My Energy Analyzer, a free tool designed to give customers a closer look at the factors that affect monthly energy costs, will also offer customers solutions for reducing their energy use.

The new Service Appointment Tracker sends customers a confirmation number via text message or email to track the status of their move-in and service reconnection appointments. The service also provides reminder calls to confirm appointments.

“We continue to launch more technology to improve our customers’ experience any time they need to interface with us,” saidGregory Knight, division vice president of Customer Service. “Our customers are very important to us and we are using their feedback to improve the way we serve them.”

My Energy Analyzer gives customers the opportunity to:

• See how their energy dollars are spent
• Learn how their natural gas costs differ from last month or last year
• Compare energy use by appliance
• Explore no-cost or low-cost solutions for lowering their energy use
• Learn how efficiency upgrades can affect their bottom line

Customers walk through a series of questions such as the type of residence, number of rooms, age of home, type of heating/cooling system, home square footage, typical temperature setting and appliances used. They will then receive tailored recommendations about how to make their home more energy efficient and see what results they can expect from implementing these measures.

“The launch of our newly redesigned Contractor Web Portal further illustrates ecobee’s commitment to providing our contractors with quality products their customers will love, and valuable tools to help them grow their business,” says Stuart Lombard, President and CEO of ecobee Inc.  He adds, “The improved Contractor Web Portal makes it even easier for contractors to better service their clients, increase their overall efficiency and build their business.”

The new “Alerts” tool was designed to notify contractors the moment an equipment outage has occurred and the Comprehensive HVAC Reports, accessible through the portal, provide the contractor insight into their customers’ HVAC equipment performance. The “Equipment Details” view allows contractors to see the make and model of their customers’ HVAC equipment to ensure they have the right parts and tools for the service call. The “Service Reminder” tool allows contractors to automatically send branded service reminders to their customers according to the contractors preferred service schedule. This means that contractors can balance their work load over the year. Contractors will also now have the ability to communicate specials and promotions to their clients by adding the ecobee login portal to their company’s webpage.  In addition, the new “Map View” tool, sort-able by alert type, service reminder and client, allows contractors to efficiently map out their scheduled routes in advance, saving valuable time and resources.

“We believe that the investment we have made in the redesigned Contractor Web Portal combined with our firm commitment to selling ecobee products through the HVAC channel demonstrates our dedication and loyalty to the partnerships we have with our distributors and contractors,” says Derrick Boyce, Vice President, Sales.

Exhibiting from January 23rd-25th at AHR in Chicago, ecobee will be performing live demonstrations of the redesigned Contractor Web Portal at booth #3520.  The new Contractor Web Portal will go live in February.

ecobee delivers intelligent energy management solutions. Installed in homes and businesses across North America, the ecobee Open Energy Management Platform is the easiest way for residential and commercial customers to understand, manage and reduce their energy consumption. Servicing both the Utility and HVAC markets, ecobee’s line of Wi-Fi enabled thermostats, online web portals and smart phone apps are the products of choice for ease of use, energy efficiency and demand response programs. ecobee has also won significant industry awards which include the ASHRAE/AHR Innovation Award for Building Automation, the Dealer Design Gold and Silver Awards and the Deloitte Green 15, among others. ecobee is supported by a network of over 1,400 quality HVAC contractors and distributors across North America.

Stay on track toward greater energy savings with these helpful tips from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA):

Watch out for build up: One of the easiest things to do is remove build-up in a clothes dryer’s lint trap before every load. Removing built up lint not only reduces the risk of fire but also will increase drying efficiency and could save the average consumer up to $34 per year. Additional savings can be found by consolidating loads and drying loads with similar fabrics together.

Keep water bills out of hot water: Identify—and fix—any water leaks in the home. Leaky faucets and showerheads, for example, can be a big source of waste. Repairing these fixtures can save up to $100 per year. And, don’t forget to inspect that hot water heater for leakage. At a rate of one drip per second, gallons of water can go down the drain in a short time, costing you money and wasting a valuable natural resource.

Seal the gaps: Air leaks can occur in some unusual and out-of-the-way places—crawl spaces, attics, overhangs, garages, porches and other architectural features, to name a few. NYSERDA experts suggest home owners have a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® contractor investigate these problem areas and make recommendations on how to tighten up those gaps. Sealing and insulating a home could increase its energy efficiency by up to 20 percent.

Improve air flow: Rearranging home furnishings can lead to year-round benefits. Organize furniture and rugs away from registers and heating return vents. For optimal comfort, make sure the connections at vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet the floors, walls and ceiling.

Turn it off: Make a conscious effort to turn off electronics or appliances when they are not in use. If no one is watching TV—turn it off. Try using a power strip as a central “turn off” point for easy access in powering down multiple pieces of equipment—such as a DVD player, a Blu-RayTM player and a television—all at once. Once this becomes a simple habit, savings will climb higher for the rest of the year.

Count on the small things: When possible, use the smaller appliances in the kitchen, such as the microwave and toaster oven, especially when heating or re-heating small portions. Home chefs can use 80 percent less energy using these appliances rather than a conventional oven.

Clean and consolidate: Clean refrigerator coils—located underneath and behind the appliance—and repair any loose seals. Dirty coils and loose seals make the refrigerator work harder, causing it to use more energy. Homeowners that have a spare refrigerator may consider unplugging it or having it recycled – especially if it is only used occasionally. That old fridge in the garage or basement could be adding an additional $18 a month to the electronic bill!

Look for the star: When thinking about replacing electronics or appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR label. These units have advanced features that improve energy efficiency. For more information on ENERGY STAR appliances, visit http://www.energystar.gov

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®: For more ways to save energy, ask an accredited Home Performance contractor to conduct a comprehensive home energy assessment, which is free for most New York homeowners. The contractor will discuss the energy improvements you can do in 2012 to save more on your utility bills, along with the incentives and financing available to make these improvements more affordable.

Aeroseal was selected as one of this year’s best new home products in “This Old House magazine’s Top 100 Best New Products awards. The process also won the “Best of What’s New” award from Popular Science magazine, and the “Energy 100” award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). As stated by Aeroseal.com, “The DOE also rated the Aeroseal duct sealing process as one of the 23 most beneficial technologies available to American consumers that has come out since the agency was created.”

“Duct leaks are not a do-it-yourself project. They can be hard to find or costly to seal with older or conventional, less effective methods other than the Aeroseal process. We are here to educate homeowners and help them improve the cost-effectiveness of their HVAC system,” say’s Ken McDaniel, President of Kenmark Air. “If your energy bills seem high, your home is dusty, the rooms in your house are different temperatures or the quality of your indoor air is poor; studies show that the Aeroseal duct sealing process is the most effective solution for combating these problems and plays a critical role in saving energy and money in your home or office,” McDaniel concludes.

For good winterization ideas, take a look at the following tips from CertainTeed Corporation, North America’s largest brand of building products.

Add Insulation

Adding insulation can make your home more comfortable and help reduce your monthly utility bills. If you can see the tops of the ceiling joists when you look in your attic, then it is wise to add more insulation to attain the recommended R-value for your home’s specific geographic area. CertainTeed InsulSafe® SP, a fiberglass blowing insulation, is a good choice for insulating attics, as it can fill many hard-to-reach spaces and offer better protection from air leakage. Proper insulation also helps prevent warm air from rising to the roof and creating ice dams, ice accumulations along the eave and in the gutter that can damage your roof. To learn more about insulation-related rebates and incentives, visit http://www.certainteed.com/itools. To find an insulation contractor in your area, visit http://www.certainteed.com/insulation.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in most parts of the nation, insulating the exposed slab edge of the home can reduce heating costs by 10 percent or more. The EnergyEdge® slab insulation system from CertainTeed offers an ideal solution in this area.

Insulate exposed pipes and faucets, beginning with pipes in the outer walls, crawl spaces, attic and garage.

Prepare the Exterior

Replace worn roofing shingles to give your roof better protection from a harsh, cold winter. Products such as CertainTeed Presidential Shake™ Impact Resistant Shingles are made of the industry’s most durable materials, replicate the look of real wood shakes and offer impact resistance to hail, falling tree branches and other hazardous winter forces.

Remove debris and fall leaves from the gutters to prevent ice dams and the damages they cause.

Shut off and disconnect the water supply to outside faucets and hoses. Also, consider replacing faucets with freeze-proof versions.

Check Your Furnace

Schedule a furnace inspection now, so it will be ready to go when needed.

Change furnace filters every one to three months.

The Simplest Solutions

Keeping drapes closed will help keep cold air out.

Use a humidifier in common areas to create extra moisture, which makes interior air feel warmer and reduces the risks of homeowners suffering from winter illnesses.

Reverse direction of ceiling fans to rotate clockwise. This will pull the trapped warm air down for your comfort.

By taking practical winterization steps, such as the ones above, homeowners can remain cozy and comfortable indoors all winter, reduce energy costs, protect their pocketbooks from expensive weather-related repairs and even save on their taxes.

A poll of 3,000 people carried out for the insurer Allianz Your Cover found that 15% of Brits will be going away over the festive period. 40% of those going away said they are planning to leave their homes completely unheated while the property is vacant. It is estimated that there are 26 million households in Britain and therefore Allianz Your Cover calculates that 1.6 million unoccupied homes are even more likely to suffer significant water damage if a pipe bursts, should a cold snap hit Britain as it did last year.

December 2010 was the coldest December in 100 years, with snow falling in most areas of the UK and temperatures struggling to get above freezing during the day.

When people were asked why they were not planning to heat their homes while they were away this Christmas, 69% said spiralling energy costs were to blame.

The survey also revealed that most people do not have an accurate idea of how much damage escape of water can cause in their homes, with 79% underestimating the average cost of a burst pipe which Allianz Your Cover calculates to be approximately £3,500.

Andy James from Allianz Your Cover, comments: “It is understandable that people will be tempted to cut back on heating their homes but it could have pretty disastrous consequences if there’s a cold snap.

“In the current economic climate, it’s no surprise that energy bills are a major concern for households. But, damage from a burst pipe can be devastating – especially if it happens when the house is unoccupied, sometimes ruining irreplaceable items such as photographs or documents.”

He adds: “We urge all households to take steps to help prevent a burst pipe in their homes over the Christmas holiday period. As a minimum for those going away over Christmas, we recommend asking a friend or relative to visit your home while you are away to make sure things are OK.”

For those planning to switch their heating on while they are away this year, Allianz Your Cover home insurance recommends the following preventative measures:

• Setting the central heating at the minimum temperature to keep things ticking over while you are away can make all the difference – the house doesn’t have to be kept at the same temperature as normal
• Leave the loft hatch door open to allow warmer air to circulate

For those people not planning on leaving the heating on, other measures include:

• Insulate exposed pipes in the attic and wrap tanks with good quality lagging to help stop them freezing
• Drain the heating and water systems
• Repair dripping taps and faulty ball valves

If you do return home to a burst pipe:

• Immediately turn off the stopcock to prevent further flooding
• Turn on all the cold taps in your home and flush the toilet a few times to reduce flooding and pressure on the system
• Block any escaping water with a towel and use buckets to catch drips
• Call your insurer’s 24 hour helpline or a plumber as quickly as possible

Homeowners should visit sccgov.org/energyupgrades for a list of participating contractors who are specially trained to diagnose ways to reduce energy use, improve a home’s comfort and air quality, and lower energy costs. Building Performance Institute certified participating contractors are qualified to perform both the energy assessment and recommended improvements.

“Since the program launched in September, more than 200 Santa Clara County homeowners who had a home energy assessment have received rebates totaling over $115,000,” said Sharlene Carlson, Santa Clara County Community Energy Program Manager. “Several of these homeowners have completed the improvements their contractor suggested and then also received significant rebates through Energy Upgrade California. All Santa Clara County homeowners should take these simple steps to save energy and money before the rebates are gone.”

Using special equipment such as blower doors and infrared cameras, a participating contractor conducts a home energy assessment to determine how much energy a home uses and pinpoint where a house might be losing energy. For example, a home can lose up to 30 percent of its heating through faulty ducts. Poor insulation is another common cause of heat loss. “Our house is 50 years old and we didn’t know what was up in the attic or in the walls,” said Santa Clara County homeowner Mike Cash. “We didn’t know where to apply insulation or how to save any money.”

After the assessment, the participating contractor discusses with the homeowner ways to make the home more energy efficient. “We check attic insulation, weatherization of windows, heating and cooling system efficiency, and other areas that can affect energy costs and comfort,” said David Loperena, a participating contractor. “The assessment results give homeowners the data they need to make informed decisions about moving forward with upgrades and taking a whole-house approach to energy efficiency.”

“And if the county is going to pay 80 percent of it, it’s a no-brainer,” Cash added.

The Northgate II high-rise apartment building – a Section 8 community – began undergoing energy efficiency upgrades with funding from New Jersey State’s Multifamily Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). To qualify for this funding, an energy audit of the entire 308-unit apartment building was performed and a course of action was determined. Among the various requirements outlined in the final project plan, the independent auditors specifically specified the use of the aeroseal technology to effectively seal the duct leaks that existed throughout the building’s exhaust duct system.

“Our multi-family building specialists have a keen interest in ventilation systems and the wasted energy that often results from leaky ductwork,” said Don Casper, auditor for Steven Winter Associates. “Through our ongoing experience with aeroseal technology, we’ve come to including the aeroseal process as a standard recommendation when leaky duct systems are a concern.”

Aeroseal is a unique duct sealing solution that seals leaks from the inside of the duct system. Applied as a non-toxic aerosol mist, Aeroseal is pumped throughout the interior of the ductwork, where it accumulates and bonds around the various gaps and leaks throughout the system until they are permanently sealed.

Aeroseal was developed by scientists to address the critical energy-waste issues that result from leaky air ducts. It’s estimated that 60% to 80% of U.S. homes and buildings suffer significant energy loss due to leaky air ducts. Information from the U.S. Department of Energy’s website states that Aeroseal can save Americans $5 billion a year on saved energy costs.

In some cases, these energy savings are realized through more efficient heating and cooling. And while this was true to some degree for the Northgate II apartment complex, most of the energy-savings provided by Aeroseal in this instance were the result of a dramatic increase in the efficiency of the building’s ventilation system.

“Preliminary testing revealed fairly large gaps throughout the building’s vertical exhaust ducts,” said John Ambrose, McDonald Building Company. “The Aeroseal process fixed that problem and in doing so, helped to significantly improved the efficiency of the building’s two exhaust fans. Aeroseal technology played a significant role in helping reduce energy consumption and ultimately meeting the requirements of the State’s Weatherization Assistance Program.”

Inspired by Green Builder Media’s VISION House demonstration home series, the experiential exhibit will highlight the major themes of whole-home automation, energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environment quality, security, multi-generational design, and durability. Visitors will learn that each house is a set of interactive systems, and that proper management of those systems will maximize comfort and minimize operational costs.

“We founded Green Builder Media to create positive change in the world,” says Sara Gutterman, CEO of Green Builder Media. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Disney to demonstrate to homeowners that small behavioral modifications can make big differences in their environmental impact. Our goal with the VISION House in INNOVENTIONS at Epcot® is to deliver a powerful and inspiring message that makes sustainability personal—to help families ‘bring green home,’ literally and figuratively.”

Innoventions cast members will lead guests at VISION House through a guided tour, featuring building science fundamentals, integrated design elements, green products, and intelligent systems that enhance the home’s sustainability. Then, visitors will be directed into a post-show area, which will contain interactive kiosks that contain further information about sustainable living.

Throughout the exhibit, visitors will be encouraged to consider how they can reduce their personal impact on the planet, as well as changes they can implement in their own homes to make them more sustainable, healthier, safer, and more durable.

As guests tour the home, they will be educated on the latest in advanced products and technologies, including:

Electronic vehicle charging station by SIEMENS (NYSE: SI)

Chevy Volt electric vehicle by GM

High efficiency heating and cooling systems and controls by Trane and innovative whole-home automation system and door hardware by Schlage, both brands of Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR)

Durable and environmentally friendly exterior systems, including smog-eating tile roofs, cultured stone, bricks, permeable pavers, and trim by Boral

Ventilation solutions to improve indoor air quality by Panasonic (NYSE: PC)

Water-conserving fixtures, faucets, showerheads, and home standby generators by KOHLER

ENERGY STAR certified home appliances by Bosch

LED lighting solutions by Sylvania

In addition to the onsite exhibit, Green Builder Media will launch a comprehensive technology platform that will integrate advanced online, mobile, digital, and social media solutions to compliment and expand the onsite experience.

“The outlook for renewal of federal energy efficiency tax incentives is uncertain at best,” stated Alliance President Kateri Callahan, “so we encourage homeowners to complete those upgrades before the ball drops in Times Square at midnight onNew Year’s Eve.

“Making efficiency improvements this year will lower home energy bills and improve home comfort for years to come, while also reducing 2011 federal income tax bills,” Callahan added. “Energy efficiency is truly the gift that keeps on giving!”

The specific home improvements that qualify for tax credits fall into a number of categories:

• Exterior windows, skylights and storm windows.
• Insulation, exterior doors, roofs, storm doors and products to seal air leaks such as caulking, weather stripping and foam sealants.
• Highly-efficient heating and cooling equipment, including central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, boilers, water heaters and biomass (e.g. corn) stoves.

Each product category also must meet specific energy efficiency requirements, which are spelled out on the Alliance’s tax credits web page.

Percentage and/or dollar limits on particular energy-efficient upgrades include:

• 10% of the cost of insulation and sealing materials, exterior doors and roofs.
• 10% of the cost, up to $200, of exterior windows or skylights.
• Up to $300 for electric heat pump water heaters, electric heat pumps, central air conditioners, biomass stoves and natural gas, propane or oil water heaters.
• Up to $50 for advanced main air circulating fans.
• Up to $150 for natural gas, propane or oil furnace or hot water boilers.

And to see what energy efficiency can do in your home, check out the Alliance’s home energy tips videos produced with energyNOW!