For all the love, time and vision we put into enhancing our homes, it’s temperature control that enables us to truly enjoy them in a climate so often defined by extremes. After all, by its most basic definition, a home is a shelter: A cool refuge from sweltering mid-summer heat waves or a warm retreat from winter’s bitter chill.
While you may not find yourself daydreaming about a new heat pump quite as much as, let’s say, a new kitchen, exciting advancements in HVAC technology are making today’s systems more user-friendly and energy-smart than ever. With ever-rising energy prices and an increased focus on environmental responsibility, upgrading your home’s heating and cooling system is a big step toward reducing your energy costs and carbon footprint.
We talked with three Central PA companies specializing in HVAC and discovered heating and cooling technologies that are taking comfort, control and convenience to new heights.
Breezy Easy Controls
Today’s thermostats are all about putting the homeowner in the driver’s seat, according to Edward McFarlane, vice president of sales and training at Haller Enterprises in Lancaster. Designed for ultimate convenience and comfort, new control systems range from basic models resembling a light switch panel to high-definition displays integrating basic security and lighting systems.
“We’re seeing thermostat controls that can do everything—from providing system maintenance reminders to displaying Doppler-radar weather,” McFarlane says. “Manufacturers are offering a variety of choices with great convenience features at a great price.”
We’re seeing more homeowners taking advantage of these systems to maximize the space in their homes
Remote thermostat controls that can be carried from room to room are gaining in popularity, eliminating the need to leave the comfort of your warm bed or get up from watching your favorite TV show to make temperature adjustments. For on-the-go homeowners, wifi-enabled thermostat systems provide remote HVAC access, ideal for primary residences and vacation homes. From the convenience of your smartphone, tablet or computer, you can keep tabs on system maintenance issues, adjust your temperature settings and more.
Variable Speed for Ultimate Comfort
Older-model furnaces and central air systems essentially had two modes of operation: on or off. It turns out, however, that the speed at which air moves through a system can dramatically affect the room’s humidity and overall comfort.
Enter the variable speed furnace, a technology that uses a variable speed fan blower to adjust airflow and the amount of energy used according to the room’s heating or cooling needs. The technology is now available in most HVAC systems, whether it’s a traditional furnace, a mini-split or a geothermal system.
“The benefit of variable speed is that it adjusts air flow depending on the need, so you have better humidity control and overall comfort,” says Ben Stambaugh III, vice president of York-based Gohn & Stambaugh, Inc.
Max Efficiency from Mini-Splits
Popular in Europe over the past several decades, ductless mini-split systems are quickly gaining ground in the United States market, according to Bruce Aguilar, installation manager at Camp Hill-based SECCO, Inc. Each unit has a separate compressor that connects to several “heads” which emit cool or warm air. The ductless system provides direct heating or cooling, maximizing efficiency that can be lost as air makes its way through a duct. Plus, since each head has its own thermostat, room-to-room comfort and temperature control is unsurpassed.
“Mini-splits are ideal for rooms that don’t get sufficient heating or cooling, like bonus rooms over garages or ‘man caves,’” says Aguilar. “They also can be used for heating and cooling the entire home, depending on the size of the home. This technology has huge growth potential.”
While earlier models were essentially limited to wall-mount units, mini-splits are now available in a variety of types and sizes to fit your space seamlessly. In addition to wall-mounts, there are versions that sit on the floor and even models that resemble a large picture frame, for incognito heating and cooling.
Mini-splits are especially relevant today not only for energy efficiency, but also for their ability to help homeowners reclaim rooms with insufficient heating and cooling, according to McFarlane. “We’re seeing more homeowners taking advantage of these systems to maximize the space in their homes, especially in a tough economy where you have more family members living under one roof.”
Subterranean Solutions
For groundbreaking, earth-friendly heating and cooling, geothermal is tough to beat. In a nutshell, geothermal technology uses the constant temperature of the earth as an exchange medium instead of the outside air temperature. According to the Department of Energy, geothermal heat pumps use 25 to 50 percent less electricity than conventional heating and cooling systems.
Interest in the energy-smart technology has increased in recent years, according to Stambaugh, who frequently gets inquiries from homeowners. “When a homeowner asks about geothermal, one of my first questions is how long they plan to remain in their home,” Stambaugh says. Geothermal heat pumps require a significant up-front, investment and the general rule is it that it takes about seven to 10 years to get a full return on your investment.
While this level of efficiency comes with a hefty price tag, tax credits can help offset the initial cost. Under the Federal Residential Energy-Efficient Property Credit, homeowners are eligible for a 30 percent tax credit for the installation of a ground source heat pump—or geothermal system—through 2016.
