Got HVAC?

Published by: Paul Batchie, pbpublic@gmail.com
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

While for many years the use of forced air heating was only in the purview of large commercial buildings and heating systems for less expensive homes, in the past few decades, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technology, or HVAC, as it is known, has come into its own in Connecticut housing of the highest quality.

There are several good reasons architects, developers and homeowners increasingly have been choosing HVAC systems for quality homes. As we have become more aware of the important role interior environmental conditions play in maintaining good health, we have placed more value on systems that not only can heat or cool those environments, but that also can monitor air quality, clean air of contaminants such as smoke, odor, dust and bacteria, regulate moisture, and introduce fresh air systematically. Maintaining air quality has become especially important to large numbers of people, as the population bulge approaches retirement age and becomes more health conscious.

At the same time, the cost of energy has been relentlessly climbing. Department of Energy data shows average home fuel oil prices rising from $.35 in 1992 to $1.94 in 2008, an increase of almost 600% in sixteen years. And this climb is unlikely to abate anytime soon, as energy becomes a weapon of choice in geopolitics, and terrorism continues to threaten the stability of existing energy supply channels.

Finally, recent years have seen an increased awareness of the need to protect the earth's environment by containing the emission of pollutants.

The HVAC industry has responded to these dramatically changing conditions by focusing on developing new technologies and more efficient ways to use energy. Organizations such as The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers have devoted themselves to advancing standards and regulations through research and education. The result is that today the homeowner has the choice of well-designed residential systems that are the most efficient ever, delivering safe and comfortable interior environments at substantial operating savings over systems of only ten years ago, and helping protect the ecosystem in the bargain.

Because of these factors, many older homes are prime candidates for changing to a modern HVAC system. Homeowners that pay for more expensive types of heating, such as electrical resistance, should be especially eager for the cost savings an HVAC will bring. And homes that already operate on HVAC can most probably take advantage of existing ductwork to substantially lessen the installation costs of a new installation, while adding features such as air conditioning, humidity control and air filtration, all at lesser operating cost than the older system.

There are several online calculators which will help you to estimate the savings an upgrade will yield. For example, I ran some rough numbers for a very small house in our area, and assumed it had a heating/cooling system that was only ten years old. Over a twenty year period – a reasonable lifespan for an installation before advancing technology makes it obsolete – I saw savings of almost $9,000! Again, this was an absolutely minimal example. Increase the size of the house, and then the age of the existing system, and you'll see those numbers climb. And all the while the home's comfort and air quality would be improved.

It's worth noting that utility companies, concerned about their overloaded grids, are willing to pass along savings to homeowners who install high-efficiency heating and cooling units. So you should check with your utility to see what programs they might offer. At this writing, for example, Connecticut Light and Power is offering a sizable rebate for qualifying installations.
You can see that the reasons for considering an upgrade to a new, high-efficiency HVAC system are impressive indeed. The first step is to call a qualified HVAC installer and request a home evaluation. He's an experienced expert who can size up your needs and match them to a modern, efficient system. He will discuss features and costs, and he will show you both the environmental benefits and long-range savings you can expect by upgrading.

For a Connecticut HVAC technician near you, contact us today!

View all Air Conditioning Cooling Articles