THE HOMEOWNER PITCH
Air and odor pollutants can be drawn into furnaces that are located in unconditioned space.
Along with adding sustainable materials and design to their lifestyle, the Boise System can be pitched as a way to save on monthly energy bills. “There are two sides to the green movement: ‘Saving the planet’ and, for homeowners, ‘Saving my wallet,’” Huston says. “This program does both.” He says that the U.S. Department of Energy estimates indicate the conditioned airspace framing system may reduce energy consumption by up to 40%, resulting in a nearly 40% savings for homeowners on their heating and cooling bills for the life of the home.
A third benefit is the system’s contribution to good indoor air quality and comfort. “It’s a much cleaner system,” Carver says. “Moving the air handler into the house, you’re drawing from inside the house where the air has already been filtered and conditioned. You’re starting with a much cleaner space.” This brings fewer odors and air contaminants into the living space.
He also appreciates the system’s ability to support shorter duct runs, and says the shift to using conditioned space for ducting is a significant move forward. “I think one of the big points is that they have the ability to cut out large sections of the web and actually run heating and air conditioning ducts through the floor joists,” Sapiro says. “We’re able to run our air conditioning ducts in conditioned air space as opposed to unconditioned space.
Huston says that Boise’s system “merges HVAC design and optimization with structural floor design and optimization for a solid, well-engineered solution that keeps the builder in charge of how homes are designed and built.” And home designers can work closely with HVAC contractors to create highly detailed plans that provide “optimum performance and least waste.”
He also says the improved design capabilities of the system offer builders the chance to reduce material and installation costs through more accurately specified ducting requirements and the potential to install only one H/C unit instead of two.
A well-engineered, sustainable product can also be a strong selling point when it’s time to lure homeowners. “It is a competitive advantage for a builder to be able to produce homes capable of consuming up to 40% less energy than homes being produced by competitive builders,” Huston says. “There aren’t many places a contractor can go to find that kind of month-in, month-out savings for homeowners.”
Carver agrees, and adds that Indoor Air Quality should also be a talking point with homeowners. “If the builder’s able to say, ‘We’ve got a system that’s much cleaner and safer as far as air quality is concerned,’ that’s a pretty emotional appeal right there.” He says that builders who understand the advantages of the system “have a really good story to tell that’s going to differentiate them from other builders.”
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