Keeping heating and cooling costs down is a priority for all of us. Although  the SEER ratings of your home heating and air conditioning units may not be the first thing you think of when considering energy use, awareness of the ratings can help to maximize energy efficiency and lower utility costs.

If you are already considering options for heating and cooling your planned second-story addition, you’re on the right track. Whether you choose to overhaul your entire home-comfort system, or if simply extending or augmenting your current system is the leading solution, you'll want to ensure long-term satisfaction, home comfort and energy efficiency by carefully exploring all of your choices.

One of the biggest concerns our customers have is the cost associated with heating and cooling their homes. While energy costs are on the rise, the good news is that there are a lot of ways that homeowners can achieve energy savings without sacrificing home comfort.

If you are a Massachusetts resident looking to upgrade your heating and cooling, make your home more comfortable or cut down on high energy bills, you should have the information you need to make an educated decision. Go to the Mass Save website, which has loads of information about government incentives and other ways to save money. (Then call Rodenhiser so we can get that equipment installed!)

Have you ever wondered if the other old homes in your neighborhood have as much trouble keeping heat inside in the winter and cool air from leaking out in the summer?  It is really hard to know unless you stack up your bills against a fellow worker, family member or neighbor. Even then, their home can have differences that can cost them more or less than you.

We have all endured a messy visit from Old Man Winter in the Framingham, Metro West and Boston area. The arctic cold and snowy landscape have played havoc with heating systems--and with our budgets.

To achieve energy savings, Metrowest Boston homeowners need to both limit their energy use and conserve the energy they have. With advice from Energy Star’s Home Advisor, you can do both. The Home Advisor is a simple online tool that uses information about your home to generate targeted tips for energy savings.

The Home Advisor’s tips for Metrowest Boston are:

Did you know that if air leaks are left untreated, they can account for a significant amount of energy loss in your Route 495/128-area home? If you haven't already done so, now may be the perfect time to schedule a home energy audit to get a handle on energy losses in your home's envelope.