As human impact on the environment becomes more apparent, many homeowners in Clearwater, Florida, are looking for ways to reduce their effects on the area around them. Fortunately, recent innovations in the HVAC industry are making it easier for homeowners to go green. These green HVAC technologies allow homeowners to reduce their impact on the environment without sacrificing their comfort.
Hot Water Recirculator
Green technology is all about recycling where we can, and the developing hot water circulators do just that. Many homeowners let their water run as they wait for it to get warm, but that inevitably wastes gallons upon gallons of water every year.
A company based out of Rhode Island, called Taco (Tay-co, not tah-co), has developed a hot water recirculator that features what they call an “on-command” pump that attaches to both the cold and hot water lines beneath your kitchen and bathroom fixtures. The recirculation takes the cool water being drained and circulates it back into the water heater via the cold water line. This process allows hot water to be quickly delivered to your water fixtures at any time during the day, allowing homeowners to conserve water while also having quick access to hot water.
Thermal Air Conditioning
While many homeowners want to conserve energy and protect the environment, they also may worry that green HVAC technology may not be powerful enough to provide the comfort they want.
Fortunately, an Australian company called Chromasun is developing something called thermal air conditioning. Instead of relying on electricity, these air conditioning units use solar panels to collect energy and can be supplemented by natural gas. By using their own high-efficiency solar panels, Chromasun’s thermal air conditioners can actually provide more effective cooling than conventional, electrically-driven systems, while cutting the costs that come with electricity bills. This technology isn’t on the common market yet, but keep your eyes open.
Quiet Duct Wrap
Duct wrap is nothing new to the HVAC industry, but The Green Products Company is offering something new: quiet duct wrap. Like normal duct wrap, quiet duct wrap reduces energy loss that may normally occur in air ducts, but unlike normal duct wrap, quiet duct wrap is made from recycled denim taken from landfills. And unlike some conventional duct wraps, quiet duct wraps don’t release irritants or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that could reduce indoor air quality. They also don’t contain any fiberglass, which could normally lead to skin irritation.
Energy Analysis Software
The size of an HVAC system plays an important role in the comfort and energy efficiency of living space. A system that’s too large will short cycle and waste energy while a system that’s too small will strain to maintain comfort but will never be able to do so. Some homeowners discover that their system is too large or small when it’s already too late.
Energy analysis software, which many businesses across the industry are starting to use, can take into account the design of the home and project the correct size and most efficient system for that space. Smart thermostats, another innovative HVAC technology, also use a different kind of energy analysis software to evaluate how efficiently homeowners are utilizing their HVAC system, and how they may be able to improve.
Dual-Fuel Heat Pump
Heat pumps are already praised for being more energy-efficient than standard systems, but many homeowners complain that, while they save these families money, heat pumps sometimes aren’t powerful enough to provide reliable comfort year-round. The solution: develop a heat pump that uses a combination of fuel types.
This dual-fuel heat pump combines electricity and gas to generate efficient but powerful heating and cooling. At temperatures above 35 degrees Fahrenheit, the dual-fuel pump uses electricity, but if the temperature drops below that threshold, the pump then uses gas to heat the home. While dual-fuel heat pumps are currently costing more than conventional HVAC systems, homeowners can bank on making money back in savings on utility costs.
Green HVAC technologies help preserve the environment while simultaneously bringing greater savings and efficiency to homeowners. To see what efficient, green technology can do for you, start with installing a smart thermostat by calling Pinellas Comfort Systems at (727) 315-0791.
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