OUT IN FRONT Simple changes with sudden impact
Specifications
FEATURED PRODUCT Activent MANUFACTURER Inova Products
PURPOSE Wireless Residential HVAC Zoning POWER SOURCE AA Batteries (vents) and AAA Batteries (controllers)
SIZES 4x10, 4x12, 4x14, and 6x10
SAVINGS CLAIM 3–5% reduction in heating and cooling use per vent
COST $74.99 for one vent/controller combi- nation; $53.99 for vent only
www.theactivent.com
Budget Zoning Retrofit NON-TOXIC WIRING?
The subject of electrical wiring may not come up a lot in conversations about green building products, but Ontario, Canada–based ElecTec (
www.electeconline.com) says that the by-products of conventional wiring include waste and toxicity. Its EZ-Wiring modular wir- ing product claims to address both concerns. EZ-Wiring consists of lengths of metal-
clad cable with molded, interlocking connec- tors on each end—like a high-tech extension cord—as well as plug-and-play outlets and switches. The electrician doesn’t have to cut and splice cable: Wiring is a matter of con- necting however many lengths of cable a par- ticular circuit needs, then plugging them into the outlets and switches. That’s what reduces waste. Everything can also be disconnected and re-used when the building is remodeled. Toxicity is addressed
by replacing the PVC jack- eting used in conventional cabling with a halogen-free material. ElecTec spokes- man Chris Pezoulas says that the fumes given off by PVC during a fire are toxic, a problem eliminated with ElecTec’s cladding. The product has certification in Canada,
and when we talked with Pezoulas in June he said that they were about to announce UL approval for the U.S. market.
2 GreenBuilder July > August 2010
This easy-to-install, battery-powered vent is designed to reduce space conditioning bills and even out temperatures in the home by shutting down individual rooms. By Green Builder staff
Inova Products likes to compare its Activent wireless zoning product (
www.theactivent.com) to the CFL light bulb: a simple device that makes an old technology more energy efficient. The device accomplishes this by letting homeowners or remodelers add zoning to a forced air heat-
ing system for about $75 per heating register.
In a conventional zoning scheme,
thermostats in various parts of the house are wired to a central controller, which operates dampers installed in the ductwork. These systems require professional installation and can cost between $1,200 and $2,000 to put in a new home under construction, according to the NAHB Research Center. By con- trast, an Activent consists of a battery-powered vent damper that fits in a room’s supply register and is paired
with a thermostat/controller that has a range of about 12 meters. Installation takes about 5 minutes and requires no special skills. According to Inova general manager Dan Lacy, the vents can be used to zone
about one third of a home’s rooms, and include a heating and cooling mode. He recommends installing them in rooms that get too hot during heating season or too cold during cooling season, com- pared to the rest of the house. When temperatures in these rooms exceed the set point, the vents shut down, which redirects air to the home’s other rooms. This balances the sys- tem and helps even out temperatures throughout the home. After retrofitting close to 1,000
homes, the company claims that the product will reduce energy costs by an average of 5% per vent installed and will also result in reduced HVAC run time. That means a home with energy costs of $150 per month will save as much as $90 per year. Vents are sized to fit 4x10 , 4x12, 4x14, or 6x10 inch openings. Additional sizes are being considered. GB
www.greenbuildermag.com
The battery-powered Activent is designed to be installed by a homeowner or remodeler and fit in the existing duct openings. They can be used in any forced air heating or cooling system. Note: We recommend rechargeable batteries, to keep toxic battery waste out of landfills.—editor
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