Event Details:

• March 16th, 2012
• Metro Toronto Convention Centre
• Paul will be speaking between 9:00 and 12:00.. as well as hosting a tabletop afterwards.

Here is some details from the OSPE Website:

This March Break, OSPE is proud to invite you to share our passion for engineering as we present our inaugural Engineering Day, a full-day of enlightening discussions and youth-oriented programming designed to explore and celebrate invaluable contributions of the engineering profession.Taking place within National Engineering Month, this unique event will provide professional engineers, students and the public with exciting opportunities to learn about engineering innovations that stand to make Ontario a global leader in energy generation, delivery and conservation.

A wide range of keynote topics, panel discussions and exhibits will explore exciting engineering advancements in the realm of energy infrastructure, generation, conservation and more. Throughout the day, creative, hands-on engineer-led workshops will also provide a valuable learning forum for children – the engineers of tomorrow.

This event has programming for professionals, students, kids, and those with a thirst for new technology. Come on by! Lunch is included http://www.engineeringday.ca/

Come and find out about our innovative work in GeoThermal, Radiant Heating, On demand hot water. Be sure to ask us about some of our exciting commercial installations that we have done recently.

We are a full service HVAC designer, installer, and service organization. Be sure to ask us about some of the exciting products that we can offer you including 98% efficiency fully modulating furnaces, internet enabled thermostats and much more. Our goal is really to make you live smarter and more comfortably.

Ontario Farm Show

However, Zonelife is a full service HVAC designer, installer, and service organization, we will also be sharing details on furnaces and how a 98% efficiency fully modulating furnace with communicating stat can really put money back in your pocket book while drastically improving your home comfort.

As we have dairy farmers in the family who love their radiant heat, we know that radiant floor warming is a great addition for any new shop or home. Our family and clients have always enjoyed the balanced even heat it provides.

If you get a chance, come check us out!

The 48 loop horizontal geothermal system is being installed for a 15,000 square foot commercial shop which Zonelife will install radiant floor heating in.

Zonelife Installing Geothermal on MTI job in Sudbury, Ontario

As you will see in images to follow on this page, and our facebook page, installing a large geothermal job for a mining company has its advantages which come in the form of larger than life machines!

This project will occur in stages as Zonelife is working alongside other trades to completion so please check back on our blog, facebook or twitter for pictures and further information on the progress of this job.

Although we didn’t have a chance to get into the technicalities of how geothermal was installed, we can guess that a vertical drilling system was used due to the size of the land.

Steve and Paul from Zonelife at the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce After Hours

Vertical loops are installed by having a loop system drilled vertically  and then a single trench is excavated from the land to the building and typically two pipes are inserted into it. These two pipes connect several green geothermal pipes that are submerged in the earth. There are a number of ways a geothermal or ground or water source earth-energy systems can be installed including horizontal loops, lake loops, or open loops. Zonelife can also create a custom design to provide the best efficiency for your unique situation.

Also, don’t forget the government has brought back the geothermal grant for $4,375. For more details on the grant visit the eco-Energy Retrofit – Homes website. There are also grants for you to save on energy efficient furnaces, boilers and more.

We look forward to attending more Cambridge Chamber of Commerce after hours meetings in the future for the networking and interesting discoveries.

Newer thermostats are certainly more intuitive with far more flexibility and interactivity than ever before.

For most clients using a new thermostat is easy, just a couple button pushes and they are set, but for others it can be harder as it is a new technology in their home.

When Zonelife services or installs a heating and or cooling system we provide our clients with proper documentation including manuals, images, and of course our contact information with the instruction to call if they need assistance. We are experienced in the HVAC industry and one of our ongoing goals is to keep our clients comfortable through all seasons so you can imagine my surprise when I received a phone call like this:

Client: “Hi Steve, I really didn’t want to bother you, but since last week I still can’t seem to figure out how to set my thermostat temperature for different times of the day properly.”

Me: “Since last week? Why didn’t you call me last week?”

Client: “Well, I know you’re really busy and I didn’t want to bother you.”

Me: “!That is what we’re here for, never hesitate to call us! I will send someone over, when is a good time for you?”

Believe it or not, I had another call almost the exact same the following day which prompted this blog. I think Zonelife literally has the politest customers ever! So this blog is to say: Dear clients, we love that you are polite but we are here for you. We want to ensure your temperatures are always ideal which is why we left you with our contact information and the instructions to call if you need assistance.

Delaying fixing anything on your heating or cooling system even if it is just adjusting your thermostat could lead to future issues so again, do not hesitate to call us here at Zonelife, that is what we are here for.

Just in case, Zonelife contact information: 519-279-4041, or info@zonelife.com.

Geothermal Installation Grant is Back!

The grant is active from June 6th, 2011 to March 31st 2012. Geothermal also know as ground source heat pumps use the temperature of the earth to heat or cool your home with little to no geoimpact on the area in which it is installed.

To be eligible for the Geothermal installation grant the geothermal system must be installed by a company qualified by the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC). Zonelife is qualified by the CGC and made numerous installations during the last geothermal incentive program.

All geothermal system installations by Zonelife were approved by the CGC and the customers were approved for the geothermal grant.

Zonelife ground or water source earth-energy systems (geothermal systems) are the most environmentally friendly way to heat and cool your home emitting no greenhouse gases or carbon dioxide. Our Zonelife Geothermal team will design, install and service a geothermal system that operates exceptionally quietly with precise distribution of heating and cooling throughout your home.

Consider how you are currently heating your home. Perhaps you are using natural gas, electric, propane or oil? Replacing any of these sources with a geothermal install will result in immediately lowering your monthly expenses by up to 70%.

The government is becoming increasingly conscious of both preserving the environment and reducing the burden of high energy costs to help homeowners which is why they have brought back the geothermal grant.

For grant details visit the eco-Energy Retrofit – Homes page.

Zonelife is experienced with quality geothermal installations and has the happy customers to prove it. We use only the most energy efficient units and experienced professionals to ensure you reach your maximum energy efficiency.

Contact Zonelife for details on the Geothermal, ground or water source earth-energy energy efficient systems

at 519-279-4041, toll free at 877-482-9286 or info@zonelife.com or visit our geothermal installation website for further information.

Steve Hamoen getting ready to fly to a geothermal install and service site on an island in Northern Ontario

Steve was featured in the magazines first edition of “Sustain” which is a special Mechanical Business supplement that focuses on renewability, efficiency and environmental alternatives at play in the mechanical contracting sector. The Mechanical Business magazine editor stated “saving energy and resources are good business” as one of the reasons for adding the section.

The article labels Steve as a “Road Warrior” and goes into some detail of his day to day activities, – lots of driving – personal interests, a bit of his family history and how he got into the HVAC industry. The piece also divulges Steve’s favourite band and biggest pet peeve…

The article spotlights a unique water-sourced geothermal system install and service Zonelife did in Temagami, a city in North-eastern Ontario on an island. To reach the site he was flown in by the client who was also a pilot and transporting the equipment was done by barge during icy weather. The article goes into more detail, and can be found on page 46 and 47 of Mechanical Business Magazine.

With a natural gas barbecue you won't run out of gas

A few weeks ago I was doing a BBQ at my place and I wanted this meat to be epic. I had burgers and giant steaks on the grill and fish on both side burners. My plan was to bring each meat to the table one at a time so I had started them all in a sequence.

When the steaks were about to be done I lift the barbeque lid to check on them but I wasn’t blasted with the usual amount of heat. I could still smell the propane and the meat, that is what everyone on the patio was talking about- how great it smelled. So I check my burgers, check my fish and none of them are done. The steak would pass but not everyone likes it medium-rare!

I had refilled my propane tank a few weeks before that but somehow I had completely used up all of the propane leaving my grill warm and everything in different stages of rawness. I tried the usual, opening and closing the propane tank, gave it a little shake to see if I could hear liquid but nothing, and obviously I didn’t have a spare propane tank lying around.

Ironically it was only a week earlier that I was discussing the benefits of a natural gas barbecue with a client. They live in a rural area and were doing electric baseboard heating so Zonelife had just completed the installation of a high-efficiency York furnace and air conditioning and new ductwork. They asked me if Zonelife would install a natural gas valve for a barbeque and I encouraged it by highlighting the basic benefits of natural gas and Zonelife did the natural gas valve install.

A natural gas BBQ grill heats more evenly, it only takes minutes for it to reach the set temperature and the biggest and most obvious benefit of switching to a natural gas barbecue is that you will not run out of gas…

I realize I should be following my own advice and I will be making the switch from propane to a natural gas barbecue.

I’m going to do some searching, find the perfect barbecue, and install a natural gas valve for my patio which won’t take too long. There is a sale going on at Home Depot for natural gas barbecues so that will be my first stop.

After I’ve been using my new natural gas BBQ I will add another post to let you know how it is going so check back.

GeoSmart Premium G Older Geothermal Unit

quiet operation. I can certainly say that the VRT (Vibration Reduction Technology) is definitely quiet and almost vibration free. The GeoSmart Premium Q units are also very quiet with cabinet insulation, compressor blankets and the sorts.

Energy Efficient GeoSmart Geothermal Units

This led me to wonder if the mechanical room is now a destination in the home. As energy conservation has surpassed being a just a trend and now a mainstay in modern living. Are there are bragging rights now in how home energy conservation is achieved? I wonder how often people talk about their energy consumption and implement a ‘beat the Jones’ strategy on conservation. In my home, we got rid of our high consumption freezer and opted for an Energy Star rated one, purchased a new washer and drier, and now are looking at the Energy Star fridges on the market all in an effort to be more of a conservationist while enjoying some bells and whistles to boot.

Geothermal manufacturers also have to consistently now challenge themselves with innovation and reinvent how things are done.  All units have recently migrated from R22 refrigerant to R410A, a more environmentally friendly yet less efficient refrigerant. This posed a challenge to designers in that the new units had to be reinvented to keep up and or beat previous COP (Coefficient  of Performance) ratings with a less efficient refrigerant. This meant a reinvention process on other components gave them success. They also started to come a long way in their ancillary offerings. Now much of what are on the market are two stage units that allow a lower stage of operation for our mild spring and autumn seasons. On board diagnostic equipment for easy service and troubleshooting indications. Then for the bells and whistles units such as the GeoSmart Premium Q, for example, have built in hydronic heating ready connections for applications such as radiant floor heating.

I am excited to see the next steps in where the technology will migrate. With much of the HVAC (Heating Ventilating and Air conditioning) industry migrating to better control strategy and web capable interfaces for service and reporting, there is much that is to come in the near future. Who knows, we might even see fully modulating compressors as a new standard.