Really BIG difference

COEUR d'ALENE - For 14 years, RDI Heating and Cooling has championed the slogan "Experience the RDI Difference," touting the company's heavy emphasis on quality and service.

But the "difference" goes well beyond the company's clients. RDI Heating and Cooling is committed to making a difference in the community as well.

Last winter, RDI Heating and Cooling donated and installed a stove in the Fort Sherman Chapel, Coeur d'Alene's oldest standing church, for free. In addition, RDI stepped in to help when the furnace stopped working at the Senior Gems Center. RDI Heating and Cooling repaired the unit that day at no charge to the center.

The company's commitment to community service continues this year as RDI Heating and Cooling partners with the North Idaho College Foundation as a major sponsor of the 2010 Green Really BIG Raffle home.

The Really BIG Raffle is a well-known community fundraiser for the foundation, in which NIC carpentry students build a home as a working laboratory for the students. After completion, the NIC Foundation raffles off the home as the foundation's largest fundraiser of the year.

This year's house is the foundation's first home constructed to be ENERGY STAR qualified and a certified Green Home. The house will be loaded with energy efficient and sustainable products, with one key component being a hybrid heating and cooling system that will be installed by RDI Heating and Cooling.

"With installers that are PTCS and NATE certified, RDI's expertise has been a valuable asset to this year's Really BIG Raffle," said Kristen McFadden of the NIC Foundation.

RDI Heating and Cooling will install a state-of-the-art Carrier hybrid system, which will heat and cool the home with both electric and gas depending on which is more efficient. This hybrid process is typically 300 percent more efficient than a standard heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, which provides significant savings on utility bills. Carrier has been the world leader in air conditioning, heating and refrigeration systems since 1902 and was an easy manufacturer to choose for this project, said John Hoffman of RDI. Through market-leading products and solutions, Carrier has constantly strove to help people live more comfortable, healthy and productive lives.

The partnership between RDI Heating and Cooling and North Idaho College for the 2010 Green Home benefits everyone involved. The equipment donated by RDI Heating and Cooling will allow NIC to put more of the money from raffle ticket sales to the bottom line of the project. In addition, the college carpentry students benefit with hands-on learning about how state-of-the-art systems and installation processes can make a significant impact on the future energy consumption of the homes they build. The winner of the Really BIG Raffle house will have lower operating costs month after month and the hybrid heating and cooling system installed by RDI will have low carbon-based emissions.

"We help to make our customers' lives better by helping to make our community better," Hoffman said.