by High Performance HVAC | Thermostat Reviews |
SilverPAC Silverstat 7 Advanced Thermostat - This thermostat is sure to save you some money in energy costs if you can get over the initial retail cost which is currently unavailable. Taking it a step further you can make some control changes to your appliances and hook them up to this thermostat so you can program on and off schedules for the appliances. We’re not talking about just your air conditioning and heating system either…………from your refrigerator freezer to your water heater to your lighting it can all be intelligently controlled and monitored. In my humble opinion, it will definitely change your utility bill. Here are some of the key features that will help you save energy. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Thermostats |
What Temperature Should I Set My Programmable Thermostat To - 4) Please confirm this advice if you would; it is better to have your thermostat left at 70°F. to 72°F. during the day while your home is empty and adjusts accordingly when you get home as opposed to shutting off the heater/ac and turning it on when you get home. I would think this would put less strain on the unit. Thanks in advance for your help. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Boilers |
Hot Water Boiler Reset Control - Richard, We are looking at replacing our boiler with a new hot water boiler. The HVAC contractor, I suppose he is the salesman for the HVAC contractor, is trying to sell us what he refers to as a reset control for our boiler. He tells us it will save us more money by making our boiler more efficient. I think I understand how it works but my wife is not entirely sure about it. Can you tell us what you think about a boiler reset control and how it works?
Thanks, and we have learned so much from High Performance HVAC. And keep up the good work.
Brent (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Air Conditioning |
Prevent Poor Ventilation in the Home
Prevent Poor Ventilation in the Home - You already know that inadequate ventilation in the home can lead to mold, mildew, and poor indoor airflow. This, in turn, can trap pollutants indoors, leading to allergies and other, more serious health risks. So what can you do to prevent this? Fortunately, you have several options, including energy-efficient ones. Here are some of them. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Technical Reference |
Air Conditioning and Heating HVAC Heat Energy Values - Heat is energy and when we produce heat we need to use energy in its production. There are natural methods for producing heat without burning or using fuels but these methods are not practical or available to the general populace for residential, commercial, and industrial use.
The production of heat, whether for residential, commercial, or industrial uses, uses energy, and energy costs money. It is thereby necessary to have reliable and proven methods of measuring the amount of heat produced using a specific quantity of energy. Employing these reliable and proven methods we can also use the data to determine the best methods of producing heat for homes, businesses, and industry. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Commercial HVAC |
Variable Air Volume Systems - Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems are the best way to zone especially in large buildings. A VAV system with the proper controls and setup will help the building owner realize large savings in energy usage. There are many VAV systems out there set up in different ways. The most common set-up (for DDC) is, of course, usually the cheapest to install.
They have an air handler (DX or Chilled Water) which supplies the VAV Boxes with fixed pressure and temperature of the conditioned air. The VAV Boxes have electric reheat which will heat the air if that particular zone calls for heat (it is not uncommon to also find VAV boxes that have hot water reheat although this usually costs more to install but can save in energy costs). More on how VAV boxes work.
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by High Performance HVAC | Commercial HVAC |
Rooftop Air Handler with Heat Recovery - This large rooftop air handling unit also has a heat recovery wheel integrated inside the AHU itself. The all-in-one AHU and heat recovery unit saves energy by recovering heat. The heat would otherwise be vented outside in the wintertime. Additionally, in the summer it removes heat from the air that is used for economizer and minimum outside air. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Heat Pumps |
Geothermal heat pumps use groundwater or water circulated through pipes to exchange heat with the earth. Geothermal versus air-source heat pump systems use the earth’s natural temperature to exchange heat and provide heating and cooling. The temperature of the air varies widely with the weather. Whereas the temperature of the earth is nearly constant.
This makes the use of a geothermal system ideal for heating and cooling. It also costs less in energy use because of the constant earth temperature versus the widely varying temperature of the outside air. Consequently, geothermal systems make sense and can save lots of money in energy use.
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by High Performance HVAC | Technical Reference |
HVAC Manufacturers | Heating and Cooling - Heating and Cooling Manufacturers are always improving the energy efficiency of their products using innovation and modern technology to help. HVAC manufacturers are required by the government to increase the efficiency ratings of equipment sold. Usually, this is a mandate passed down by Congress that will set a standard for a minimum efficiency of air conditioners and heating systems. Usually, this mandate is the result of manufacturers, the department of energy, and other industry concerns meeting and agreeing to a new minimum that is more efficient and utilizes less energy than previous models and designs. (more…)
