Whole Home Climate Control Systems Offer Energy Savings, Value And Comfort

(HIT) - Since cavemen discovered fire and learned how to use it to keep their dwellings warm, homeowners have made great strides in their effort to control the indoor environment. Smart homeowners now rely on a sophisticated, integrated, whole home climate control and air treatment systems to provide total indoor comfort.

The value of an integrated whole home heating, cooling and air treatment system is realized through increased comfort, improved indoor air quality and lower utility bills. The combined operation of the heating, cooling and air treatment equipment has a total effect greater than the operation of any single unit.

With a "matched" whole home climate control system, a homeowner gets desired temperatures throughout a home, without hot or cold spots. There’s no over heating of the first floor in the winter, while the furnace works overtime to warm chilly upstairs bedrooms.

Tailor A Whole Home Climate Control System To Suit Your Needs

"If you live in a colder climate, your heating and cooling requirements will be vastly different than a homeowner’s in the Southwest," says Frank Hartman, residential marketing vice president, Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems. "In colder climates, where the furnace runs most of the time during the heating season, a high-efficiency furnace with a mid-efficiency air conditioner is the best choice of equipment.

Start With A Furnace

A knowledgeable heating and cooling contractor can help you plan a whole home climate control system. The initial component of such a system is a heat source, and today’s gas furnaces are more efficient than ever before. As a result of government regulations, all home heating appliances now meet more stringent minimum efficiency standards. What this means to the consumer is that less of the heat generated by a newer furnace will be wasted.

"A typical gas furnace installed in 1970 probably operates at less than 60 percent efficiency," according to Hartman. "By comparison, new models run at more than 90 percent efficiency, wasting very little energy."

Bryant’s newer condensing gas furnaces feature Hot Surface Ignition, eliminating the need for a standing pilot light and saving the homeowner energy and the worry of standing pilot flutter, or having to re-start a pilot light. By eliminating the standing pilot light, the homeowner saves thousands of cubic feet of gas per year.

Energy Efficient Air Conditioners

Manufacturers like Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems have developed new air conditioners with energy savings, quiet operation and whole-house comfort in mind. "Surveys show that while homeowners want comfort, they also want a system that responds to peak demands and performs quietly," Hartman adds.

Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems offers central air conditioners that produce a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), the industry measure for efficiency, of up to 16.0 when combined with the proper fan coil. That’s about 60 percent more efficient than the minimum standard of 10.0 SEER allowed by the U.S. Department of Energy.

How does Bryant’s Two Speed-Plus save so much energy? By running on low speed—about 80 percent of the time—the air conditioner consumes only 50 percent of the energy needed for high speed operation. It switches to high speed only when the cooling demand requires it. "Bryant’s Two Speed-Plus units are designed from top-to-bottom with the homeowner in mind," notes Hartman. "They offer long term comfort, low operating expense and add quality and resale value to the home."

"Aerocoustic" Design Reduces Noise

Bryant’s Two-Speed Plus units are among the quietest and most reliable air conditioners on the market. With a sound rating of 7.2 bels on low speed, a three-ton, Two Speed-Plus is six times quieter than most single-speed air conditioners. Normal conversation is rated at 7.0 bels, the standard measure of sound. By comparison, the chirping sound of a cricket is rated at 9.4 bels, about 165 times noisier than the Two Speed-Plus unit operating at low speed.

What makes the Two Speed-Plus so quiet? Bryant’s exclusive "Aerocoustic" design minimizes turbulence for less air resistance and less vibration, resulting in less noise. Key to the design are an AeroMax reflared fan orifice and a wired dome top, which allow air to flow more uniformly through the unit. As a result, the fan motor runs more efficiently, using less power and creating less turbulence when moving air. A compressor sound hood and discharge muffler further reduce sound levels.

Zoning Ties It All Together

A zoning control system is the essential component that ties the components of a whole home climate control system together and helps regulate temperature and air flow. A zoning control system allows homeowners to control air flow and temperature in specific areas of a home at specific times of the day. For example, Bryant’s Zone Perfect™ zoning control system consists of a programmable thermostat and two-position duct dampers that provide precise temperature control for up to four independent zones, depending on the style and size of a home.

The Zone Perfect system is flexible. Each zone has its own, independent thermostat so that you can preset the temperature you desire in each zone, taking into account your use of the area and the outside environment. This eliminates common problems such as chilly bedrooms and over-heated family rooms.

An optional set back feature allows the homeowner to program occupied and unoccupied temperature settings in any zone during any time of the day for maximum energy savings without sacrificing comfort. The standard controls and equipment allow the homeowner to add zones as necessary. The system can be easily installed in newly constructed or existing homes.

"A properly designed zoning system can save a homeowner up to 30 percent of the operating cost of heating and cooling a home," adds Hartman. "In addition to enhancing the comfort level, a zoning system helps lower utility bills by heating and cooling your home according to your needs and activities."

Buying Smart

Installing a whole home climate control system from one manufacturer can give homeowners some assurance that they won’t have to worry about incompatibilities and the resulting system failures which are common in older homes, where components are repaired or replaced independently of each other. The best assurance for the long life of a whole home climate control system is to buy all of the components from one manufacturer, whose components are designed to work with each other for maximum efficiency. This system approach to indoor climate control will keep your family comfortable and your utility bills down.

Consider these important points when shopping for a whole home climate control system:

• Make comfort, value and energy savings your top priorities.
• Locate a knowledgeable contractor who will provide a "total system" solution.
• Make sure the efficiency ratings of all system components meet or exceed the industry’s minimum standards.
• Contact your local utility about rebates or other incentive programs for operating high efficiency equipment.
• Check government websites for information about tax credits that may be available to homeowners who install energy saving improvements in their homes.

Air conditioning and heating contractors are a good source of information on the costs and advantages of whole home climate control systems. Manufacturer’s like Bryant Heating & Cooling also offer information about whole home climate control systems on their respective websites.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center