It took Goldilocks some time to find the perfect sleeping zone in the bears’ house. Unfortunately, many homeowners often search for the same comfort zone and can’t find it. This year’s winners in the residential controls (including zoning) category ofThe NEWS’fifth annual Dealer Design Awards, however, are providing contractors with new ideas to make every zone in the house accurately controlled and comfortable.

Arzel Zoning Technology’s CoolMizer™ won a gold award for its fully customizable decision points and new approach to fresh air usage. Nordic Electronics Ltd.’s Fast-Stat Model 7000, the silver winner, is a control wiring extender designed for air conditioner-to-heat pump conversions. The bronze winner, White-Rodgers by Emerson Climate Technologies’ Emerson® Big Blue™ humidity touchscreen thermostat, offers contractors increased flexibility.

GOLD: Arzel Zoning Technology’s CoolMizer™ is a turnkey ventilation control that does not require piece-by-piece engineering by contractors.

GOLD WINNER

Arzel Zoning Technology’s CoolMizer™ is an all-in-one, economizer/fresh-air intake designed for residential and light commercial package and split systems. It features built-in sensors to measure outdoor temperature and humidity, allowing for control based on fully customizable decision points.

CoolMizer’s dual-function dampers either bring in a small amount of fresh air for IAQ requirements, or a lot of air to provide free heating or cooling when conditions are right. According to the company, it also makes the home more healthful by supplying a portion of the air from outside, diluting or expelling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odors. All control parameters for CoolMizer are configured with a setup wizard that guides installers in plain language.

Designed with the contractor in mind, the unit is a turnkey ventilation control that does not require piece-by-piece engineering by contractors. It has its own sensor package that measures both temperature and humidity. It can also control the damper(s) based on time. The contractor and customer are not limited to one of five static profiles. CoolMizer also employs push-in terminals to ease the wiring process for contractors.

“This is a great product and homeowners can benefit from this,” said one judge. “Contractors can sell it as an option - use Mother Earth to help cool.”

According to the company, CoolMizer is “really about two things.” The first is green. This unit provides homeowners with the option to cool with outside air instead of mechanical cooling. “When your thermostat calls for cooling, we first look outside,” said the company. “If conditions are right, open a damper and bring in outside air.”

The second is setting a different set of decision points for fresh-air intake requirements, yielding better IAQ.

“Many homeowners are reluctant to leave windows open for personal security,” said the company. “Enjoy all the benefits of open windows without the risk. Safety is built in. Use as much or as little fresh air as your customers would like.”

SILVER: Nordic Electronics LTD.’s FAST-STAT Model 7000, a three-part kit, consists of a sender and two receivers.

SILVER WINNER

Nordic Electronics Ltd.’s Fast-Stat Model 7000 is a control wiring extender designed for air conditioner-to-heat pump conversions. It provides for single- or two-stage compressor control as well as two-speed fan control. The hard-wired system operates over the existing cables and is not affected by other electronic devices. At the thermostat it provides R, C, W, Y1, Y2, G1, G2, and O/B over the existing four-wire cable. At the heat pump it provides R, C, Y1, Y2, O/B, and W over the existing two-wire cable.

No rewiring is required from the thermostat to the furnace (or fan coil) and from the furnace to the heat pump. It is a three-part kit. The “sender” is located at the thermostat; one receiver is located at the furnace and another is located in the heat pump.

Faster installation, better cost control, and improved scheduling are the main features designed specifically for contractors. According to the company, the customer’s home is not damaged by having to make access holes to fish cables, and installation techs are happier if they don’t have to crawl through hot attics or damp crawl spaces to fish new cables.

BRONZE: White-Rodgers by Emerson Climate Technologies’ Emerson® Big Blue™ humidity touchscreen features humidification and dehumidification control, as well as a 12-square-inch display.

BRONZE WINNER

White-Rodgers by Emerson Climate Technologies’ Emerson® Big Blue™ humidity touchscreen thermostat, offers three selectable program schedules or nonprogrammable options. It also features humidification and dehumidification control, as well as a 12-square-inch display. It offers four time and temperature settings per program, and a choice of either battery powered with power stealing assist, or hardwired with battery backup.

Big Blue works with single-stage, multistage, and heat pump systems. Its advanced program logic offers optimum humidification and dehumidification control at the thermostat. The thermostat is compatible with gas, oil, and electric heat, making it available for residential heating and cooling applications.

Dual fuel for heat pump applications is built into the thermostat, and the homeowner has the choice of using program logic or outside temperature to use an auxiliary heat source. Up to four stages of heat in heat pump mode offer premium comfort and optimum energy savings. Dehumidification offers the option to lower the blower speed to enhance moisture removal on variable-speed blower systems designed for on-demand dehumidification.

According to the company, the patented Big Blue humidity touchscreen thermostat offers contractors flexibility. The ability to install one thermostat in a wide range of projects helps eliminate the learning curve associated with multiple products, consequently reducing installation time.

The call-for-service diagnostic indicator and compressor lockout protection ensure that technicians address potential problems before compressor-damaging faults occur.

Honorees: Residential Controls Including Zoning

Gold
Arzel Zoning Technology Inc.
www.arzelzoning.com
CoolMizer™

Silver
Nordic Electronics Ltd.
www.fast-stat.com
Fast-Stat Wiring Extender

Bronze
White-Rodgers by Emerson Climate Technologies
www.white-rodgers.com
Emerson® Big Blue™ Humidity Touchscreen Thermostat

Honorable Mentions
Honeywell
www.honeywell.com
TrueZone Panels

Zonefirst
www.zonefirst.com
Outlet Zone Damper

Publication date:07/14/2008