New York State has set bold goals to dramatically reduce greenhouse gases and to become net zero by 2050. Emissions like carbon dioxide have been implicated in the increasing temperatures, rising seas, stronger storms, and changing weather patterns that are already having a negative impact on Long Island.
We’d all like to aid in reaching this goal by reducing our carbon footprint, but it can be difficult to know where to begin. Like so many endeavors, the answer is: it begins at home. How efficiently we heat and cool our homes has a tremendous effect – not only on our wallets, but on our carbon footprint.
Tragar Home Services is a leader in the field of energy-efficient home heating and cooling. We strive to be net-zero heroes and, with our commitment to offering our customers greener HVAC products and services, we can help you become one too.
What Does Net Zero Mean?
Net Zero is the goal of balancing out the amount of greenhouse gases caused by manufacturing, transportation emissions, home or business heating and cooling, and other human activity. This is achieved by preventing, reducing, or removing an equivalent volume of emissions by some other means.
Some examples of these tactics include using cleaner energy to heat and cool buildings, adding solar panels, switching to electric vehicles, planting forests, or purchasing carbon offsets. Net zero is similar to carbon neutrality but it has a wider scope that includes additional emissions (like methane, nitrous oxide, and other hydrofluorocarbons).
What Is New York’s Renewable Energy Target?
New York State has one of the country’s most ambitious renewable energy targets. The Climate Act of 2019 set the goal of 70 percent renewable energy by 2030. The law – which became effective Jan. 1, 2020 – also calls for statewide net-zero emissions by 2050.
How Much of NY Energy Is Renewable?
At this time, approximately 30 percent of New York’s energy is from renewable sources, the majority of which is generated by hydroelectric plants. New York is one of the country’s top providers of hydroelectric power, representing nearly three-quarters of the state’s renewable energy. Solar, wind, and biomass are additional sources of the state’s renewables.
Are Heat Pumps Environmentally Friendly?
Heat pumps are environmentally friendly and can go a long way toward reaching your net-zero goal. They are highly efficient, reaching 300-400 percent efficiency or greater. This means they produce 3-4 times more energy than they use in electricity.
Because heat pumps neither use combustion nor experience electric resistance, they don’t lose efficiency while operating. In the warmer months, heat pump air conditioning uses a lower global warming potential refrigerant (and less of it) than other types of cooling units.
Is Bioheat Fuel Renewable?
Tragar offers our customers environmentally friendly Bioheat® blended fuel. Bioheat® combines standard oil with renewable biodiesel fuel made from recycled/waste animal and vegetable fats. It also burns cleanly, reducing emissions of sulfur oxides, carbon dioxide, particulate matter, and mercury.
Is Bioheat Better for Heating Systems?
Bioheat® not only improves your system’s efficiency, but it also burns cleaner than traditional heating oil and it can extend the life of your equipment. This is just one of many reasons Tragar provides Bioheat® to our customers at no additional charge. Using Bioheat® requires no modifications to your existing system, and may qualify you for the NYS clean heat fuel credit. We also offer conventional heating oil.
Tragar Home Services Is Your Net-Zero Hero
Whether it’s delivering Bioheat® fuel, installing an energy-efficient heat pump, or fixing inefficiencies in your current HVAC system… Tragar Home Services is Long Island’s trusted name in efficient home heating and cooling. In addition to new installations, we perform full-service evaluation, maintenance, and repair on a wide variety of HVAC systems. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
