With oil now at $3.70 a gallon, some Mainers are really looking around for alternatives.  Per million BTU, #2 fuel oil is nearly the highest-priced heating solution in the state. Using this week’s average heating oil price and converting to a common heating unit value (million Btu) the price of fuel oil is at $26.68.  This compares with an equivalent  heating unit value for natural gas of $15.70 (at $1.57/therm); propane, $34.71 (at $3.17/gallon); wood pellets, $14.30 (at $236/ton); and cord wood, $10.50  (at $210/cord).

A recent New York Times article noted that oil will probably rise another 10 cents a gallon in the next few months. “Analysts do not expect much relief in the longer term, either, because global oil prices are expected to stay high amid political instability in the Middle East and rising demand from developing countries,” the article continued. “Meanwhile, heating oil could grow more scarce in the Northeast this winter, the Energy Department warned last month. Companies have been closing refineries that produce heating oil because of declining profit margins. Sunoco and ConocoPhillips recently announced the idling of two major refineries in Pennsylvania, and a third refinery owned by Sunoco may close next summer.”

Oil is getting both harder to find and more expensive. Natural gas and biomass are clear winners for many commercial (and home) applications that require a heat source that’s not quite as labor-intensive as heating with cord wood.

If conversion is not on your horizon, then do everything you can to make sure your oil-fired furnace or boiler is operating at absolute efficiency. Be a stickler about seasonal maintenance and repairs, and make sure you’re on a regular maintenance schedule to avoid costly breakdowns. Weatherization efforts (caulking, window quilts or drapes, insulation and tightening up) will really pay off. An energy audit will show you your quickest route to energy savings and payback.

Interested in exploring a conversion to something other than oil? Want to run an energy audit or your home or business? Give us at call at 800-649-4197.

Can converting to a biomass system save you money? With oil prices high and propane increasing, biomass is becoming more popular. Schools, hospitals and municipal buildings boast biomass boilers fueled with pellets or wood chips, and many homeowners now heat with pellet stoves.

But can it save you money? One of our largest biomass projects is the White Mountain National Forest headquarters pellet boiler in Campton, New Hampshire. This wood pellet boiler operates at 90% efficiency and provides over 90% of the required heating for the headquarters building and the equipment barns. The US Forest Service expects to reduce their overall energy usage by 60% including reducing heating costs to one third of what they would be with oil or propane. The boiler utilizes state of the art technology developed over the past 20 years to gasify the wood pellets and then completely burn them for greatest energy utilization and minimum emissions.

Thayer has produced a number of commercial, industrial and institutional biomass projects in the last two years. As a design/build company, we take the project from problem to solution, beginning with design, fabrication and installation and continuing with system maintenance after the heating plant is operational.

One of our latest installations is in Paris, ME, at Oxford Hills High School, where a 950 KW Viessmann/Kob chip boiler saves taxpayers a lot of money in fuel while keeping their scholars comfortable.

In Monmouth, ME, at Tex Tech, Thayer designed and installed a 10MMbtu Chiptec chip gasifier with a Johnston Boiler steam system. Tex Tech is the largest producer of tennis felt in the world, but it also produces textiles for body armor, fire-block materials for aircraft, and many other manipulated fiber products. This is an innovative manufacturer with an innovative, efficient heating system.

Biomass systems used to general thermal energy, replacing oil or propane systems, will give you renewable, sustainable heat at a reliable and consistent price, using fuel that is not subject to the volatility of the fossil fuel market. Especially in biomass fuel-rich New England, biomass encourages energy independence. The latest biomass fuel is different grass species, shortening the renewable resource cycle to a single season and making biomass even more sustainable.

If you’re debating a biomass conversion, give us a call. We can help you get a general idea of cost and payback.

Humidity control is a timely subject in northern climates as colder weather sets in, buildings are closed up for the winter and the outdoor air becomes increasingly colder and drier. I’ve written awhite paper called  Humidity control in the Indoor Environment, but for this posting I’m focusing on comfort.

The real question is why we consider humidifying indoor environments. Is it comfort, health or preserving precious furniture and artwork? Well the answer is yes to all these criteria. We are incredible machines, and very effective humidifiers ourselves. Our lungs like saturated air, so as we exhale each breath our soft respiratory tissue absorbs much of the moisture and uses it to add humidity to the next inhaled breath. Ever wonder why your nose “runs” in the winter? The body isn’t great at precisely regulating this moisture infusion and it frequently provides excessive moisture.

Another comfort factor is perceived thermal comfort. Our skin is mostly water. When the air is dry, moisture evaporates from the surface of our skin, chilling it. We like this more in the summer than the winter! Dry air also causes discomfort from dry cracking skin and dry, static-filled hair.

Given these reasons to provide humidity indoors in the colder winter (drier) months, why shouldn’t every space be humidified? Well, there are risks associated with humidification as well.

Molds, fungi and certain bacteria thrive in damp (wet) environments. There are basically three things necessary for a mold explosion: spores, nutrition and water. The most limiting factor to growth is regular wetting, like condensation that amounts to real water.  In cold climates there are many surfaces indoors to cause condensation at some combination of temperature and humidity.

Improperly applied, installed and/or maintained humidifiers can cause condensation. Even good windows have a relatively low thermal resostance (R-value) and will be much cooler than other surfaces, and that’s why windows are typically one of the first places to form condensation. So humidity added inside must be regulated, and all surfaces kept above the dewpoint or it will likely result in stuff growing. This “stuff” is usually more harmful that the benefit received from adding the humidity!

There’s another significant risk associated with humidifiers themselves. Older, less expensive recirculating evaporative humidifiers have a stagnant pool that is used to wet the evaporating pad or media, which becomes a haven for all sorts of growing stuff, which then gets blown around the building. The non-recirculating evaporative and ultrasonic humidifiers are good choices, as well as steam units.

So these risks beg the question: can an indoor space be safely humidified? The answer is a qualified “yes”. Every space is different and must be individually evaluated. If good apparatus is installed, operated and maintained, the benefits can outweigh the risks. Dan Thayer, P.E., CEM, CIAQP

“For every $1 spent on energy, nearly 85 cents leaves the state of Maine and most of the US. But for every $1 spent on wood chips or pellets, 85 cents stays in Maine, and there’s a significant multiplier effect. ” That’s company president Dan Thayer from a feature article in the November 14 issue of MaineBiz. Dan was talking about Thayer Corps. growth in new energy markets like biomass and fuel crops, and the company’s focus on retrofits, renovations and energy efficiency.

Thayer Corp is an Efficiency Maine partner. Dan believes that energy efficiency and renewable energy will be big drivers in the company’s continued growth in 2012. Expanding the application of Thayer’s core expertise in HVAC and climate control to agricultural greenhouse businesses (outside the regular manufacturing business venue) has added a whole new opportunity. And those companies call because Thayer has the HVAC experience to make biomass systems easy to use, efficient and effective, and knows how to maintain systems for optimal use.

While the last few years has seen Thayer people working on everything from our regular maintenance contracts to keep systems in top shape, to HVAC on oil rigs or biomass boilers in National Forest Service buildings, the common theme is expertise in internal climate control and a knowledge of which systems are best suited to particular applications. Want to be energy efficient, comfortable, green, and cost effective? Call in the Experts!

It is a beautiful sunny day in September, and it is hard to believe that winter is on its way. Believe it. And by now, you have probably taken a look at fuel oil costs as you try to figure out whether to lock in a price for the winter or take your chances.

You might be taking your chances, but your oil company probably isn’t. Make sure you look closely at all the figures. For example, at Downeast, where cash oil prices are $3.60 today (September 12, 2011), it will cost you $3.749/gallon to pay cash upfront for your entire estimated oil use.  If you want to add a guarantee in case the price drops, get out your calculator, because Downeast will charge you 30 cents a gallon additional for that option. So the price will have to drop to $3.45 per gallon just to break even on the $3.75 you’re paying now. And if you want to pay monthly on a 10 month budget plan, the plan price is $4.20/gallon, although you’ll get the daily cash price if it’s lower on delivery day.

We’re not picking on Downeast. Other oil delivery companies are also protecting themselves with elaborate fee structures that essentially make the general cash delivery price look more palatable.

With fuel oil ranging from $3.32 a gallon to $3.80 today, the obvious solution is to use less oil. You can accomplish that pretty simply by adding a sweater and turning down the heat, but will that be enough? And will it be something you and your family can tolerate for the seven month Maine heating season?

You should be combining conservation with increased efficiency, and that’s where a home energy audit can give you valuable information. Thayer has partnered with GreenHomes America to provide comprehensive energy audits, including a home or business efficiency modification plan that can save 25%-50% in fuel costs for many homes or businesses. These energy assessment programs uncover opportunities for energy savings, and then propose solutions that tighten and weatherize your home or business. Your home or business will use less fuel, have a smaller carbon footprint, and save you money.

The Thayer energy audit gives you all information you need to prioritize your energy dollars and become more energy efficient. Call us today at 800-649-4197.

Join us at the Great State of Maine Air Show Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday, August 26-28, at Brunswick Landing, the former Naval Air Station in Brunswick. Thayer Corp. will be meeting folks and talking about home energy audits, biomass, HVAC, system maintenance, preparing your buildings for a Maine winter—anything at all to do with the services we provide to make your home or commercial building more energy efficient, comfortable and easy to maintain. Please stop by our booth in Hanger 5, take home a little balsawood plane (in honor of the air show) or a thermal-change pencil, have your photo taken with an IR camera, and ask us questions about how you can save money this winter on your energy costs. See you at the Air Show!

Thayer Corp Installs New Carrier Infinity Heat Pump with Greenspeed Intelligence

Thayer Corp is excited to report that the first northern New England example of an innovative new heat pump will be installed here in Auburn. Dan Legere, our Home Energy Specialist, is working with an Auburn family on a home energy audit and energy modifications to complement their new Carrier Infinity heat pump with Greenspeed Intelligence

Heat pumps work by using small amounts of energy to move heat from one place to another. Typically, they pull heat out of the air or ground to heat a home. Heat pumps transfer heat, rather than burning fuel to create it, but they work best in moderate climates, and have been most effective when temps are above freezing. The innovative communication module and variable speed compressor allows this system to be used in climates with much greater temperature variations, like Maine. The increased efficiency of this unit allows it to operate effectively at a much lower outside temperature.

The Infinity heat pump with Greenspeed Intelligence is the highest heating efficiency residential air source heat pump available. At a 3 ton size (common for a house) and in an outdoor temperature of 17° F, the system can achieve 17 to 86 percent greater heating capacity than standard heat pump products on the market today. This breakthrough product will significantly extend the geographic range for heat pumps to serve as a home’s primary heat source.

The heat produced by a heat pump tends to be very consistent. The system has sensors so sophisticated that connecting refrigeration gauges may be unnecessary, and the performance can be monitored through the thermostat control. The outside compressor actually has the ability to vary speeds to match the amount of cooling and heating needed in your home at all times of the day.  What this means for our customers is lower cooling and heating bills and more consistent comfort. 

In Maine, most homes require a back-up heat source, but using the Infinity heat pump with Greenspeed Intelligence will allow the family to use their fuel burning appliance for many fewer hours, resulting in a much lower oil bill in the winter. The new system, of course, will also provide a vastly improved summertime electric bill.

With the lock-in price of oil well over $4 a gallon for this winter, the solution presented by Thayer Corporation will quickly become an intelligent investment for this Auburn family.

Now that spring is here and the heating season is drawing to a close, we’ll answer a question we get often: can we shut down our furnace for the summer?  With fuel at over $4 per gallon, it might seem like a good idea to shut down your boiler and save some money.

There are several differing opinions about shutting your heating plant, but our opinion is that you can indeed save money by shutting down your system over the summer. With a residential boiler, you might save $150 by not keeping the boiler warm over the next three months.

It all depends on your type of system. You can’t shut down a tankless coil, because you need it for heating your domestic hot water. But if you have a cold start boiler that’s used for heating only, then go ahead and have it shut down. The boiler should be cleaned, because soot plus moisture in the boiler will lead to a hard deposit that will be very difficult and time-consuming to clean in the fall, when you want to start the boiler up again. And since your boiler should be cleaned and inspected each year, by doing it in the spring you can save money over the summer, and be ready to just flip a switch for heat in the fall, avoiding a time of year when it can take days for a service call because maintenance techs are so busy.

The cleaning is really an important part, and if you’re not able to get your boiler cleaned, don’t bother shutting it down. Over the summer, mechanical rooms become a moist environment and things corrode, oil tanks left not full will bring in moisture into them, spider webs block off air adjustments, cold boilers could allow gaskets to leak, and cold boiler surfaces may condense warm summer air and allow rusting.

Turning your thermostat down, leaving the heating system operational, and scheduling maintenance for the fall is our suggestion if you can’t schedule a spring cleaning/shut down. If you’re using your heating system to generate your domestic hot water, then regular conservation measures (lowering the water temperature, installing low flow shower heads, and limiting shower times) will save money.

In general, shutting down a heating plant means draining, cleaning, and drying. It isn’t the shutting down that is important, it is starting them up again. If you don’t have the boiler properly cleaned in the spring, it will require a service call to get your heating plant operational again, often made at the time when many heating systems are undergoing maintenance and technicians are in high demand.

As always, call us with questions or to request service at 800-649-4197.

Efficiency Maine reported today that funding is anticipated to end May 25 for energy efficiency rebates in the Home Energy Savings Program.

If you’re interested in having home modifications done this spring or summer, you must have a home energy assessment completed before you will be eligible for rebates. Rebate reservation requests are reviewed in the order in which they are received, and incomplete information will get your request moved to the bottom of the stack.

Thayer Corp is a GreenHomes America partner, which means we’re equipped to provide comprehensive home energy assessments that give you the information you need to make your home more energy efficient, comfortable and secure.

Meanwhile, there is another ray of sunshine in the funding sky. As of the end of April, more than 50 Maine communities have set up programs sponsoring PACE financing, which are low interest loans for home owners and business people who make energy-conserving modifications to their buildings.

For more information on the Efficiency Maine rebates, check out the Efficiency Maine website. For more information about energy assessments, check out the Thayer website. Call today to schedule your energy audit, and you may just be able to make the deadline for Efficiency Maine rebates!

With heating oil topping $3.40 a gallon, we are announcing our partnership with Green Homes America just in the nick of time! Thayer Corporation is introducing a home energy audit program that brings energy efficiency upgrades to a whole new level in Maine.

The primary difference in the Thayer Green Homes America program is the guarantee of energy savings. Our Energy Advisors will run the energy audit at your home using infrared cameras, blower doors and other tools that assess building insulation, air penetration, and appliance and heating plant efficiency, and review the energy efficiency of your house from attic to cellar.  We’ll run the results through a computerized program, explain the outcome and suggest efficiency upgrade options that should save most people at least 25% in energy use. If Thayer Corp then implements the home modifications or upgrades, we guarantee at least a 25 percent reduction in heating and cooling costs on all qualifying projects.

Thayer Energy Advisor Dan Legere and Heather Blease will explain how energy audits work and demonstrate infrared cameras, blower doors and other energy assessment tools at public meetings Tuesday night, March 15, at 6:30 at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick and Wednesday night, March 16, at 6:30 at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston. The meetings are free. Thayer will also provide information on Efficiency Maine home energy incentives, which could total more than $3,000 when combined with federal tax rebates and a Thayer tax match rebate.

For more information about the free public meetings or a home energy audit, call us at 207-782-4197, or visit the website at www.thayercorp.com. Thayer Corporation of Auburn, Maine, specializes in HVAC, heating and cooling maintenance, lighting and energy efficiency projects for homes and businesses. Call in the experts!