​Ever wonder what's causing your APS or SRP energy bills to be so high? If your utility bills seem abnormally high it may be caused by something other than the weather. If you have gotten a letter from APS or SRP saying that you are using more energy than your neighbors something could be going on in your attic that's driving your energy bills up. If you have talked to your neighbors who have the same floor plan as you and keep the thermostat at the same temperature, but you are paying more every month to the utility company, those are familiar stories to our energy auditors at Green ID. As a rule of thumb, an energy efficient home will have a HIGH energy bill of $100 per 1,000 sq ft.  So if you live in a 2100 sq ft home, your highest energy bill in July or August in Phoenix should be no more than $210 - $230… That said, how does your home measure up? Chances are if you are reading this post trying to solve why your APS or SRP energy bills are so high than your utility bills are maybe 1.5 – 2 times higher than our threshold.  

Most homeowners never realize that having low energy bills, fixing hot rooms and making the home comfortable all year long is entirely possible without putting expensive solar panels on the roof! High energy bills may have less to do with what temperature you keep the thermostat at, and more to do with how the home was originally built. 

Stop giving too much money to APS and SRP and call (602) 926-1650 to get a free home energy audit when you mention this post to see how much you can save.

If you are doing your research looking for the best priced, most inexpensive heat pumps around Phoenix, we at Green ID have put together a short list of heat pumps you can use as a quick reference.  We understand that finding an inexpensive heat pump that lasts for years and saves money on your energy bills is a top priority. You’ll be glad to find inexpensive heat pumps from a variety of AC brands that don’t break your budget or compromise on quality.

Here are a few tips help maximize your dollars to find the best priced, inexpensive heat pump for your home. 

1. EER (pronounced “ear”) is more important than SEER in Arizona.  SEER is how we measure the efficiency of the heat pump, the higher the SEER rating, the more efficient it’s operation is and less you’ll spend on your energy bills. EER is almost exactly the same as SEER but it is how we measure the efficiency of how the heat pump operates at higher temperatures, like in Phoenix.  The SEER rating is done in an air conditioned factory at 76 degrees, EER ratings are done at 95 degrees. You want the heat pump that performs well at higher temperatures, so ask about the EER rating of the system.  Often times you can have two air conditioners that have the same SEER rating, but different EERs.  If they are the same cost, you can claim more energy savings for free!

2. Don’t just consider a unit upgrade, discuss the whole house and see if it’s feasible to go with a smaller heat pump with a Manual J calculation and a home performance upgrade. Sometimes we can save a homeowner more money by upgrading the insulation, sealing the ductwork, and sealing all the leaks with a lower SEER, rather than spending more money upfront on a higher efficiency unit but not addressing the other attic issues.  Another example would be having existing ductwork that’s designed to handle only 3 tons of air on a 4 ton system could be the cause of rapid aging of an air conditioner.  Have an energy audit performed on your house by Green ID as part of the heat pump replacement scope can help save on upfront costs and operating costs.

3. Ask about rebates and current promotions.  Often manufactures will have separate running promotions that bring down the cost of heat pumps and air conditioners.  Sometimes the rebates come from manufacturers who are less known, but still have a good reputation for quality, where you can get a more efficient unit for the same price as a standard heat pump from a better known manufacturer.

​We have installed and serviced each manufacturer on our short list of the 5 best priced heat pumps for the Phoenix market to ensure you are getting a well-made air conditioner at the best price.  All of these heat pumps feature upgrades like rust resistance screws, hail protective guards and 10 year warranties.  

When purchasing a new heat pump, it’s very important that a complete evaluation, or “load calculation” is performed. When doing this, a Green ID consultant will look at all factors that can affect the heat gain and loss of your home.  Bigger is not better in the air conditioning and heat pump world. We take into account the size, shape, and orientation of your home, what type of insulation and how much you have is also important along with window size, type, quantity, and the directions they face. We will also perform a leakage test of the ductwork and air leaks. 

By combining these and other factors, your Green ID consultant will evaluate what size unit your home requires.  An over or under sized unit is one of the most common problems with any system; when a licensed Green ID technician performs a load calculation, you will have a more efficient system and a more comfortable home.