With federal tax credits to stir the pot, homeowners are more aware of energy-efficient HVAC equipment than they used to be and are choosing to have it installed despite the higher price tag. Below are some residential products and components that meet Energy Star’s current standards. And besides helping to cut energy usage, they may even cut down on noise pollution.
AIR CONDITIONERS
The Evolution® System Central Air Conditioner Model 186B byBryantdelivers savings on energy bills with efficiency levels of up to 16 SEER. The Energy Star®-rated Model 186B Air Conditioner with Puron® refrigerant can be added to any energy-efficient Bryant Evolution System to enhance a home’s IAQ and provide maximum comfort year-round.www.bryant.comCOMPRESSORS
The next-generation Copeland Scroll UltraTech™ modulating compressor byEmerson Climate Technologiescan aid manufacturers in reaching the stringent Energy Star 3.0 standards and obtaining LEED points due to the advantage that modulation gives in improved efficiency. With as much as a 200-W reduction in power consumption, systems equipped with Copeland Scroll UltraTech compressors can better meet market needs for higher SEER and EER ratings, says the manufacturer. The compressor’s two-step capacity design offers an easy-to-apply solution to enhance system efficiency and reliability for both air conditioners and heat pumps, the company states.www.copelandscroll.comFURNACES
The Energy Star-approved Freedom 95 Single-Stage Furnace byAmerican Standardconverts up to 95 percent of fuel to heat a home. All models meet efficiency requirements for federal energy tax credits (which expire Dec. 31, 2010). The steel insulated cabinet is durable, quiet, and holds more heat in the furnace to better warm a home, says the company. The multispeed blower motor offers quiet and efficient operation.www.americanstandardair.comThe Armstrong Air A96MV 96 percent efficient modulating gas furnace byAllied Air Enterprisesis Energy Star-qualified and is eligible for up to $1,500 in U.S. federal tax credits. It provides modulating heat. Features include variable-speed blower, stainless steel primary and secondary heat exchangers, and burner enclosure. The sealed service doors reduce air and burner noise, and the anti-vibration blower assembly reduces noise typically associated with starts and stops. The insulated cabinet prevents loss of warm air while reducing the noise from the motor.www.armstrongair.com
TheLuxaire®LX Series Model TM9X single-stage gas-fired residential multiposition gas furnace from Johnson Controls is Energy Star-qualified. It has an AFUE rating of 95.5 percent. The furnace features a compact 33-inch design for installation in tight spaces and a five-speed, direct-drive X13 high-efficiency DC motor optimized for high SEER ratings. The four-position unit provides quarter-turn knobs for easy door removal and access to connect wiring. A fully supported blower assembly provides easy access and blower removal, and no condensate trap is required.www.joinluxaire.com
TheTraneXC95m modulating communicating furnace is designed with technology that prevents the system from overshooting the set temperature and almost eliminates temperature swings. The technology allows the furnace to modulate from 40 percent to 100 percent of capacity, in less than 1 percent increments. Features include ComfortLink II communicating capability, increased dehumidification with Comfort-R™ mode, convertible to horizontal left or right, AL29-4C stainless steel secondary heat exchanger, and cleanable filter with spring-loaded filter rack. The furnace is ERV-, humidifier-, and air cleaner-compatible. Rated up to 95 percent AFUE, the furnace meets Energy Star requirements when appropriate outdoor unit and coils are used.www.trane.com
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
The Tranquility split geothermal system fromClimateMasterconsists of the Tranquility outdoor split unit (TTP) and the Tranquility air handler (TAH). The Tranquility split system easily connects to new or existing fossil fuel and electric furnaces and uses the environmentally friendly Earthpure® HFC-410A refrigerant. It also exceeds American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers 90.1 Standard and Energy Star 3.0 efficiencies. It also meets requirements for the 30 percent federal tax credit on installation costs. The TAH units are fully convertible upflow, downflow, horizontal right and left downflow, so they can be installed in remote applications such as a crawl space or an attic.www.climatemaster.comHEAT PUMPS
The Maytag iQ Drive® heat pump byNordynequalifies for Energy Star and earns the maximum LEED for Homes points in all climate zones. It is rated at up to 22 SEER, 10 HSPF, and 14.6 EER. The heat pump uses inverter-driven rotary technology to achieve high efficiency levels. The unit can modulate anywhere from 40 to 118 percent of capacity, instantly adjusting to exactly offset the demands on the home. The heat pump can be paired with a Maytag iQ Drive fully modulating gas furnace to create a dual-fuel system.www.maytaghvac.comTheWaterFurnace InternationalLegend Series geothermal heat pumps feature highly efficient, reliable, single-capacity scroll compressors paired with five-speed X13 ECM blower motors (or optional three-speed PSC motors). With an 18.5 energy efficiency ratio (EER) and a 3.8 coefficient of performance (COP), the Energy Star®-rated series exceeds ASHRAE 90.1 efficiency standards. The product uses environmentally friendly R-410A refrigerant and is available in capacities ranging from 24,000 through 70,000 Btuh. An optional hot-water generator allows the heat pumps to preheat water in the water heater to save money. In heating mode, water is heated at the efficiency of the unit. In cooling mode, the heat from the home is transferred to the water heater rather than the ground, providing free hot water.www.waterfurnace.com
HRVs/ERVs
Truebreeze balanced ventilation systems byHoneywell eliminate the need for overhead ducting and balance without adjusting dampers. The two variable-speed motors - one for each airstream - work with the integrated speed control of the HRVs/ERVs, so installers can adjust the speed of each motor up and down to easily balance the system. This eliminates the need for adjusting dampers. The HRVs/ERVs are Energy Star®-rated, and the HRV models meet new Canadian standards. All the wiring is done from the integrated control box, which is also used to control operation and speed.www.customer.honeywell.comPACKAGED UNIT, FURNACE, AND A/C UNIT
TheNordyne ecoLogic™ Energy Star-rated, green systems includes the 15-SEER iHybrid packaged unit, the 97 plus percent AFUE iQ Drive modulating gas furnace, and the 24.5 SEER iQ Drive air conditioner. The units have multistage, variable-speed compressors for optimal indoor comfort and efficiency and smart control boards or diagnostic controls for IAQ. The units incorporate noise-reduction features. According to the company, many of these features not only reduce energy consumption, they also make indoor air temperature more uniform and comfortable, reduce noise levels in the home and control humidity and indoor allergens. The products are available in the Maytag, Broan, Frigidaire, NuTone, Tappan and Westinghouse brands.www.nordyne.comRESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL HEAT PUMP
The Geo-Trio multiposition geothermal heat pump consists of three separate components (an A-coil, blower, and compressor) and is suitable for upflow, downflow, horizontal left or right, split and dual-fuel configurations. Additional features include a step-capacity two-stage scroll compressor, R-410A refrigerant, variable-speed ECM motor, domestic hot water heat exchanger system, high- and low-pressure switches, and insulated high-efficiency coaxial water coil. The product, which can be used in residential and commercial applications, meets the Energy Star requirements, and could qualify for LEED energy and conservation credits in a LEED-certified project.www.bardhvac.comPublication date:10/11/2010
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