LOS ANGELES — Air conditioning unit tune-ups and upgrades to make them more energy-efficient will be offered for free by the Department of Water and Power under an incentive program announced today aimed at taking the sting out of recently approved utility rate hikes.The incentives were requested by Los Angeles City Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who said it would benefit residents in his West Valley district, where air conditioning access is a concern.“For residents across much of Los Angeles, and especially in the Valley, air conditioning is a necessity and a public health issue, not a privilege,” Blumenfield said. “Our new AC tune-up program will give residents the tools to lower their bills, reduce their energy usage and keep cool this summer.” The incentives, which are scheduled to start July 1, will be offered for three years at an expense of about $4.5 million per year to the utility.Blumenfield was joined by Mayor Eric Garcetti and DWP officials at a private residence in Winnetka today to announce the program.

Vendors will be chosen through a competitive bidding process to perform the AC unit work offered under the program, according to DWP spokeswoman Amanda Parsons. The program will offer energy-efficiency checkups for heating and air conditioning equipment, and also provide up to $150 toward the purchase and installation of programmable thermostats.ac unit takes long time to cool “This kind of innovative program furthers our commitment to a sustainable city by helping Angelenos save energy, while at the same time cutting their utility bills,” Garcetti said. cheap window ac units“It will make home heating and cooling upgrades more affordable in L.A. -- especially for residents in the Valley, where the summer heat can be punishing.”where can i sell my old ac unit

The incentives were announced as the city is considering increases in DWP electricity and water rates. The City Council tentatively approved the hikes last week. Under the water rate plan, the average customer will see a 4.76 percent annual increase, amounting to an additional $3 per month. A monthly bill of $57.79 for the typical residential water user would increase to an average rate of $72.90 at the end of the five-year period, according to an example in a staff report. With the electricity rate increases, the typical single-family household in Los Angeles could see monthly electricity bills go up a total of $12 over five years.We can't afford an office under a tree, but 9 hours in an AC workplace means you are at risk They weren't lying when they said you can survive on love and fresh air. Being in open spaces, research has proved, strengthens your immunity since white blood cells that fight bacteria need oxygen to function effectively. A free supply of oxygen means your blood pressure and heart rate is in check since the body isn't overworking itself to acquire it.

Blood oxygen levels are also linked to serotonin, the 'happiness hormone', which is why you are more likely to slip into a refreshed, relaxed state when in green outdoors. The hitch, of course, is that most urban residents end up spending close to nine hours a day in air-conditioned offices, often following it up with a whole night's sleep in closed, cool bedrooms. Your lungs are the first hit, which is why respiratory infections including common cold, frequent headaches, itchy throat and symptoms of flu, are most common among young, urban professionals. Fresh air that helps the lung's airways to dilate, releasing airborne toxins from your system, is scant in swanky AC offices. Dr Gauri Mankekar, consultant ENT surgeon at Hinduja Hospital, says an air conditioner is able to cause cooling through the process of evaporation. "Thanks to the very manner in which it functions, an AC ends up drying the mucous membranes in the nose and mouth," she says. Our nasal passages, sinuses and throat depend on moisture in the membranes for their immune functions.

When moist, the immunity cells are able to attract and trap viruses, bacteria and allergens, acting as the body's first line of defence against airborne pathogens. Most air-conditioners aren't fitted with humidifiers, upping levels of dryness in the surrounding air. This constant and direct exposure to cold, dry air can ruin the skin, robbing it off its elasticity, leaving it itchy, scaly and aged. Skin conditions like dermatitis and eczema are common among those who spend long hours in cool, dry recycled air, says dermatologist Dr Sushil Tahiliani. More harmful than the low temperatures is the growth of mold, a microscopic fungi, that lives inside AC vents and ducts, with high moisture levels and dust offering it a good breeding ground. While filters fitted in AC units are designed to prevent the spread of bacteria and virus, if not cleaned regularly, with the accumulation of pollutants over time, they end up hosting bacteria. "Since it's the same stale air that's re-circulated all day, we end up inhaling viruses and droplet infections," says Dr Mankekar.

Ideally, filters should be cleaned once a month. When the AC serviceman arrives, make sure he uses anti-fungi chemical solutions instead of using a simple vacuum and brush that will only loosen the mold. The corrective plan - While working in a ventilated office isn't an option for most of us, try and reduce the number of time you sleep in a closed, AC room. Open all windows, doors and let in sunlight every morning. Air out your linen in between washing cycles. - Make sure the office AC is set to 25 degrees. This 'average' temperature helps because it doesn't 'shock' a new entrant who might be walking in from the blistering heat outside. Sudden and extreme temperature fluctuations in the body can also affect the joints. - Dr Mankekar suggests you layer your body with sufficient clothing inside AC rooms, and un-peel when outdoors. - Install a warm mist humidifier at work, if possible. Else, keep a large vessel with a wide mouth filled with water in a corner of the office. It can work towards circulating moisture in the air.