For the past 41 years family-owned Rinaldi’s Air Conditioning Service has provided Central Florida with exceptional HVAC service and installation, becoming one of the largest, highest-rated companies in the industry. Eighteen months ago, after noting an increased consumer interest in obtaining a more energy efficient home, Rinaldi’s set out to again establish themselves as a leader in an entirely new industry. Fast forward to today and, thanks in large part to their newly formed Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions Team (REST), they have again succeeded.

The only HVAC company out of more than 400 in Central Florida to have a complete package approach to home energy efficiency, Rinaldi’s and the REST team is capable of executing a unique whole house performance test that identifies areas where energy is being wasted, leaked and over utilized while simultaneously addressing indoor air quality concerns. “Our new services include installation of efficient insulation, clear or tinted window film designed to keep heat out, solar water heaters, home weatherization, appliance repair, attic ventilation, plumbing, lighting and more,” says Scott Hudson, general manager of Rinaldi’s. “You will not find another HVAC company in Central Florida that offers all of the services that we do under one roof, with one team of certified, insured professionals.”

Something else you won’t find at any other area HVAC company is a State Certified Energy Rater and LEED AP on staff like Rinaldi’s has. “Once the necessary services are performed, we can then give them a HERS or Energy Star Rating to prove their house is more efficient,” says Hudson. “Typically people will see utility and energy bills reduced anywhere from 10 to 60 percent after we’re done and the ratings generally help resale value of the home.”

Because of a down economy, many residents are choosing to stay in their homes rather than upgrade or move. With continually rising energy costs, choosing to make a home more energy efficient makes sense, especially when the largest percentage of a utility bill is usually related to an air conditioning unit. “Whether you replace your 10 year old unit with a high efficiency one like the Amana ASZ18 18 SEER or tune a newer one, it makes a huge difference in your bills because your A/C is running most of the time here,” says Hudson.

Coupled with the numerous government tax credits and rebates, manufacturer discounts and utility incentives, the cost to make a home more energy efficient is more affordable than many homeowners initially think, according to Hudson. “Since first introducing the program and beginning to really educate our clients on how much energy they could be saving, the lower costs with incentives and how we can make their carbon footprint smaller, the response for the REST program has been overwhelming,” he says. “The positive feedback from the REST program validates the way we have been doing business for more than 40 years.”

According to Hudson, customers have become especially fond of the ability to create a more energy efficient home as a whole package from a single company. “Time is a valuable commodity to us all; and being able to get a complete energy overhaul without having to sift through various proposals and multiple phone numbers or appointments from several types of contractors is a huge benefit to the busy family,” he says.

But no matter how many features or benefits Rinaldi’s offers to their clients, they know that one thing, above all else, is most important: trust. “Experience is gained, but trust is earned,” says Hudson. “We’ve worked hard, literally for decades, to build that trust and we’re proud to say that 90 percent of our business comes from referrals of existing customers.” Rinaldi’s feels more like a family than a business, partly because many of the employees and service technicians have been with the company for more than six years on average, while some have been around their office for more than 20 years.

“The most important decision a consumer will make revolves around the installing and service contractor,” says Hudson. “We do everything we can to ensure quality is always put first as we continually search for innovative ideas to enhance the comfort and energy savings for our customers in their homes. It’s what we’ve been doing for the past 40 years and it’s what we’ll be doing for the next 40 and beyond.”