CONTACT: Sears Public Relations And Communications Sears HomeCentral Offers Solutions to Lower Energy Bills Summer Cooling Costs Likely to Increase and High Home Heating Bills Expected
Next Winter: Now is the Time to Plan Ahead and Save
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Gas
Association reports that it could take six, 12 or 18 months for natural gas
prices to moderate as fresh gas supplies come into the market -- meaning, as
recent articles have reported, consumers are likely to continue paying higher
energy bills throughout 2001. Sears HomeCentral(R) advises homeowners to
reevaluate one of the biggest contributors to higher bills -- their home
heating and cooling systems.
An Associated Press poll taken at the end of January 2001 revealed that 51
percent of respondents felt the higher prices for natural gas, home heating
oil and gasoline have affected them a lot personally. According to the
Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
website, heating and cooling a home uses more energy and drains more energy
dollars than any other system in the home. On average, 44 percent of a
homeowner's utility bill is for heating and cooling. EREN advises that
consumers can save money and increase comfort by properly maintaining and
upgrading their equipment.
"There are two paths consumers can take when it comes to their heating and
cooling systems," said Joseph Muley, vice president and general manager,
heating, ventilating and air conditioning for Sears HomeCentral. "The first
is to have the unit checked to be sure it's operating as efficiently as it
should be. The second, for systems not operating properly, is to upgrade to an
energy-efficient system."
The experts at Sears HomeCentral recommend a preventive maintenance check
of heating and cooling systems for two reasons: to ensure the units are
operating safely and efficiently, and to save during summer's heat as well as
next winter's blast. Scheduling a check before using the air conditioner for
the first time is the smart approach to avoid getting caught in the seasonal
rush when the heat of summer hits. If a maintenance check reveals poor
efficiency, homeowners should consider investing in a new system that offers
higher efficiency.
"Sears HomeCentral understands what consumers have been going through with
energy bills and their plans to keep costs down," added Muley. "We also know
most homeowners would appreciate some incentives at this time either for
investing in a new system or having their current heating and cooling system
checked."
In response to the energy cost situation, Sears HomeCentral is extending
its pre-season zero percent financing for one full year, compared to its usual
six months, on the purchase of new energy efficient systems such as Trane(R)
and Kenmore(R). In addition, homeowners interested in having their current
cooling systems inspected before the cooling season starts can schedule a
preventive maintenance check with savings of 40 percent or more off the
regular price from now until the end of April. Service appointments for
preventive maintenance checks and free in-home estimates on new systems and
can be scheduled by calling 1-800-4-MY-HOME or by going to http://www.sears.com .
ENERGY STAR and the SEER Rating
The energy star label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
ensures that products carrying the label are energy-efficient. The EPA reports
that Energy Star-labeled systems can save homeowners from 15 to 40 percent on
their energy bills when installed properly.
High efficiency systems offer consumers different levels of Seasonal
Energy Efficiency Ratings (SEER) for their cooling element, an area that
recently received national attention. Before the end of their term, the
Clinton administration announced a tighter energy-efficiency standard for
central air conditioners, requiring a SEER 13 compared to the previous SEER
10. While the standard does not go into effect until 2006, the experts at
Sears HomeCentral suggest that homeowners consider upgrading to SEER 13, as
most systems last at least 10 to 15 years when properly maintained.
"Purchasing an energy efficient system is a smart investment not only
because it can end up paying for itself over time, but also because you will
have the latest technology and will meet current standards," added Muley.
"Having an existing system checked out ahead of time brings peace of mind
about safety as well as efficiency, so whichever option homeowners choose,
they'll come out ahead."
Sears HomeCentral is the nation's largest home repair provider in terms of
the number of home repair specialists, with more than 12,000 trained
technicians making approximately 14 million repairs annually. Sears repair
specialists are trained through the Sears Technological Institute, which is
the first fully accredited educational institution of its kind in the U.S.
Technicians make over 200,000 in-home repair visits per week and service most
major brands no matter where the customer purchased the product.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) is a leading U.S. retailer of apparel,
home and automotive products and services, with annual revenue of more than
$40 billion. The company serves families across the country through
approximately 860 department stores, more than 2,100 specialized retail
locations, and a variety of online offerings accessible through the company's
Web site, http://www.sears.com .
SOURCE Sears, Roebuck and Co. |