3M, through its New Ventures business, announced that it has invested in 7AC Technologies Inc., a Woburn, Mass.-based developer of high-efficiency commercial HVAC systems that use liquid desiccant technology to remove humidity from the air. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
High efficiency is a high priority on everyone’s list, especially homeowners, who can save a lot of energy with high-efficiency HVAC equipment. The winners of The NEWS’ ninth annual Dealer Design Awards in the HVAC High-Efficiency Residential Equipment category placed high on the judges’ list for ease of installation and service and maintenance, too.
Many in the industry are still lamenting the loss of the federal tax credits for higher efficiency HVAC systems; however, most manufacturers believe that customers remain willing to pay a premium for better equipment.
Consumers often seek out products that are considered to be the best or most efficient in their class. For this reason, many only consider highly fuel-efficient cars, Energy Star labeled refrigerators, or televisions rated as top performers in consumer magazines. This principle may work with other types of products, but will it work when it comes to the purchase of a high-efficiency heating and/or cooling system?
The Evolution® Extreme variable-speed heat pump (280ANV) has efficiencies of up to 13 HSPF and up to 20.5 SEER. When combined with an Evolution control and Evolution gas furnace or fan coil, the heat pump utilizes a variable-speed compressor to precisely match its operation to the heating and cooling needs of the home.
Homeowners are being very careful about making investments in home energy savings. According to a recent survey, they are demanding significant energy cost savings to justify any investments of time and money required to install highly efficient HVAC systems, and they have grown more skeptical about promises of a quick payback.
Because the tax credit on high-efficiency equipment expired, many believe that homeowners will now revert to standard efficiency. Before we throw the high-efficiency equipment out with the bath water, let’s take a close look at how the tax credits affected sales and how they can be replaced in 2012.
A full line of high-efficiency condensing boilers is available. The Creek boiler models — Creek 4.0, Creek 6.0, Creek 8.1, and Creek 12.1 — can be used both as high-efficiency heating boilers as well as once-through hot-water heaters.
Camfil Farr has been honored with the 2011 Product of the Year Award by Environmental Protection magazine for its Hi-Flo ES filter. The Hi-Flo ES is a high-efficiency ASHRAE-grade pocket filter that delivers long service life while substantially reducing the energy used by HVAC systems, says the company.
