HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS
The market for heating and cooling systems that borrow energy from local earth and ambient air is growing rapidly in the United States. These systems come in various forms: heat pumps, water-based geothermal systems, or simple air exchangers such as the Ecoair (below). These systems tend to operate more efficiently than a furnace or air conditioner, although many brands run on electricity-so the fuel source of your local grid power should be considered.
REHAU ECOAIR GROUND-AIR HEAT EXCHANGER
With excavation costs that can be rolled in with initial site preparation, Ecoair is an affordable approach to harnessing local ground temperatures. Fresh air enters outdoors and passes around the home’s perimeter at about 7’ below grade. The system can lower intake air by up to 29 degrees F in summer, or raise it up to 16 degrees F in winter. The company supplies its own antimicrobial PVC piping.
http://na.rehau.com
CARRIER INFINITY HEAT PUMP
Available with super-high 19 SEER efficiency, Carrier’s Infinity line of heat pumps can also be integrated with a high-efficiency furnace. The two-stage compressor is designed to operate 80% of the time at a lower speed that reduces noise to about 69 dB. Models with 14.5 or higher SEER qualify for Energy Star certification. All units come with a 10-year limited parts warranty and durable exterior casing for long life.
www.residential.carrier.com
WATER HEATING
Electric water heaters equipped with submerged heating elements have historically been one of the big energy guzzlers in the home. At first, the solution was to insulate the tanks. But now the emphasis is on switching to gas units with “on-demand” response, super-insulated tanks, or hybrid systems. How much more efficient are these new technologies? Consumer Reports tested a few on-demand gas systems in 2008 and found that they saved about 22% over gas-fired storage tanks-although they tend to cost two to three times as much. The latter difference has likely shrunk, while the former has grown in the last two years due to innovation from manufacturers. New models offer better performance and better reliability than their predecessors. The best brands can supply sufficient BTUs to feed two appliances (or more) simultaneously with hot water.
A.O. SMITH NEXT HYBRID WATER HEATER
This innovative tankless water heater captures waste heat from exhaust to operate at 90% thermal efficiency (about 8% higher than comparable tankless units). The unit also has a small buffer tank that gives it the extra reserves to handle more than one appliance or shower simultaneously. It requires only low-cost PVC vent pipes and standard 1/2” gas lines for installation.
www.hotwater.com
NORITZ NR83-DVC TANKLESS WATER HEATER
With an energy factor of 0.82, the NR83-DVC has been designed with life cycle in mind, with materials and components carefully chosen for their recyclability. The whole-house water heater offers complete control over hot water flow, from .5 gpm to 8.3 gpm, meaning it’s powerful enough to run multiple appliances but doesn’t overpower when demand is low.
www.noritz.com
RHEEM DAMPER SYSTEM
Rheem’s new damper system for gas-fired water heaters is a relatively low cost way to boost efficiency, bringing water heaters into Energy Star compliance. When the burner fires, it opens the flue-then closes it again when firing stops. As a result, less heat is wasted in standby mode. The dampers will be sold on five models of Rheem heaters, at a cost significantly below that of stepping up to a standalone ultra high efficiency water heater.
www.rheem.com
28
02.2011
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