According to WHO, the indoor temperature should be between 18 C – 23 C during winter. If you have children, the elderly, or people with health issues, the minimum temperature should be above 20 C degrees. If your indoor temperature falls below this range, it may be time to turn the heat on!

Personal Preference

The WHO recommended temperature value above may not cater to everyone. You may have a different comfort threshold. If you are someone who doesn’t feel that cold, even if it’s below 18 degrees, you don’t have to turn on the heat. You can continue saving energy! On the other hand, if you feel chilly and uncomfortable when it’s 25 C indoors, you can definitely use your heating unit. Your personal comfort should be your top priority.

Sleep Temperature

The ideal sleeping temperature is accepted to be around 18 C. For a comfortable sleep, it is recommended to keep your thermostat set between 15 – 19 C degrees.

In case your bedroom temperature goes below 18 C at night, you can turn on the heating system for a few hours. To save on energy, try turning the thermostat back 7 – 10 degrees from your daytime settings. For instance, if your thermostat is set to 20 C during the day, you can lower it to 17 C at night. You can also use warm bedding and a blanket to keep yourself comfortable without cranking up the heat.

What Is The Best Thermostat Setting For Winter?

The ideal thermostat settings for winter are between 20 – 22 C when you are at home. This range is a perfect balance of comfort and energy savings. You can save even more when you are away or sleeping by turning the thermostat back 7 – 10 degrees from your usual temperature settings.

Tip: Manually adjusting the thermostat for separate daytime and nighttime settings can be a hassle. A smart thermostat or a smart AC controller that works with a mini – split, window, or portable heat pump can help automate your home climate. With these smart devices, you can easily set schedules, and your temperature settings will be applied automatically at your set timings.

What To Do Before Switching On Your Heating System

Before turning on the heat, you need to take a few important steps, like checking the heating system and making sure your house insulation is at par. With the proper preparations, you can easily stay warm and cozy in the winter season.

•  Upgrade Your Thermostat

•  Find & Fix Air Leaks

You might not pay attention to small air leaks, but they can significantly affect your home comfort and energy bills in the longer run. Cold air can infiltrate your home through cracks and gaps, while hot air from your HVAC unit can easily leak out. Finding and fixing air leaks in your home can help lower your energy costs by an average of 15%.

Drafts are commonly found around doors, windows, pipes, floorboards, chimneys, ductwork, and wiring holes. You can use caulk to seal small gaps around your home. To fill in the leaks in doors and windows, apply weatherstripping. Silicone – based filler can be used to fill the cracks in your floorboards. Also, check for leaks around your air ducts. You can use foil tape or apply duct mastic to cover the duct holes and prevent heat from seeping through.

•  Perform Tune – ups

One of the best ways to ensure your unit is running at its best is by performing regular HVAC tune – ups. This means cleaning AC filters and checking for any signs of damage, leaks, or wear and tear. If necessary, schedule a maintenance check with a professional technician. This helps detect any issues, such as unusual HVAC smells or sounds.

•  Test Run Your Heating System

After you have performed the tune-ups, do a practice run before it gets cold. This helps to detect any issues early on and prevents you from suffering in the cold due to a faulty HVAC system.

•  Increase Your Home’s Humidity Levels

As the temperature drops, the humidity levels also plummet. And when you are going to turn the heating unit on, it is going to further strip the moisture from the air. Dry winter air can cause various health issues like an increase in allergies, dry skin, respiratory problems, and nose bleeds. Moreover, it can also pose damage to your wooden floor, furniture, and walls. To increase humidity in your home, you can bring in houseplants, air dry your clothes or invest in a humidifier.

•  Check Safety Alarms

Smoke alarms are one of the most important safety devices in your home. In case if anything goes wrong when heating, you need your smoke alarm to work. In order for them to perform their job, they require routine maintenance. Not regularly checking your smoke alarms increases the possibility of their failure, and that can put you in harm’s way. So, it’s best to test your smoke alarms before the heating season starts to ensure they are working fine. If your alarm or the detector uses a battery, check if it needs replacement.

How To Delay Putting The Heat On?

Due to increasing power prices, you may be reluctant to turn on your heater until you really need it in a bid to save on bills. However, you don’t have to feel uncomfortable in your own home. Here are some steps you can take to keep yourself warm without any compromises. You can also apply these tips to make your home more energy efficient when the heating is on.

•  Let the Warmth In

To improve warmth in your home, consider opening your drapes or blinds in the morning to let the sunshine in. This will help accumulate heat during the day, and you can close them at night to retain warmth.

•  Invest in a Room Heating Unit

Running your central HVAC system in the fall may lead to energy wastage as your whole house may not require heating. A better way to keep warm without driving up the bills is to perhaps invest in a small space heating, portable heat pump, or consider HVAC zoning. The best part about portable heat pumps is that you can move them from one room to another when needed. It works like any other heat pump by drawing in heat from the outside air, then circulating it inside.

• Get Thermal Curtains

Thermal curtains can trap the air between the different layers of fabric, providing an insulating effect. This means that the temperature outside will not affect your indoor environment.

•  Layer Your Clothes

Putting on some extra layers is an obvious way to regulate your body temperature and stay warm without a heater. A sweater or a cardigan can definitely keep you comfortable on chilly fall evenings, allowing you to save the big switch for a later date.

•  Use Floor Rugs

Floor rugs have long been valued as an aesthetic element, but beyond their decorative function, they serve a practical purpose, helping to minimize heat loss. Floor rugs work by trapping tiny pockets of air between the rug fibers, slowing down the flow of heat from one side of the rug to the other. So, invest in a thick rug with a high stitch count; your feet will surely thank you.

•  Make Use of Draft Stoppers

Using a draft stopper at the bottom of the doors and windows is one of the simplest ways to keep your home warm. This prevents cold air from seeping into your home.

What if Your Heating Unit Doesn’t Turn On?

Sometimes, when you turn on your heating unit after a long summer, it doesn’t function properly. Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you deal with heating problems:

Check Your Thermostat – One common issue why your thermostat isn’t working is lack of power. If your thermostat is battery-powered, try replacing the batteries. For hardwired systems, check the circuit breaker and reset it if it has tripped. Also, check for blown fuses and call an HVAC technician for replacement if that’s the case. If that doesn’t solve the issue, try resetting your thermostat.

Clean Your AC Filters – The AC filters need regular cleaning for efficient performance. If you haven’t inspected them before turning the heater on, your unit may have trouble functioning properly.

Check Your Outdoor Unit – When your heating unit isn’t used during the summer, dirt and debris can get stuck in the outdoor unit and cause issues. Clean the outdoor unit before turning the on unit. Also, trim vegetation around it to prevent leaves or twigs from getting inside.

Remove Obstructions – Move furniture pieces that are blocking the vents so there is no airflow issue and warm air can easily circulate around. Also, ensure your thermostat is not behind a curtain or a furniture piece, as this blocks airflow, leading to incorrect temperature measurements.

Deciding To Turn On The Heater

If you are wondering when it’s time to start warming up in the fall, just keep in mind that there is no hard – and – fast rule for when to turn on the heater. Whether you choose to leave it off until temperatures drop significantly or turn it on as soon as fall hits is a personal decision that depends on your specific situation. If you are looking to save some bucks before the freezing weather, you can delay turning on the heat by letting the sun in, weatherizing your home, or sliding into a cozy blanket. And once you have decided that it’s time to crank up the heat, be sure to invest in smart climate control devices to keep your heating bills in check without compromising on your comfort.

Via: Cielo Wigle

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The start of submitting applications to the “Sponsorship project for the installation of a photovoltaic system for charging an electric or plug – in hybrid vehicle ” is announced . The amount of the sponsorship for the installation or expansion of an existing photovoltaic system amounts to €750 per kW, with a maximum sponsorship amount of €1,500 per vehicle.

The Plan was announced on 20/04/2022 in order to give the opportunity to the interested parties to proceed with the implementation of the corresponding investment. The Plan’s budget amounts to €1.5 million and is part of the efforts of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry and the Government in general to promote electrification and sustainable transport.

In addition to the installation of the photovoltaic system, the Plan provides the beneficiaries with the opportunity to purchase and install a charger, convert the electrical installation of the house from single-phase to three-phase and purchase a battery to store the energy produced by the photovoltaic system. Beneficiaries of the plan are natural persons who live in a house and are owners of an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle.

The Scheme has retroactive effect from 01/02/2022 (date of connection of the photovoltaic system) and will remain open until 20/12/2023 or until the available budget is exhausted.

The amount of the sponsorship for the installation or expansion of an existing photovoltaic system amounts to €750 per kW, with a maximum sponsorship amount of €1,500 per vehicle.

Discretionary costs are financed as follows:

‒ Purchase and installation of a charger, €600.

‒ Conversion of electrical installation of the house from single-phase to three-phase, €450.

‒ Battery purchase/installation, €750 per kWh, with a maximum sponsorship amount per application of €2,000.

The Grant Scheme is included in the Recovery and Resilience Plan “Cyprus to avrio” for the period 2021–2026, and is funded by the EU.

All information about the Plan and access to the application process are posted on the website of the RES and EXE Fund: www.resecfund.org.cy/ev_charging_2022

Source: Ministry of Energy Commerce and Industry

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The budget of the Sponsorship Plan for the installation of photovoltaics and thermal insulation of houses in the houses for the years 2022-2023 is increased to € 30 million, with the application process starting today and remaining in force until 20/12/2023 or until exhaustion of the budget, whichever comes first.

The doubling of the budget compared to previous years was decided within the framework of the government package of measures to relieve the citizens from the inflationary pressures. It is estimated that more than 10,000 applicants will benefit from the sponsorship, which, by making the relevant investments, will significantly reduce their energy costs.

In addition to doubling the budget, the Plan is announced this year with significant increases in sponsorships compared to the Plans implemented in previous years, with the aim of even greater support for citizens. Specifically, the grants are increased by 50%. An important difference is the introduction of virtual metering (Virtual Net Metering), for consumers who can not, due to technical limitations, install photovoltaic systems on the roofs of their homes.

The Plan will cover the following categories of investments:

CATEGORY 1 : Thermal insulation of roofs of existing houses. A sponsorship of 45% of the eligible costs of each application / residence is provided, with a maximum sponsorship amount per application of € 2,250. For the residents of mountain communities the amounts increase by 50%.

CATEGORY 2: Thermal insulation of roofs of existing houses in combination with the installation of a photovoltaic system with the method of offset measurements (Net Metering or Virtual Net Metering). A sponsorship of 55% of the eligible costs for the thermal insulation of the roof is provided, with a maximum sponsorship amount of € 2,750 and funding of € 450 per installed kW photovoltaic system, with a maximum sponsorship amount of € 1,800. The maximum amount of sponsorship per application can reach € 4,550. For the residents of mountain communities the amounts increase by 50%.

CATEGORY 3: Installation of photovoltaic system by the method of metering offset (Net Metering) or virtual metering offset (Virtual Net Metering) in existing homes. The amount of the sponsorship amounts to € 375 per installed kW photovoltaic system, with a maximum sponsorship amount of € 1,500 ( CATEGORY 3A ). For the residents of mountain communities the amounts increase by 50%. The amount increases to € 1,000 per installed kW of photovoltaics for the homes of vulnerable consumers, with a maximum sponsorship amount of € 5,000 ( CATEGORY 3B ).

Existing residences are eligible, for which the application for a building permit or urban planning permit has been submitted:

– for CATEGORIES 1 and 2 before 21/12/2007.

– for CATEGORIES 3A and 3B before 01/01/2017.

The Plan has retroactive effect to ensure the smooth continuation of the previous Plan of 2021. Therefore, investments made after 01/08/2021 are eligible. Investments made before 01/08/2021, are not eligible.

All information about the Plan, including the Plan Guide and the application process, can be found on the RES and FDI Fund

website: www.resecfund.org.cy .

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Two new Sponsorship Plans of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry, totaling € 49 million, for the Energy Upgrading of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Non-Profit Organizations (NGOs), Local Government Authorities and Public Broadcasting Council of the Ministers. 

Z&X Mechanical is proudly involved in the program, as part of our services.

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The proposals for the Plans, which are included in the Recovery and Sustainability Plan 2021-2026 “Cyprus _ tomorrow” and will be financed by the EU Recovery and Sustainability Mechanism, were submitted by the competent Minister of Energy, Ms. Natasa Pileidou.

Specifically, based on the Decisions of the Council of Ministers, € 40 million will be allocated for the Plan “Promotion of Energy Efficiency Investments by SMEs and Non-Profit Organizations (NGOs)”, which aims to promote energy saving investments (facilities and facilities), owned and / or used by SMEs (€ 36 million) and NGOs (€ 4 million). It will cover, among others, the energy upgrade of buildings, the application of EXE measures in the production / operation processes of SMEs, the implementation of energy audits, the adoption of digital technologies (eg automation and energy consumption control systems), as well as the installation Renewable Energy Systems (RES) systems.

The main goal of the Plan is to achieve a reduction of primary energy consumption by at least 35% in buildings or 30% in production processes.

The sponsorship rate will be 40% of the eligible costs for SMEs and 60% for NGOs, while the maximum amount of sponsorship that each beneficiary will be able to receive is determined based on the percentage of savings that will be achieved and the type investment to choose. In the smaller category of investments, for beneficiaries who will achieve the minimum possible percentage of energy savings, there is a possibility of securing a sponsorship of up to € 100,000, while for beneficiaries who will choose to achieve the largest category (upgrading Buildings to Buildings with Almost Zero Energy Consumption), the maximum sponsorship amount can be up to € 300,000.

The submission of applications will start on a date to be determined by a new announcement of the Ministry and will remain in force until 30/9/2022 or until the exhaustion or commitment of the available budget. The Plan has no retroactive effect and does not cover any expenses that will be implemented before the date of submission of each application.

The second Grant Scheme approved today by the Council of Ministers, has a total budget of € 9 million and concerns the “Encouragement of Energy Upgrading by Local Authorities and Broader Public Sector Bodies”. Provides financial incentives, in the form of sponsorship, for the conversion of public buildings into Buildings with Almost Zero Energy Consumption, as well as for the implementation of RES and / or EXE investments in other infrastructures of Local Authorities and Legal Entities under Public Law.

The basic requirement of the Plan, which will subsidize 100% of the eligible costs, with a maximum sponsorship amount of € 700,000 and a minimum proposal amount of € 10,000 (all amounts are without VAT), is to achieve a reduction of primary energy consumption by at least 30% , on average, of all supported investments.

The available appropriations for the operation of the Plan, which as mentioned above are financed by the EU Recovery and Sustainability Mechanism under the axis “Rapid Transition to a Green Economy”, are included in the Medium-Term Financial Framework of the RES and EXE Fund.

Again, the submission of applications will start on a date that will be determined later with a relevant announcement and will remain in force until 31/12/2023 or until the exhaustion or commitment of the available budget. The Plan has no retroactive effect and does not cover any expenses that will be implemented before the date of submission of each application.

The Implementation Guides of the Plans, with all the details, will be published on the website of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry https://meci.gov.cy/gr/ .

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The Plan includes the following categories of investments:

Photovoltaic systems (PV), RES systems, Autonomous RES systems and Photovoltaic systems (PV).

The implementation period is until 20/12/2021 or until the available budget is used up, whichever comes first.

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Beneficiaries of Category A are all electricity consumers.

The maximum power of each PV system that can be installed is 10.4 kW per electricity bill.

The PV systems can be installed on the roof of legally erected premises or on the ground within the same plot where the legal premises are located and / or adjacent plots with the premises they will serve.

Category B : RES systems connected to the network by the method of net -billing .

Beneficiaries of Category B are all electricity consumers.

The maximum power of each RES system that can be installed under Category B is 8MW per electricity bill. 

RES systems can be installed on the roof of legally erected premises or on the ground within the same plot and / or adjacent plots with the premises they will serve.

Category C : Autonomous RES systems not connected to the network . 

Beneficiaries of Category C are all electricity consumers

Autonomous RES systems can be installed according to the needs of the consumer, without limitation to the maximum power of each system.

Category D : Photovoltaic systems (PV ) connected to the grid by the method of virtual net -metering

 Beneficiaries of Category D are domestic consumers and professional farmers.

PV systems are installed in a location different from the property being serviced.

The electricity produced by a PV system is offset by the electricity imported from the grid (consumption / account) of a single residential unit or agricultural establishment, located in a different area from the PV system.

The maximum power of each PV system that can be installed is: 

*for household consumers 10.4 kW per electricity bill

*for professional farmers 20 kW per electricity bill.

Important Notes

In Categories A, B and D, the annual electricity produced by the RES system that will be installed, can not exceed 90% of the annual electricity consumption of the facility that will serve.

The provisions regarding the surplus electricity in the category of net-metering / virtual net-metering and the cash surpluses in the category of net-billing have been amended so that they are not deleted . to the last account of a twelve-month period, but transferred for use in the next invoicing period (next month or two months).

Submission of Applications

The applications are submitted to the local Regional Offices of the Distribution System Operator (DSD – EAC).

Those interested can obtain applications in printed form from the Distribution System Operator (DSD-EAC) and in electronic form from the website https://www.eac.com.cy .

The receipt of applications for Categories A, B and D will end on 20.12.22 or earlier if the maximum available capacity of each category is completed per year or if otherwise decided by the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry.

More information about the Plan is available on the Energy Service website https://energy.gov.cy/

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Take advantage of the subsidy for the installation of a Photovoltaic System Net Metering with a subsidy of € 250 / kW with a maximum amount of € 1000!

The implementation period is until 20/12/2021 or until the available budget is used up, whichever comes first.

The amount increases to € 750 per installed kW of photovoltaic, for the homes of vulnerable consumers, with a maximum sponsorship amount of € 3,750.

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FULL SUBSIDY PLAN HERE 

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In spring and summer our gardens bloom with life. While this may seem nice, it can also cause people suffering from seasonal pollen-related asthma and allergies, such as allergic rhinitis. But what is pollen and how can you protect your family from its possible effects?

Pollen, which usually appears as a fine powder, is microspores that are transferred from one plant to another, resulting in the fertilization and production of new plants. As temperatures rise, pollen production increases causing a variety of symptoms in people with pollen sensitivity including sneezing, nasal congestion, redness, itchy eyes and tearing and / or itchy nose or runny nose.

There are three main types of pollen that together extend the pollen season from early spring to late autumn.

• Pollen from grass: It is the main culprit for asthma and pollen allergies associated with pollen and can affect people from March to October. Grass pollen can cause extremely strong reactions.

• Tree Pollen: While different types of tree pollen occur at different times of the year, tree pollen is usually only a problem from February to June.

• Weed Pollen: Weed pollen most often causes allergic rhinitis. It usually prevails in summer and early autumn.

Daikin air purifiers are the perfect way to ensure that indoor air is cleaner, healthier and cleaner, minimizing the negative effects of pollen on your health.

Daikin air purifiers:

Minimize the symptoms of asthma and allergies by removing dust and pollen particles from the air.

They protect your health by filtering out airborne bacteria and viruses, and also eliminate 99.98% of the human coronavirus HCoV-229E.

They inject moisture into the air when it is very dry, helping to keep your skin healthy.

· They control odors so that your home always smells fresh and clean.

We are a proficient company offering a wide selection of services for all size projects in the areas of Solar Energy, Photovoltaic Systems, Geothermal Energy, Net Metering, Swimming Pools, Air Conditioning, Central Heating, all kind of Mechanical Installations. Please contact us if you have any questions!

Via: Hooi Koorts

Via: Daikin Europe