Reflections on 2021

Reflecting on a Successful Year

January might be known for resolutions but I’m starting off by focusing on another ‘R’ - reflection. A lot of great things happened in 2021 for both the business and the Gault family.

We conducted our biannual employee survey that measures how engaged our team is and I’m pretty proud of our score! It’s something I’m focused on every day; the more engaged our team is, the better customer service we can give. Our team has grown by 20% since the beginning of the pandemic making this initiative more important than ever!

Equipment has been off the charts. I’m so thankful for the continued patience and understanding of our customers relying on us for their standby power needs. We work hard to leverage our purchasing relationships to reduce supply chain disruption as much as possible. Our HVAC installations certainly haven’t declined either, experiencing 15% growth this year with everyone continuing to spend more time at home.

There was a lot to celebrate within the family as well. My daughter Jill returned to Ithaca’s theater program after a gap year and my son Ben graduated high school and is launching his car detailing business. Our family grew with my niece Meredith’s wedding; it was great to finally get everyone together to celebrate. My Dad turned 87 last August and still stops by the office every day to make sure we’re still working hard for all of you!

Happy New Year!

Sam

Electrification: Is it Feasible?

Electrification: Is it feasible?

Climate policy and reducing carbon emissions continues to be a hot topic amongst policymakers and community leaders. The discussions are good ones but is widespread electrification feasible?

Up for debate is electrification of home heating in New England with the thought that this electricity would be generated from renewable resources in order to achieve net-zero emissions. This plan seems simple and straightforward, but it most definitely makes a lot of inaccurate assumptions.

Currently, renewable fuels generate only 9% of New England’s electricity. During heightened demand periods like now, this percentage decreases as the grid relies on backup fuel from oil, coal, and liquid natural gas. Coupled with the fragile state of the electric grid and the fact that more than 85% of homes are currently not heated with electricity, an electric only plan is problematic. *

Former US Secretary of Energy, Ernest J. Moniz, stated in a recent Boston Globe piece: “[New England’s decarbonization] success would come earlier if the oil and gas industry uses its capabilities and workforce to advance net-zero solutions while avoiding stranded workers, stranded communities, and stranded assets.”

And this is exactly what our industry is doing! We have Bioheat which continues to get cleaner every year AND a commitment to reaching a net zero carbon footprint by 2050; a goal that is not attainable for electricity. If you haven’t heard about our industry’s initiative, learn more here.

*Sources: Page 3, Page 2-3

The Strength of Bioheat

The Strength of Bioheat®

As an industry, we have been working for the past two decades to forge our own path to net-zero emissions. The fuel we deliver today is called BioHeat®, a blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil with biodiesel, a domestic, sustainable and renewable energy source. Currently, we deliver a 5 to 7% biodiesel blend to your homes. As an industry, we have committed to increasing that blend to 20% by 2023, 50% by 2030 and to have a net-zero carbon footprint by 2050!

To further this goal, a coalition of US energy fuel dealers and Midwest farmers have established Project Carbon Freedom to support the mission of advancing liquid biofuels as a solution to quickly, safely and affordably transition the country to a carbon-free way of life.

The economics of moving towards a 100% biodiesel blend have a long reach for many sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, service and transportation. Today, the biodiesel industry supports over 62,000 domestic jobs and billions in paid wages; as biodiesel consumption continues to ramp up, so will the economic benefits.

For consumers, the benefits are two-fold: a transition to higher biodiesel blends can occur with little to no impact on the consumer, and it will not only reduce their carbon footprint but higher levels of biodiesel have been proven to reduce service-related issues in heating equipment.

To learn more about electrification, Project Carbon Freedom and BioHeat®, visit ProjectCarbonFreedom.com

Reflections & Recognition

Reflections from our Annual Meeting

Every March for over a decade, we have gotten the entire Gault Family Companies team together for an Annual Meeting. It’s a time to share information about company goals and objectives and make sure every team member knows the direction we’re headed. We take it seriously - so much so that attendance is mandatory!

With a little creativity and safety precautions, we recently held our first Annual Meeting since 2019! There was A LOT to share; with Covid, hurricanes, and a real estate boom… we’ve been busy and our team has grown.

But most importantly, we focused on recognition: recognizing teams and departments that have shined over the last 18 months and recognizing individuals that have gone above and beyond during these difficult times. It’s what my grandfather always said, ‘we are only as good as the people we have working with us.’ This couldn’t be any truer than in today’s world - it’s what matters the most.

So, if you happened to be driving down 95 through Bridgeport that night, you may have noticed a sea of red trucks and vans out your window. Our entire team was socially distanced enjoying the beautiful new outdoor Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater!

Be well!

Sam Gault
President
Gault Family Companies

Heading South for the Winter

Heading South for the Winter?

If you have a seasonal home or you’re taking advantage of some great travel deals, it is important to proactively prepare and protect your home when away for an extended period of time this winter.

Monitor your heat:

No matter how you heat your home, maintaining your heat to a certain level is critical. Make sure your heating system is working properly prior to departing and set your thermostat to 55 degrees or higher.

Monitor your home:

Asking family, friends or neighbors to regularly check on your home in your absence can help prevent costly damage in freezing conditions. Flooding, freeze-ups and ice damns leads to millions in insurance claims annually. Water from broken pipes can flood an empty or unoccupied home in a matter of hours, causing structural damage to the house and loss of personal property.

And don’t forget…

Utilize the technology already in your home while away: program your smart thermostat, set up additional alerts, and adjust the cameras on your home security system to capture potential problem areas.

Interested in upgrading your home technology? Check out Winston, our smart home technology that provides solutions for your thermostat, water detection, energy use and more!

Gault Cares Returns in 2021!

Gault Cares Returned in 2021!

Planting at the Beardsley Zoo’s remodeled New England Farm Yard

Since its launch in 2018, our Gault Cares program has supported the many neighborhoods we serve by participating in service projects and events throughout the year. Like so many other programs, Gault Cares went virtual in 2020 with take-home volunteer projects, but as we look back on this year, we are happy that we found a way to bring our team back together for outdoor large-scale service projects this summer.

In addition, through our philanthropic partnership with Make-A-Wish Connecticut, we granted Wish-Kid Bella’s wish: to meet with the US Women’s Soccer Team. While Make-A-Wish works to schedule Bella’s wish, she joined us at our Annual Meeting to share this exciting moment with the Gault team. As we head into the season of giving, we encourage all our customers to consider donating to Make-A-Wish Connecticut to help makes dreams come true. Donate along with us at: GaultFamilyCo.com/makeawish

Follow along with us on our Instagram @GaultEnergy - we regularly post stories from our Gault Cares projects!

Take home service projects included seasonal card making

Granting Bella’s wish to meet the US Women’s Soccer team!

Prepare Now & Avoid Delays

Prepare Now & Avoid Delays

Prepare, prepare, prepare! That’s our mantra this season and we think it should be yours too!

Products and services simply aren’t as available now as in the past. We’re seeing longer lines in stories, lengthier timelines for home projects and limited availability of everyday goods. Even the US Postal Service asked that consumers start preparing in October for holiday deliveries!

Before the doldrums of winter hit, now’s the time to be proactive regarding your heating equipment and Bioheat tank. Availability remains a challenge for manufacturers facing staffing shortages and supply-chain disruptions resulting in delays that are passed on to the end consumer. So, the further in advance we can start planning your heating installation, the more options you will have when selecting equipment.

We always want to provide our customers the best equipment that fits their home and comfort needs. Now through November 30, enjoy up to $500 in savings on the purchase installation of a new heating system.

For more information visit www.gaultenergy.com/heat2021 or call 203.227.5181 to schedule an appointment with one of our Comfort Specialists.

Providing Peace of Mind with Fluctuating Prices

Providing Peace of Mind with Fluctuating Prices

As we look towards the winter months ahead, the rise in fuel prices is leaving many customers thinking about making the ‘right’ choice when it comes to their pricing program this year.

Designed with a fluctuating oil pricing market in mind, our Cap Price Program offers you and your family the best protection, whether oil prices go up or down over the next few months, all for less than a dollar a day!

The Cap Price Program offers both stability and security. With this program, you have peace of mind knowing that no matter what happens in the market, you’ll have:

• Stability -- The price you pay per gallon is locked at a ceiling meaning it will never go up

• Security -- If prices go down, your price goes down as well

To take advantage of this plan, a small enrollment fee allows us to secure gallons with our supplier; it’s peace of mind for less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day!

For more information on our Cap Price Program as well as other price protection programs, give our Customer Care team a call at 203.227.5181 or click here.

Back to School? Prepare Your Home.

Prepare Your Home For Fall

Whether the kids are going back to school or you’re heading back into the office, now’s a great time to prepare your home for a cool fall and the cold winter months ahead.

DRAIN ALL HOSES AND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS AND CLEAN GUTTERS TO ENSURE PROPER DRAINAGE AWAY FROM YOUR ROOF AND FOUNDATION

A few simple steps can help prevent water damage within and around your home. With over 14,000 people experiencing water damage emergencies daily, we offer Winston - our smart home technology with water protection and monitoring system. Learn more here!

INSTALL A SMART THERMOSTAT TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR HEATING AND COOLING USE

Are you heading back to the office? Installing and programming your thermostat to reflect your new hours away from home can make a serious impact on your home energy use.

WINTERIZE YOUR YARD AND OUTDOOR ACCESSORIES BEFORE PLANNING FOR SPRING

Consult with Gault Stone & Landscape Supplies to expand your livable space outside with cozy fire pits, versatile patios, and more! Visit gaultstone.com for inspiration and to get started!

INSPECT YOUR HOME HEATING SYSTEM FOR AGE

The average lifespan of a furnace is 15-20 years and a boiler is 13-21 years. If your unit is nearing or in those age ranges, a new more efficient heating system can save up to 40% of your annual fuel consumption.

Now through November 30th, receive $500 in savings when you purchase and install a new heating system! For full details visit gaultenergy.com/heat2021

Real Estate is BOOMING!

Real Estate is BOOMING!

We aren’t the first, nor will we be the last to say real estate is BOOMING in Connecticut! All over the area, homes are selling far above asking; bidding wars are everywhere. According to the CT Association of Realtors, this has been the busiest real estate market in 17 years.

Our industry, like many others, has seen an increase in business due to this buying frenzy and the influx of new homeowners around Fairfield County. Some days our call volume is intense: home improvement projects leading to equipment upgrades and transferring houses from the old owner’s account to the new happy homeowner.

As we head into heating season, we encourage you to meet your new neighbors, welcome them to the area, and don’t forget, introduce them to Gault! If you refer us to your family, friends, or neighbor, you’ll receive a $50 credit when they sign up as a new customer!*

Get To Know Your Home

Get to Know Your Home

If you’re one of the many that moved into a new home over the last year, whether a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, it is always important to get acquainted with the systems in your home. Here are some of the basics.:

Is my heating system a furnace or a boiler?

Well, boilers use hot water (think boiling water) to heat your home through radiant flooring or radiators. Furnaces, on the other hand, use warm air or ‘forced air’ that is blown through duct work and vents to heat the home. Then, there is hydro-air which is a boiler that converts hot water to warm air.

Do I need to know how to turn my heating system off?

Yes! In case of emergency… locate your Emergency Switch, main water shut-off valve, and electrical panel. The emergency switch is usually located as you enter the basement and should have a red switch plate. This switch shuts off the burner in your heating system, the component that houses the unit’s combustion. Watch our how-to video here!

What are the important components of my propane tank?

Make sure you locate your propane gauge and shut off valve under the top cover of your tank. The gauge is read as a percentage of volume you have in your tank. Remember, since propane is stored as a liquid under pressure, a tank reading of 80% is considered full to ensure the propane has room to expand as temperatures fluctuate throughout the day. Watch our how-to video here!

It’s my first time in an oil heated home, help!

We know an oil heated home can sometimes seem intimidating, but it’s really pretty easy. We deliver fuel from the exterior of your home through a fill pipe connected directly into your oil tank. To make it even easier, our computer system calculates when you need a delivery based on a weather metric (degree days) and the efficiency of your heating system.

How does my central AC work?

There are two main components of your central AC system. The outside condenser unit(s) takes heat from inside the home, transfers it through a refrigerant and deposits it outside, leaving the inside cool. The air handler(s), located inside the home, is what circulates the cool air through your home. The air handler also houses your air filter.

Storm Season Checklist

Storm Season Checklist

After every storm, we look back and update our emergency response plan based on best practices and what we’ve learned. And boy did we learn a lot after last August – no power, no cell service and no internet!

Here are a few tips we wanted to share in our new Storm Season Checklist.

• Prepare an emergency kit: include a lists of important contacts and documents

• Purchase storm supplies: extra batteries, flashlights, and medications. If you have a standby generator serviced by Gault, purchase Synthetic 5W30 oil to have on hand.

• Prepare your yard: clear hazardous/at risk landscaping, clean gutters, remove debris, secure outside items.

• Refresh your generator procedures:

  • Portable: Never put inside your home, keep 20ft+ away from any livable spaces, have extra gas on hand.

  • Whole-Home: Read the propane tank gauge, monitor long run rates, maintain system operations. Visit the Gault Storm Center for additional guidance & resources.

• Document: Take pictures of your home, yard and street pre- and post- storm to monitor damage and report losses to insurance.

For more valuable storm resources, FAQs, videos and checklists, visit the Gault Storm Center.

Don't Get Blown Away This Storm Season!

Don’t Get Blown Away This Storm Season!

A busy storm season can make for a frightening summer!

A little preparation now can save a lot of stress before, during and after a hurricane.

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Before: Create a hurricane action plan to prepare your family, pets and home for a storm. Include spare batteries, extra medication, a list of important numbers, and related insurance paperwork in your emergency kit.

Gault Tip!

Becoming familiar with your propane tank - know how to turn your tank off in an emergency and how to read the gauge in order to report your usage during a storm. Watch our How-To video on the Gault Storm Center.

During: Safety is a top priority - stay inside unless directed to evacuate, avoid contact with floodwaters inside or out, hunker down with flashlights, and keep pets indoors.

Gault Tip!

Even if you have a whole home generator, unplugging small appliances and other electronics that won’t be used during the storm can help avoid damage from power surges.

After: Once it is safe to do so, inspect your home and yard for damage, immediately report any loose or down power lines and use caution when cleaning up areas impacted by the storm.

Gault Tip!

Once your power has been restored, let us know via the Gault Storm Center so we can resume regular deliveries and services to your home.

Celebrating Essential Workers

Celebrating Essential Workers

It’s crazy to think we’ve been talking about COVID for almost 18 months now, but I’m really happy to see how those conversations have changed. In the past month, I’ve participated in two panels that reflect upon managing a business during these unprecedented times.

News12 celebrated essential workers in the special The Next Normal and Westport Means Business invited local businesses to share Stories from the Pandemic. Both of these events highlighted a variety of essential workers who bravely stepped up to continue serving customers and the businesses that had to quickly pivot to continue meeting the needs of customers and employees.

Every day I remain so impressed with our team – those who volunteered to enter homes to the Customer Care representatives who took the brunt of communicating new processes and procedures to keep everyone safe.

See more from these great events below and stay up to date on the latest happenings at Gault by following us on Instagram or Facebook @gaultenergy.

Happy Summer!

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news 12: the next normal

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO VIEW THE FULL STORY

Westport means business

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WESTPORT MEANS BUSINESS

Shifting Gears for Summer

Shifting Gears for Summer

There is a lot to love about summer and this year in particular, we deserve to enjoy a sunny, warm, beautiful season. Here are a few ways to shift gears for the Summer:

Keep Cool All Summer Long

When we head inside, we all want to stay cool! Be sure to keep your thermostat at a consistent temperature and your outside condenser clear of any objects or debris for better system efficiency. In the case of a heat wave, run though our extreme heat checklist at gaultenergy.com/summer-weather-tips.

Entertain with Propane

Appreciation for outdoor living and entertaining spaces is at an all-time high! Adding propane powered amenities to your home can prolong your pool season, bring warmth to chilly nights, and open up new culinary possibilities. Learn more about propane at gaultenergy.com/propane.

Spruce Up Outdoor Spaces

Small updates can make a big difference. Whether you’re refreshing gardens with mulch, adding a swath of decorative gravel or planning a bigger update to your landscape, Gault Stone & Landscape Supplies offers exceptional products and personal service for any project, big or small. For inspiration, visit gaultstone.com.

Be sure to check out our blog throughout the season for more summer tips for your home at: gaultenergy.com/summer-weather-tips.

Connecticut's Energy Evolution

Connecticut's Energy Evolution

No one can deny the many regulatory and consumer changes we’ve seen after over 100 years in the energy sector. Our focus has always been on taking advantage of new technologies, fuels and methodologies in order to keep us at the forefront of our industry and thus provide the best service to our customers. Here are a few energy hot topics that are just as important for you as they are for us as a business:

Electrification in CT

States across New England, including Connecticut, have their eye on electrification as the solution to meeting federal greenhouse gas mandates in the coming years. They want to incentivize homeowners to replace their oil or gas heating systems with electric heat pumps in order to achieve the ultimate goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. While on the surface, this plan seems straightforward, however there are many reasons for homeowners to be wary:

1. Electric Heat Pumps:

While electric heat pumps have become fairly common as a supplemental heat source over the past decade, they become problematic and extremely inefficient when the temperatures drop below freezing – a frequent occurrence during a New England winter!

2. Electricity Generation:

Currently only 5% of CT’s electricity is generated by renewable energy sources. Increasing this percentage by any substantial amount (80% is the current target being discussed) would not only be extremely costly to ratepayers but risky. There is no guaranteed output from wind and solar. Places like Texas and Germany learned the hard way this winter when they experienced frozen turbines and snow-covered solar panels. It will be many years before electricity can make a valid claim to being truly renewable, causing this shift to be vastly premature.

3. Electric Grid:

It will be no surprise to CT residents that we have the highest average electricity retail price among the lower 48 states. And after most of us were left in the dark for over 8 days last August, there isn’t much faith in the condition of the grid. Putting all of our eggs in the electric basket could be costly and inconvenient for many years to come.

The Strength of BioHeat®

As an industry, we have been working for the past two decades to forge our own path to net-zero emissions. The fuel we deliver today is called BioHeat®, a blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil with biodiesel, a domestic, sustainable and renewable energy source. Currently, we deliver a 5 to 7% biodiesel blend to your homes. As an industry, we have committed to increasing that blend to 20% by 2023, 50% by 2030 and to have a net-zero carbon footprint by 2050!

To further this goal, a coalition of US energy fuel dealers and Midwest farmers have established Project Carbon Freedom to support the mission of advancing liquid biofuels as a solution to quickly, safely and affordably transition the country to a carbon-free way of life.

The economics of moving towards a 100% biodiesel blend have a long reach for many sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, service and transportation. Today, the biodiesel industry supports over 62,000 domestic jobs and billions in paid wages; as biodiesel consumption continues to ramp up, so will the economic benefits.

For consumers, the benefits are two-fold: a transition to higher biodiesel blends can occur with little to no impact on the consumer, and it will not only reduce their carbon footprint but higher levels of biodiesel have been proven to reduce service-related issues in heating equipment.

To learn more about electrification, Project Carbon Freedom and BioHeat®, visit ProjectCarbonFreedom.com

Connecting Through COVID

Connecting Through COVID

One of our company’s core values, Caring, applies not only to our customers but also internally with our team members. Building relationships and caring for each other is something we greatly emphasize.

Often we spend more time with our work family than our actual family!

So how have we stayed connected over the past year after having to cancel our annual summer picnic, bowling night and cooking classes? BINGO!

Our Vice President, Jim was our caller for a virtual family bingo night. In case you didn’t know, Jim is also known as our Chief Fun Officer!

We’ve sent our Gault Cares community service activities home with team members and their families decorating cards for nursing homes.

Our HR department has hand delivered sandwiches to technicians out in the field from local restaurants.

And this one is probably my favorite: team members have submitted videos to share stories about their peers who have demonstrated Caring in their day-to-day work.

In case you’re interested, we have a few pictures from our Bingo night on our Instagram @gaultenergy.

Social Media Stardom

Introducing Sam Gault, Social Media Star

Last month, our marketing team seemed determined to make me a social media star… And while I don’t think we quite pulled that off, I did have a pretty great interview with David Briggs as part of his Instagram interview series with Westport Magazine.

While we spent most of the interview talking about Westport, our history around town and hopes for the future, we closed on an extremely relevant topic: the evolution of our business as a result of COVID-19 and climate change.

The HVAC side of our business has seen all new levels of appreciation due to COVID-19. Beyond safely repairing, replacing and maintaining your equipment, our team increasingly fields questions on Indoor Air Quality products and how they can reduce the presence of coronavirus in the home.

In regards to climate change, it’s a hot topic and our industry has set big milestones to continue to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of our fuel. We deliver Bioheat, a blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil with biodiesel, a domestic and sustainable heating oil replacement. Currently, we deliver a 5 to 7% Bioheat blend to your homes; as an industry, our goal is to increase the blend to 20% by 2023, 50% by 2030 and to be carbon neutral by 2050!

The 30-minute interview was live-streamed from The Whelk, one of the fantastic restaurants located in our Saugatuck Center development. If you’re interested in watching it, you can find the video on Instagram @westportmagazine or hit play below.

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A post shared by Westport Magazine (@westportmagazine)

When Ductless is the Answer

When Ductless is the Answer

Is every nook and cranny of your home now active living space? Whether you’ve created a home office from an unused corner or moved family into a converted basement apartment, installing a ductless heating/cooling system might be the solution you never knew you needed.

Ductless systems can be used for air conditioning in the summer, heat in transition months and as supplemental heat through the winter. The heat pump technology moves air around your home, regulating temperatures and in some cases, even reducing your home energy bills with their efficiency. If you’re unfamiliar with this highly versatile technology, here are a few considerations:

Home additions/converted spaces might overload your current HVAC system

Adding a ductless unit to your HVAC portfolio will reduce strain on your current system. The unit is sized for the square footage it’s meant to cover inside your home without diverting air from other rooms.

Installing ductwork might be too costly or in some cases not possible in your home

If you live in a home without ductwork, it might be less expensive to add ductless units for cooling rather than a traditional air conditioning system. In fact, many older homes lack the space to install ductwork all together!

Your family battles over the thermostat and the best temperature for your home

Maybe you prefer a firm 65° year-round while your spouse is happiest at sauna-like temps? Either way, a ductless system creates independent zones by room/unit that will be more energy efficient than zoning in a traditional ducted system.

We know installing ductless heating and cooling is an investment but with all the time we’re spending at home, isn’t comfort something worth investing in?

For more information on Ductless Heating/Cooling Systems, please visit gaultenergy.com/ductless or call 203.227.5181 to schedule an appointment with one of our Comfort Specialists.

See ya later Freon

Is your AC unit a phased out R-22 Freon model?

It’s now been a year since the EPA finished phasing out Freon/R-22 as a refrigerant in air conditioning units. While we saw many customers replace their units in 2020, we encourage those who haven’t to be proactive and start taking steps now for replacement.

Remember that while Freon is no longer in production, your R-22 unit can still be serviced. While some units might have the option to be retrofitted to utilize a different refrigerant, it’s important to evaluate the recurring costs of servicing older units compared to installing a new efficient model that will lower your energy costs.

This spring, save $500 on the purchase and installation of a new air conditioning system from us! For more information visit GaultEnergy.com/AC-Savings or call 203.227.5181 to schedule an appointment with one of our Comfort Specialists.