watch for the same reason. It’s like gawking at the woman with the ghastly hairdo.) These shows are great for decorating ideas but not so good when it comes to energy efficiency. They often suggest installing recessed lighting to add a little zip to your indoor space. Recessed lighting is essentially cutting holes in your ceiling. Heat rises, right? Fancy term – the stack effect. Common term – money leaking from your ceiling. Avoid recessed lighting unless you’re fond of supporting your local utility company. If you already have recessed lighting, don’t fret. We can seal those lights and make them airtight. (Then we’ll slap your hand and tell you not to do it again.) Thinking of redecorating? Avoid recessed lighting when you have a choice. If you already have them, seal what you have. What’s it look like? […]
02.17.2010
Helping Heroes Winner Calvin Jones and Why He's Our Hero
Holtkamp Heating & Air Conditioning of Buford, GA is privileged to announce the winner of its annual “Helping Heroes” program. Helping Heroes was started to celebrate local residents who have proven their dedication to their community, family or church. The 2010 winner is Calvin Jones of Lawrenceville. Calvin was nominated by a fellow parishioner at McKendree United Methodist Church. He and Brenda have been members for 26 years and both sing in the choir. He volunteers countless hours through his church, most notably as Disaster Response Coordinator on the Missions Committee and has participated in over 20 mission trips both here in the U.S. and abroad, including Mexico, Costa Rica, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi. Cal has served as head cook for the Annual Chicken BBQ at McKendree United Methodist that raises money for missions work. Cal also participates in food drives for the Lawrenceville CoOp. He takes great pride in the bi-annual Great Day of Service which focuses on helping Gwinnett County Senior Citizens. He has also participated in Habitat for Humanity in Gwinnett County, Cumming and in a Methodist Children’s Home cottage rebuild. Calvin has an adopted daughter who is currently in middle school. He and his wife, Brenda, have […]
02.11.2010
Energy Star Appliance Rebate Program Begins Feb. 12, 2010
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Georgia residents will be eligible for rebates after buying Energy Star rated appliances, such as refrigerators, heatpumps and furnaces. Rebates up to $1200 per home are available beginning Feb. 12 on a first come, first served basis, i.e. when the money runs out, it runs out. Courtesy of Brad Norman at Georgia Power, we’d like to bring your attention to a few details: 1) Rebates are paid out in the from of Visa debit cards to customers. 2) Customers are responsible for submitting their rebate application, not the dealer or store. 3) Note there is not an end date listed. The state of GA is receiving $8.6 million. Once the funds are gone, they are gone. There is no guarantee how long the funds will last. Call 1-866-296-1633 to ensure funds are still available or visit www.GeorgiaRebate.com. 4) Customers will qualify for both $199 rebates if they purchase an EnergyStar Dual Fuel system ($398) because they are considered two different appliances. 5) Customer must fill out a separate rebate application for each appliance (Dual Fuel = 2 systems – 1 for furnace, 1 for heat pump) 6) Limit $1200 per household […]
02.10.2010
Holtkamp Helping Heroes 2010 Winner Announced
Thanks so much to all of you who nominated a hero for our first annual Helping Heroes Program. We had dozens of entries and the stories were extremely inspiring as neighbor recognized neighbor for their heroic involvement in family, community and church. After much deliberation, we are privileged to announce Calvin Jones of Suwanee as our Helping Hero for 2010. Calvin has won a completely installed high efficiency Trane heating system and Aprilaire Whole House Air Filtration System. Look for a complete profile of Calvin in the next week and his heroic journey showing why he won this awesome prize. Congratulations Calvin. You’re our hero!
11.10.2009
All Things HVAC in Washington D.C.
We just returned from the annual Trane Dealer Conference in Washington D.C. We took advantage of the opportunity to drag the kids around D.C. for some educational experiences. During our tour of the Capitol, I was contemplating a very public display (but that’s another blog entry) when I faintly heard the tour guide explaining something about “the father of air conditioning”. She was pointing to a statue in the infamous Statuary Hall of John Gorrie, a physician from Florida credited with inventing the first refrigeration system! No joke. Thought you’d want to see his statue. Click here to read his full story. A few days later we were taking in Mount Vernon (George Washington’s home). And much to our surprise, we discoverd the father of our country had his own way of keeping his cool. Check out his foot operated fan chair below! Okay, so now you can never say that my blog doesn’t include a healthy dose of American culture. Enjoy!
11.04.2009
Holtkamp Heating & Air Voted Best of Gwinnett 2009
A big thanks to everyone who voted in Gwinnett Magazine’s “Best of Gwinnett.” We’re very happy that we won in the category of “Best Home Services”! We continue to be dedicated to providing you with excellent customer service and energy efficient options for every lifestyle and budget. Thanks Gwinnett!
09.02.2009
Four HVAC Products You Can Do Without
This one’s for you Mike… Can I make you czar of my Bloggers Fanclub? 1) Vent Filters – These belong in the HVAC Hall of Shame. The directions instruct you to cut each filter to fit snugly over your supply register to filter allergens, dust and pollen. I doubt it. What they do accomplish is severely inhibiting airflow. Doesn’t seem like a big deal until you realize there’s little air coming into the room and your thermostat is struggling to keep an even temp, pushing up your utility usage. They also cause wear and tear on your system, even premature failure. So skip the vent filters; if you’re concerned about dust and allergens, we can identify the real source of the problem and correct it. See more here. 2) Filter Air Fresheners – These are placed next to your filter to distribute “pleasant fragrance” throughout your home. Just like the above product, it’s cutting off your system’s ability to properly filter air. Worse yet, sometimes they’re placed on the wrong side of the filter and get sucked into the blower fan causing not only a very annoying sound but costly damage. Practice safe fragrancing; use potpourri in a bowl instead. […]
08.19.2009
Sealing Ducts Means Lower Bills
What is the number one way of increasing your home’s comfort and decreasing utility bills? Seal your ducts! That’s ducts, not ducks. (We do support the rights of ducks to say what’s on their minds, so please don’t seal them.) Wa wa wa wa wa wa. (That’s the sound Charlie Brown’s teacher makes. Remember?) Every heating and air company seals ducts; so, what’s the big deal? That’s just like saying all comic strips are created equal. We test your ductwork before and after. We guarantee air leakage of less than 10%. If the after test doesn’t pass, we come back out, and do it all over again until it passes. Our certifications through Building Performance Institute and Comfort Institute show our commitment to professional training and getting you measurable results. So the next time you hear a neighbor say, “Yeah, my hvac company sealed my ducts too.” Ask them, “Where’s your before and after report? Where’s your air flow test? Are your utility bills noticeably lower?” When you get new glasses, you should be able to see better, not have to take your doctor’s word for it. Why should this be any different? Seal your ducts. Save money. Feel the difference. Earn […]
