Building a new home or business doesn’t just allow you to customize how it will look. It also lets you decide things like how energy efficient it will be. Without an existing HVAC system, you don’t need to worry about whether it makes financial sense to replace your existing system and can base your decisions solely on the features available in new units. Below are some of the most common options.
Energy Efficient HVAC Systems
Traditional central air conditioning, heat pump, and furnace systems can barely be called traditional at this point. Even though their basic function is the same, huge improvements have been made in both comfort and operating costs. Newer systems are now able to handle more efficient air filters to provide indoor air quality that approaches the cleanliness of a hospital. The most efficient furnaces now convert over 90% of the energy they use to heat; older models were only 60 to 70% efficient. For high efficiency air conditioners with SEER ratings of 15 or higher, the energy savings is 30% to 40% compared to older models with SEER ratings of 10.
Ductless Heating and Cooling
Ductless heating and cooling systems save energy by breaking the tradition of heating or cooling your entire building at once. Instead, there are separate indoor units for different room of your building. This “zone heating and cooling” allows you to only heat or cool the rooms you are currently using and leave the rest of your building at a temperature that is cheaper to maintain. In addition, because they eliminate ducts, you don’t need to worry about heat loss as your air passes through uninsulated ducts or problems with leaky ducts costing you energy efficiency.
Geothermal Air Conditioning
Geothermal heat pumps rely primarily on nature instead of electricity or gas. A variety of models are available to best take advantage of the geography of each building, but the basic idea is that a system of pipes/loops is placed in the ground near your building. During the winter, the temperature underground is warmer than the air temperature, and this heat is transferred into your building. During summer, when the ground temperature is colder, heat is transferred into the ground. This greatly reduces your fuel or electricity consumption and can bring energy savings of 30 to 60%.
If you’re building a new home or business in Bluffton, SC, contact McDevitt Air. We’re a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer that proudly serves both residential and commercial customers.