Remember those old elephant jokes from the 1960s? “How many elephants can you fit into a Volkswagen?” Five—two in the front, two in the back, and one in the glove compartment. “How many elephants does it take to change a light bulb?” Two, but you need a really big light bulb.

So, how many elephants does it take to install or repair your home or office heating and cooling system? Just one, and you can find that elephant on the company’s logo for Nationwide Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. That isn’t a joke, but neither is a non-working air conditioner in the middle of August or a furnace that’s on the fritz in December. That’s why a business like Nationwide, with its trademark elephant standing on a map of the U.S., can be a welcome sign no matter what the season.

Beyond repairing, selling, and installing air conditioners and furnaces, Nationwide also seems to stand firmly behind its motto, “Life…enjoy it in comfort.” Nationwide responds to customers’ needs by offering more than 97 different heating and cooling products, says Owner David Jenkins, who has overseen the Denver-based company for the past 12 years. Those products range from fans, coolers, timers, and air purifiers to pumps, thermostats, and ventilators.

Nationwide’s eight-member staff has achieved one of the highest levels of professional accomplishment through their North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification, David adds. This prestigious qualification is the result of annual training and testing for all employees. It covers among many topics, new techniques in servicing air conditioners and furnaces, tool and equipment recognition, and customer courtesy. Overall, NATE is simply a test of real-world experience, says Office Manager Jeff Jelinek, who has been with Nationwide for eight years and has participated in several year-round trainings. Jeff shares that he is the first person in Colorado to pass the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) certification test offered by Carrier, which is one of the many prominent name-brand heating/cooling services and equipment companies that Nationwide represents.

Looking at the walls of the company’s reception area, you’ll find additional honors that include framed awards from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) including the acclaimed Gold Star award. The latter honor is earned only if you don’t receive a customer complaint in three years, David says. He adds proudly that Nationwide has been nominated for the BBB’s most elite honor—the Torch Award—for five years in a row. This award pays tribute to member businesses that go the extra mile to help customers in need.

But why the elephant? And why are there elephant sculptures and paintings all over Nationwide’s office? “We started out cleaning air ducts through the main line of houses,” David says. This major duct is known in the business as the “trunk line.” After that, it was logical to showcase the elephant and his trunk on the company logo. Although Nationwide is no longer focused on duct cleaning, the company has branched out in other areas. One new service is the result of health-conscious consumers. To help relieve allergy symptoms, Nationwide can install an ultraviolet light in air- conditioning units that kills mold, mildew, and fungus. While the device costs $400 installed, it can save homeowners hundreds more in medical expenses, according to David.

Nationwide offers some smart energy-saving and cost-saving products as well, such as a programmable thermostat. David uses the following illustration to explain how it works: It’s a sweltering summer day, and inside your house the temperature has jumped to 100 degrees. When you come home from work at 5 p.m., you turn on the air conditioner and it takes five to six hours to cool the house down to a pleasant 72 degrees. However, with a programmable thermostat, your indoor temperature is automatically set at a moderate 80 degrees each day. Each evening when you’re ready to cool down, the temperature will quickly and efficiently drop by merely eight degrees instead of 28. For even greater savings, David suggests switching your furnace from one with 80% efficiency to one with 90% efficiency. By doing so, David predicts that you can shave off about 23% from your monthly utility bill.

Another way to economize is through a hybrid heating system using a heat pump. This enables your air conditioner to run in reverse, extracting summer heat. In winter, the same pump draws heat inside, “even if it’s only 40 degrees outside,” David says. Depending on the size of your house, an efficient heat pump can cost $800 more than typical air-conditioning. But in years to come, David claims it can save you 50% annually over the cost of using your furnace.

Looking at alternative energy, the company offers solar-driven fans to remove heat from your attic. Triggered by sensors, these devices kick into action when the attic temperature reaches 90 degrees, and in turn help your air conditioner run more efficiently. The beauty is that solar doesn’t cost you anything to run, David comments.

Nationwide is not only mindful of saving energy, but it also is focused on saving customers money, he adds. There are several other ways they can help. Installing solar-powered fans, for example, would usually amount to a $750 expense. But as a special promotion, the company is offering customers a $150 savings (a 20% discount) on attic fans and labor. Nationwide offers other incentives, such as 5% senior discounts (for those ages 62 and over); a 2% discount for those who pay cash; and an option for 6-, 12- or 18-month financing. Inquire about other special discounts and savings.

Another way to pass along savings is through some new additions to the company’s fleet of service trucks, or what David refers to as “rolling shops.” These high-tech vehicles will soon be able to provide specialized repairs or custom work for clients who live anywhere from Loveland to Castle Rock. This means Nationwide can immediately “fix any kind of funky ductwork you have” right on the spot, David boasts, without added time and travel.

This is not another elephant joke, but how many elephants does it take to paint Nationwide’s new trucks? Two, according to the company’s streaming video ad campaign. Beginning Sept. 1, you can watch a duo of pachyderms polish up the fleet at www.yellowpages.com or www.dexknows.com.

Nationwide is located at 4735 Lipan St. in Denver. For more information, visit www.nationwidehvac.com or call 303-232-3939.