Green Collar Operations

Unlike traditional AC companies, Green Collar Operations was founded on the principle that there are many ways to conserve energy in your home other than simply replacing your air conditioning or heating system. We believe that air balancing, duct sealing or replacement, attic insulation, and attic ventilation should all be explored before making an investment in new mechanical equipment. I just wanted to let you know: you all did a GREAT job installing a radiant barrier, more insulation, double weather-stripping around our doors, and sealing up our ducts last April at our house in ShadowGlen (Manor).

Keeping your home at the perfect temperature when winter hits Austin, TX involves looking at your home as a whole system. But if you have completely weatherized your home and are still experiencing rooms that are too cold for comfort, it may be time to replace your heating system. At Green Collar Operations, we approach heating differently to make sure you're getting the best in home comfort and energy efficiency when the outside temperatures drop. It can be hard to know whether it's time to replace your heating equipment and you don't want to wait for your heating equipment to break down completely.

How does the insulation in your home look? Insulation has a tendency to settle and become thinner over time, making it less effective at keeping your home comfortable. When your home has issues with excess moisture, your insulation can also harbor mold and other contaminants. Many homes here in Austin have old and damaged insulation that needs to be replaced for greater home comfort and efficiency. It is crucial to have your old and ineffective insulation removed by a professional, which is why we offer professional insulation removal for existing homes as part of the overall process of upgrading your insulation.

Your duct system, after all, is what keeps cool and warm air moving in your home throughout the year, in both summer and winter. Duct design is one of the most important components of your heating and air conditioning systems. Each duct should be sized to carry a certain amount of air so that it can properly heat or cool a room. In addition, all duct airflow combined should equal the approximate output of your HVAC equipment. When ducts are sized correctly, your HVAC equipment will last longer, and your home will be more comfortable and more efficient.

At Green Collar Operations, we do air conditioning differently. Since we take a whole-home approach to everything we do, our team will make sure your home is properly weatherized with appropriateair sealingand insulation, and has well-balanced andsealed ductwork, before we start with your AC replacement. If your utility bills are always painfully high, your cooling system may be the root cause of the problem. We often find that replacing an older unit with a new high-efficiency unit will do the trick and keep your utility bills in check all while keeping your family cool and comfortable!

Air sealing is one of the cheapest, easiest, and most cost-effective ways to improve your home's energy efficiency and comfort, yet many homeowners here in the Austin area have not yet realized the many benefits it can offer. At Green Collar Operations, we offer professional air sealing to help homeowners reduce drafts, stabilize indoor temperatures, lower their energy bills, and more. Austin homeowners experience a unique problem in that our soft and shallow limestone bedrock causes building foundations to constantly shift.

Proper airflow in your ductwork is essential in order for your heating and cooling systems to effectively keep your home at a comfortable and consistent temperature. With professional air flow testing and balancing from the ductwork specialists here in the Austin area, we will assess the air flow in your ductwork and make improvements as needed to deliver the proper amount of air to every room in your home. It isn't always obvious when the air flow in your duct system is off-balance. One of the most prominent signs of imbalanced air flow is inconsistent temperatures from room to room, with some rooms being extra warm and others extra cold.

So, how do we go about installing air conditioning systems designed to keep any home in Kyle, Georgetown, Bastrop, Marble Falls, or Austin as comfortable as possible? The Green Collar AC installation experts combine the whole home approach with the best available Trane Air Conditioning equipment to properly size your air conditioning unit, and will inspect all ductwork for areas of improvement. The only thing worse than an air conditioner that is too small is an air conditioner that's too big. Green Collar takes painstaking measures to determine the exact cooling load of your entire home, so that you are not wasting energy (and money) each month with an AC unit that is constantly running to keep up, or only operates in frequent, short bursts.

If you experience high cooling bills during the summer or inconsistent indoor temperatures throughout the year, chances are that your home needs additional insulation. At Green Collar Operations, we install high-efficiency and affordable fiberglass insulation to make your home more comfortable and efficient. Fiberglass insulation, also known as glass wool, is one of the most commonly used types of insulation and is made up of tiny fibers of glass and sand. It comes in batt and blanket form but can also be blown into walls and attics.

At Green Collar Operations, we love helping our customers in the greater Austin area make their homes more efficient and comfortable while saving money. As an Austin Energy participating contractor, we can help you gain access to special financing and rebates when you make energy-saving improvements to your home. When you install a new, energy efficient Trane air conditioner in your home, you could receive a rebate of $400 or more from Austin Energy, depending on the SEER rating. For a limited time, you could also receive a $200 manufacturer discount on your new Trane unit plus a seasonal $200 rebate from Austin Energy for qualifying projects.

An Energy Conservation and Disclosure (ECAD) audit is an essential part of the home listing process in Austin, and it's important to find a contractor you can trust to assess your home. As energy efficiency experts and qualified ECAD Energy Professionals, you can trust us to conduct your mandatory ECAD audit before you sell your home. An ECAD audit gives both you and prospective buyers valuable information about your home's overall energy efficiency. Your results will point you to upgrades that could improve your home's energy efficiency, such asair sealing, duct replacement, or insulation installation.

During the summer here in Texas, attics can reach temperatures of over 170 degrees. When your attic is not insulated properly, wood, drywall, and other construction materials allow this heat to flow through the ceiling and directly into your home. Then in winter, these same materials allow heat from your home to rise into your attic, where it then escapes through the roof. Your air conditioning system ends up working overtime to keep your home cool in the summer, and your heating system constantly runs to keep your home warm in the winter.

High air conditioning bills, inconsistent indoor temperatures, and moisture issues are all-too-common in homes here in the Austin area. If you're experiencing these problems in your home, it could be a sign that it's time to upgrade your home's insulation. Insulation will control heat transfer in your home, keeping indoor temperatures consistent and comfortable no matter the time of year. Proper home insulation is key if you want greater energy efficiency and comfort in every room in your home. Insulating your attic, for example, will keep heat out of your home during the summer and prevent heat from escaping your living spaces during the winter.

Leaky ducts are one of the leading causes behind home energy inefficiency, yet they often go unnoticed. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, duct inefficiency ranges from 30% to 50% in most U.S. homes. Meanwhile, local utility companies here in the Austin, Texas area have stated that the average home has ductwork that is wasting about 27% of a home's cooled or heated air. This can cause punctures and cracks along ducts, leaks around connections, and gaps around vents and air intakes. All of these duct problems cause conditioned air to be released into the attic, instead of your home.

True home comfort begins with understanding exactly how your home is operating, especially for Austin, TX homeowners. With our comprehensive visual energy audit, you will gain all the knowledge you need to make the most effective comfort upgrades to your home. During your free 45-minute energy audit, we will conduct a thorough search for deficiencies in your home which may be undermining its energy efficiency. We will assess a number of aspects of your home, including your air conditioning and heating systems, duct design, air flow, insulation, and attic ventilation.

You don't want your attic cooled by your air conditioner; yet this is exactly what can happen when your ductwork is leaky, damaged, or poorly designed. In addition to wasting precious energy, ductwork problems can cause inconsistent indoor temperatures, high heating and cooling bills, poor indoor air quality, excessive amounts of dust, and more. If you're experiencing any of these problems in your home, it's important to consult a ductwork specialist as soon as possible. Duct testing is your first line of defense against leaky ductwork.