Heating and Cooling

RenovateDSM — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:29:41 -0700

In a typical household, heating and cooling make up well over half of the total energy use. Insulation and sealing up the "building envelope" from outside air can drastically reduce energy consumption. Next in line should be selecting energy efficient appliances and heating/cooling units.

Many older homes come equipped with radiator heat and an older gas-fired boiler, but no air conditioning. Chances are, you will be either upgrading or replacing the HVAC system(s) in your renovation.

Efficiency

Great strides have been made in HVAC efficiency. For air conditioners, efficiency is measured by a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) number. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit is (and usually the more expensive the unit is). Purchase the highest rated unit you can afford.

HVAC Types

Forced Air Furnaces
When it comes to heating, the newest energy efficient forced air furnaces approach the mid 90% range - this means that over 90% of the energy created by the furnace is captured for heating your home.

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Heating and Cooling

Efficiency

HVAC Types