www.noonanenergy.com Serving the Pioneer Valley Since 1890 Spring 2010

Spring greetings from Noonan Energy!

Spring brings many changes, and I am very pleased to announce a big one that took place this winter here at Noonan: My son Ted Noonan became the President of Noonan Energy, and I assumed the title of Chairman. Ted represents the 5th generation of Noonans to head the family business since its establishment in 1890. Ted grew up in the business

and has performed almost every task related to home comfort, and is well qualified to lead the organization. His goal is to continue our reputation for excellent customer service, the backbone of our business. As Ted assumes the reins, rest assured that I will not be retiring – I will still be active in the company and am only a phone call away.

Now that we’ve made some important transitions, it’s time for you to make some, too – the kind of changes that pay you back all year long – by conserving energy in your home. In this edition of Energy News, you’ll find a variety of articles that explain how we can work together to save energy.

If your home or business is relying on older equipment, you have a great opportunity to help yourself and the environment. A high-efficiency heating or cooling system typically reduces energy usage by 30 percent, and the improvement is even greater if the current equipment is particularly old.

Some customers think that it pays to keep old equipment going to avoid the upgrade costs, but due to new highly efficient equipment, customers benefit from the savings through a decrease in their energy demands. An older Oilheat system might consume 1,000 gallons of fuel to provide the same heat that a modern system can deliver with just 700 gallons! When an upgrade is within your means, it makes no sense to continue wasting fuel like that – for even a single season. To read all about upgrades, as well as less expensive alternatives, see page 4.

As always, we want to help you conserve while adding convenience to your life. Please call us any time.

Sincerely,

Ed Noonan

How Can We Help You Conserve?Chairman’s Letter

Noonan Energy Corp.86 Robbins Road

Springfield, MA 01104413-734-7396

Palmer Oil Co.1488 North Main Street

Palmer, MA 01069413-289-1777

National Heating Co.235 Triangle StreetAmherst, MA 01002

413-549-6011

Are you taking advantage of our payment options? You should! They’ll help you save money and time – and maybe even a few headaches!

• Budget Plan: Our 10-month Budget Plan is available at no extra charge to our regular customers. It takes your anticipated yearly fuel costs and divides them into 10 equal monthly payments. The program starts in either July or August; it’s your choice.

• Pay Online: The best way to avoid mail delays – and go green by saving paper! – is to securely pay your bills online at www.noonanenergy.com.

• Prompt Payment Discount: When you pay your oil bills within 10 days, we reduce the cost of every gallon by 10 cents. A household that uses 700 gallons can save $70 over the course of a season simply by making timely payments on a consistent basis.

• Senior Citizen Discount: Any customer age 60 or older can claim a 2-cent discount on every gallon purchased.

• Referrals: When you refer a customer to us and they become an automatic delivery customer, you receive three $20 Noonan Energy coupons.

Please be sure to take advantage of these valuable opportunities!

IT’S EASY TO PAY LESS FOR

YOUR OIL

We were proud to have our trucks, new and old, “wear the green” in the 2010 Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day parade.

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When considering a new heating or cooling system, please keep in mind that not all equipment is created equal. Noonan Energy works with world-class manufacturers like Buderus, Trane and Thermo Pride, who consistently deliver maximum durability and efficiency. When you purchase a higher quality system, you get equipment that incorporates advanced energy-saving technologies that reduce operating costs. In just a few years, your investment comes back to you in energy savings – even more so when energy prices rise. We recently installed high-end equipment in a local church and rectory, and the church achieved an energy reduction of 30% in one building and 50% in the other. The best manufacturers build equipment that is durable, so there is much less of a chance of breakdowns and expensive repairs. High-end equipment is also a solid addition to your home’s value. When you factor in the savings you can realize through superior conservation, longer equipment life and reduced repair costs, you understand why Noonan always recommends reaching for the best in new equipment.

As a Noonan Energy customer, you are connected to a team of conservation experts who are committed to driving down your energy consumption. We want to help you understand what energy conservation means in your home or business: how you achieve it, and how it rewards you. We would be happy to visit your home or business this spring and test your equipment’s efficiency at no charge, and with no obligation. Some customers are reluctant to call for fear that they will be pressured to buy new equipment.

High-Quality Equipment Is Worth Every Penny

The Efficiency Doctor Is InOur time-tested approach is to give our customers accurate information that speaks for itself. For example, you might suspect your equipment is inefficient without knowing what that inefficiency is costing you. Once we help you put a price tag on the waste, you are empowered to make decisions based on your own priorities. Please call us and request an efficiency evaluation. When it comes to energy conservation, the best way to start is by finding out where you stand today.

Will you be as comfortable as you want to be when the hot weather reaches the Pioneer Valley? Spring is the best time to address any concerns you have about your cooling equipment – and that means scheduling your Preventive Maintenance Inspection (or P.M.I.). Your central air P.M.I. is included in our Preventive Maintenance Inspection Contract. Customers who have enrolled in this contract see a real difference in how they conserve energy, maximize air quality and prolong the life of their equipment. For only $109.95 per year (the cost of the Preventive Maintenance Contract), you will receive the following benefits with our yearly inspection: travel, labor, belts, lubricants, and cleaning agents as needed. (All other parts and materials will be charged at our prevailing rates.)

During your central air P.M.I. we will:3 Check pressure of system to detect leaks3 Inspect outside condenser coil3 Assess amp readings on compressor and condenser3 Clean condenser coil (as needed)3 Clean evaporator coil (as accessible)3 Add up to 1 lb. refrigerant to the unit (as needed)

at no charge3 Evaluate air filter and replace or wash (as needed)3 Check blower belt on belt drive motors3 Assess amp readings on both direct and belt drive motors3 Inspect evaporator coil3 Inspect condensate pump3 Check drain line for blockages and holes3 Blow out drain line (as needed)3 Inspect contactor in compressor

You’ll also enjoy a discounted rate on any other service calls you may have on your cooling equipment. P.M.I. contract customers receive $10.00 OFF the standard hourly rate for air conditioning services. You’ll receive Priority Same Day Service on any weekday (Monday-Friday, excluding holidays) if your call is placed before 12:00 PM. Our calendar is filling up fast, so call today to schedule your P.M.I.

Preventive Maintenance on Your A/C Makes

Sense (and Cents)

Summer is also the

best time to perform your pre-season

heating tune-up! Call

today for your appointment!

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Natural gas suppliers spend millions advertising their fuel as plentiful and domestic, but they avoid discussing their controversial

drilling practices and their persistent emissions of powerful greenhouse gases. Between 60% and 80% of the domestic supply requires “fracking” to extract the gas. In fracking (which is short for hydraulic fracturing), millions of gallons of chemical-laced water are injected underground at a very high pressure to free the gas. Protests over the effects of fracking have grown so loud that the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee has undertaken an investigation, with help from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The natural gas industry also generates greenhouse gas emissions every time there is a leak. Natural gas is 95% methane – which is a greenhouse gas with 72 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide – and pipeline releases are not uncommon. Methane is emitted when a gas pipeline breaks, and some leaks are not immediately repaired. In fact, some gas distributors knowingly tolerate leaks for months or longer if they determine them to be “non-hazardous.” Pipeline leaks are so commonplace that the Gas Piping Technology Committee has developed guidelines for what it calls “leak management” that define which leaks to fix immediately and which should only be checked once a year! There is also plenty of reason to wonder about the future of natural gas prices. The gas industry is aggressively promoting its fuel for both electrical power generation and transportation, which could greatly increase demand and drive up prices.

Natural gas risks aren’t limited to drilling, pollution and cost. Here are some reasons to be happy you have chosen Oilheat from Noonan Energy instead of natural gas.

ExplosionsUtility gas ignites readily and can explode if a leak occurs in the home. Oilheat, on the other hand, is non-explosive and must be heated to 140 degrees and vaporized before it will ignite.

Carbon Monoxide PoisoningYou may have read or

seen news stories about incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning. The vast majority of homes where poisoning occurred were heated with gas. When a gas heat system malfunctions, it produces carbon monoxide (CO) with no telltale signs. Conversely, in the rare case that an Oilheat system malfunctions, it gives off signals such as smoke and soot that provide an effective early warning.

Costs of ConversionOilheat upgrades cost less than gas. Converting from Oilheat to gas heat can cost more than $10,000. But by upgrading to a new technologically advanced Oilheat system, you could spend only half that amount and cut your fuel bills by 30%!

“Hidden” ChargesOilheat bills are straightforward and simple, but a gas heat bill contains line after line of adjustments and taxes.

Lack of Personal ServiceNo faceless utility can match the personalized, I’ll-be-right-over service that Noonan Energy delivers every day.

The Whole Truth About Natural Gas

Oilheat is already the best fuel for safety, value and comfort, and soon it will be unsurpassed in environmental friendliness. Two major changes are transforming your heating fuel. First, Noonan Energy and other Oilheat dealers across Massachusetts are preparing to replace traditional heating oil with Bioheat®, which integrates biofuel made from natural, renewable materials, including plants and food byproducts. Bioheat ushers in a new era in home heating, in which traditional Oilheat is replaced by a flexible blend that draws increasingly on renewables and less on petroleum. Massachusetts is the first state to mandate the use of Bioheat, and states across the nation are following our lead. The second change is a pro-environment reformulation of the petroleum component in Bioheat. Refiners will soon adopt new technologies that eliminate virtually all sulfur, which is a naturally occurring component of petroleum. Ultra-low sulfur fuel produces cleaner emissions and reduces maintenance costs. As always, Noonan will stop at nothing to help you conserve fuel and safeguard the environment. If you have any questions about these changes to your fuel, please call us.

Oilheat Is Going

GreenLean&

P.O. Box 2858Springfield, MA 01101

www.noonanenegy.comServing the Pioneer Valley Since 1890

If you haven’t seen our Web site at www.noonanenergy.com, please give it a look. It’s full of information and helpful conveniences like online payment and a fuel delivery request form. If you like doing business at your own convenience at any time of day, you’ll love our site. We’ll soon be posting new information about our 2010-11 price protection program. Please visit us at www.noonanenergy.com and see how we can help you manage your costs and lock out inflation.

Serve Yourself at Our Web Site

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Noonan Energy offers efficiency improvement solutions to match every budget. To drive fuel usage to the lowest possible level, a home or business should use high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment. The fuel savings can be dramatic. A new oil-fired heating system might need only 700 gallons to deliver the same level of comfort that required 1,000 gallons from an older system. Advanced air conditioning systems offer similar reductions in electricity usage. Best of all, federal and state tax credits and manufacturers’ rebates may be available to help you save even more! If a system upgrade is not in your immediate plans, you can still drive down your energy usage with lower-cost measures, such as a new programmable thermostat or a flame-retention burner. Whether your equipment is new or old, maintenance plays an important role in driving down fuel consumption. A well-maintained system generally uses 5% less fuel than a system that is neglected, so it really pays to take care of your system. If you have not yet scheduled the annual tune-up of your heating system, please call us today and enjoy your energy savings in the months ahead!

Equipment Holds the Key to Conservation

1-800-796-3342 www.primediany.comNewsletter by

July 1, 2010 marks the date that insurers and homeowners must be in compliance with the state law regarding upgrading oil lines. Many of our customers have called us with questions about this matter – if you need to comply with the law or don’t know for sure, please contact us now.

IMPORTANT NEWS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS