What If I Have No Room For Ducts?

With the ever encroaching reality of sprawl (Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is the spreading of a city and its suburbs over rural land at the fringe of an urban area – wikipedia), space in and around our homes is becoming more and more of a commodity. How are you supposed to heat or cool your home if there is no room for ducts? Well… it is possible…difficult, but possible. However, don’t lose heart, because the HVAC (HVAC (pronounced either "H-V-A-C" or, occasionally, "H-vak") is an initialism or acronym that stands for "heating, ventilating, and air conditioning".-wikipedia) has been working hard to make the technology available to combat this new problem. There are a few options, for the homeowner with no space. The easiest option so far, is a duct-less system. Duct-less systems operate sort-of like the systems that are in place in a hotel, attached to the wall and forcing air either up or down. However, these are different from wall units, because of the amount of air flow and electricity required. A duct-less system will cool your home much more efficiently than a basic wall air conditioning unit will, and take up less inside space. Some benefits of a ductless system are that refrigeration lines are installed (which allow the air conditioner to cool for longer) as well as the utilization of industrial materials in the construction of the unit (metal rather than cheap plastic) and a warranty from a company that will provide service. Want to do your own research? Check out these websites and the units they offer. http://www.enviromaster.com/products.asp Enviromaster utilizes technology that is approved by energy star, and their units operate at a 13 SEER (on the seasonal energy efficiency ratio) which the EPA has put in place to reduce the cfls? That are produced by traditional coolants. They offer everything from split systems, to chilled air handlers, in various directional flows. http://www.bryant.com/products/ductfree/index.shtml Bryant has been a company since 1904 and operates in many fields related to the air conditioning and heating industries. Because of their experience, they offer a variety of different products and customizable systems. These systems are tested in real life situations and field tests in order to provide the most comfort to the customers. This article http://www.ebuild.com/articles/articleId.373696/hvac/air-conditioners--central.hwx tells of the extra benefits that ductless systems may provide to their owners. http://www.residential.carrier.com/products/ductfree/index.shtml Carrier has been in the heating and air conditioning business for over 100 years. As such, their company offers a variety of innovations to improve home comfort and provide energy efficiency. Carrier units are also fully customizable to provide the best service for each homeowner’s individual heating and cooling needs. Carrier also offers units that improve air quality in the home. These units are also especially energy efficient and can save the customer money Carrier offers systems that can be put in various flow directions to minimize the impact on the décor of your home, while still providing the best cooling possible. http://www.york.com/products/unitary/minisplit/docsProducts.asp York is another company that offers duct-less (or as they call them mini-split systems). They have a whole downloadable PDF with their products and accessories. http://www.dayandnightcomfort.com/products/dfac.html Day and Night is a pretty good option because of the warranties that come with their products. Day and Night offers quiet and efficient heating and air conditioning units. All of the models are also equipped with an up-to-date governmental SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and environmentally friendly coolant agents. All of the Day and Night products are easy to install and service with an access panel and high and low pressure controls. They are also built to last, there is a high gloss powder coat finish over the steel, and even the screws are coated, adding extra protection against weathering. The also provide corner posts to add strength and style. Models also include a compressor sound jacket standard to ensure quiet operation. While you are checking out day and night, Heil http://www.heil-hvac.com/products/dfhp.html has some similar offerings. Ductless systems may not be right for everyone, but it’s a good option to look into, especially when concerned about space. Hope this helps. For more information or questions, please email AManda AT Sinclairair DOT com. My contact info is also on the main frame of the blog.

Enjoy Summer with out Running the Air Conditioner

Source: http://www.thestreet.com/story/10428858/4/save-on-air-conditioning--get-out-of-the-house.html So, I know that as an air-conditioning company, we spend a lot of time telling you how to save money on your electricity bills WHILE running your air conditioning, BUT sometimes it can be better to just get out of the house… Jeffrey Strain of ‘the street.com’ an investing and money advisement website has included several interesting ways to “beat the heat” by going out. His aim is to save money as well, so his suggestions are low-priced and still ‘cool.’ He encourages movie going, and has supplemented the cost by providing links to summer clubs where movies are cheaper as part of a special promotion. He might actually be on to something here! If these suggestions seem a bit to ‘modern’ for you, there is always the old-fashioned summer activity of strolling through a garden. The Huntington library (www.huntington.org/) and La county Arboretum (www.arboretum.org/) offer summertime activities. You can stroll through their spacious gardens or just enjoy sitting by a pond on their grounds. Many cities are also offering summer concert series. The city of Covina has summer weeks basically planned out with activities on every weekday. www.ci.covina.ca.us Enjoy your air conditioning, but also take some time to enjoy some of the special summer activities that are going on around town. Yay summer! Email me AmanDa AT Sinclairair Dot coM (my email is also posted on the main frame of the blog - to avoid spam :( Thank you) if there is a summer activity that saves you money that I have not mentioned.

This news story has some tips and techniques to saving you money on your summer electricity bills. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/business/2008/06/15/oph.trim.energy.costs.cnn

ICE for Energy?

LaMonica, Martin. “Throwing Cold Water on Energy-Hog Air Conditioners” CNET News.com Published May 17, 2007. http://news.cnet.com/Throwing-cold-water-on-energy-hog-air-conditioners/2100-11392_3-6184646.html?tag=nw.1 last access 7/21/08. So, with all this talk of energy saving appliances and doing “our” part for the environment, ever wonder why it has taken such a long time to develop technology that doesn’t harm the environment in heating and cooling systems? While energy star rated air conditioning appliances are much more efficient than their non-rated counterparts, there is still a long way to go before air conditioning is truly “green” or efficient. Two companies recently unveiled their “new” technology, quite similar to a geothermal heat pump in which ice/cold water is used to cool the systems instead of high pressured chemicals. These new systems would store their water in an underground ‘tank’ creating cooling energy at night (saving money in energy costs through off-peak usage). Then the coolness from the water (or ice) is then used to make the air cooler in the home. These companies are focusing mainly on bigger industrial units, but plan to also cater to residential homes. Perhaps the technique isn’t perfected yet, but it might be a step in the right direction… You decide. The full article is featured on cnet’s news website and there are several interesting comments. I’m not saying that you should go out and demand your own ice utilizing cooling system, but it is a technology to watch…

Why Doesn't The House Get Cool?

This is a VERY familiar complaint during the summer! Your air conditioning unit will work when you turn it on, but sometimes we (as homeowners) make the unit work harder than it needs to! This article was borrowed from the Austin Texas Green Building Blog (as noted on the bottom enclosure) found at: http://www.greenbuilder.com/general/articles/AAS.atticcool.html

"This article first appeared in the Austin American Statesman. Don't Let Your Roof Take the Heat "Tips to keep your attic cool"By Marc Richmond-Powers, City of Austin Green Building Program

Picture this: It's a hot and humid Austin summer day. You head for the indoors and some relief from your trusty air conditioning (A/C) system. Three hours later, you're slightly cooler, but you're wondering why your A/C unit hasn't shut off yet.

Here's why: all day long, solar radiation has been heating up your home through the windows, walls, doors and especially the roof. Your attic temperature can easily reach over 140 degrees. That heat up there is working its way through your meager attic insulation into your home and through the A/C ductwork, located in your attic, into your cooling system. Your A/C system has to fight that added heat to change all that hot air in your home into cool air.You can install solar screens for the windows, porches around the house for shade, and plant trees around the home, but what do you do about the roof which accounts for a third of all the heat build-up of your house?

Here are a few options: Ventilate your attic with ridge and soffit vents. Vents are louvers, grills, or screen materials which allow passage or air through them. They are typically installed along the top peak (ridge) of your roof, at the top of the side wall (gable), and on the underside of your roof overhang (soffit). Ventilation moves air through your attic by force of wind or by heat rising through natural convection. This leaves cooler air sitting on top of the insulation on the attic floor. Ventilation also has the ability to remove humidity which has built up in your attic and which reduces the effectiveness of your insulation. It is often best to hire a contractor to install these.

Insulate your attic floor to R-30. R-30 is roughly a10 inch thick layer of insulation material above your ceiling. This is a job for any handy homeowner or it could be handed over to a contractor. When installing the insulation, be careful not to block your vents.

Install a radiant barrier between your roof and your attic insulation. A radiant barrier is an aluminum foil material which prevents 95 percent of the heat that radiates from your roof from reaching the insulation on your attic floor. It comes in a roll and is stapled to the underside of your roof rafters. Radiant barriers are sold in most building material supply centers and can be easily installed by a homeowner. This system can save you up to eight percent on your summer cooling bills.

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copyleft 1997: You are encouraged to copy and redistribute this article provided that you acknowledge the City of Austin's Green Builder Program as the source. Please attach this statement. "

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What are some other things you can do to ensure that your air is working at it's best? 1. Turn your air on early - BEFORE the heat of the day, IF you are going to be home. If you are not going to be home a thermostat that you can set is an especially good way to keep your home cool. Setting this thermostat to turn on at a very low rate while the home is unoccupied keeps the hot air from settling in the house, but still does not use too much energy. 2. Make sure to keep drapes drawn. If your home has skylights or larger windows, you might want to consider placing an outside screen or other heat reflecting material over these. 3. Set the thermostat to a comfortable setting (78 degrees if possible - this is the energy star recommended setting and will save you). If you set the degrees for as low as it will go in hopes that your house will cool faster, your unit is just going to burn out faster.

Lego Ac?

Ever wonder what would happen if you had too much time on your hands? Build a full scale model of a carrier air conditioner out of LEGOS!

Carrier is one of the companies that we install. Read more about Carrier on our website http://www.sinclairair.com/carrier.html. Carrier has been in the business a long time and is recognized world wide (the lego unit was built in Japan). Carrier is also very dedicated to conserving energy and recognizing and perfecting new technologies. They provide units available for residential and commercial buildings. If you are in the market for a new air conditioning unit, Carrier is definitely one of the brands to check out.

Air conditioner v. Heat Pump?

To push the air in in air conditioning or heating unit a homeowner has two basic options, the choice between an air handler or a furnace. To cool a house, there are also two basic options. One of them is central air conditioning as provided by a condenser that sits outside and uses a refrigerant to cool the air. However, the other choice is a heat pump. Heat pumps provide heating and cooling depending on the weather and usually use an air handler to push the air through the house. Heat pump v. air conditioning The way that a heat pump converts ground heat into heating or cooling energy is described by national geographic’s green guide at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/10/1028_041028_alternative_energy_2.html

“Ground Heat Tapping into the ground offers another option to regulate household heating and cooling. In most areas of the United States, the ground below the frost line maintains an average temperature between 50 and 54 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 12 degrees Celsius). Ground-source heat pumps, also called geo-exchange systems, use this relatively constant temperature to keep homes at comfortable temperatures. The devices employ a series of underground, liquid-filled tubes or wells. Liquid flows through the pipes into the home, where a heat exchanger either adds or subtracts heat from indoor air, depending on the season. In winter, that means added warmth captured from the ground. "If you can [do that], your furnace doesn't have to work so hard," Hayter said. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study found that geo-exchange systems can save up to 70 percent of home-heating costs.”

They further go into the advantages and disadvantages at http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/ask/geothermal Filed under: Energy efficiency, Eco-Renovation This response was written to a homeowner in Northern California who wanted to be more eco-friendly in her heating and cooling options.

“The Green Guide Responds: Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) are an extremely efficient mode of not only heating your home in the winter but cooling it in the summer. The technology exploits the difference between above ground and below ground temperatures. Ground temperatures range from 45 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and remain relatively constant throughout the year. The open air temperature is cooler than the ground temperature during the winter and warmer during the summer. Using a system of underground or underwater pipes filled with a coolant—like antifreeze—the GHP exchanges the heat above ground with the heat below ground. Operating on the same principal as a refrigerator, the heat, carried by piped water and coolant, is elevated through a process of compression, evaporation, condensation and expansion. This process requires substantial electricity, though far less than an electric heating system requires. Within the heat pump, liquid refrigerant absorbs heat from the warmed water or other low temperature source as it flows from the ground, which causes the refrigerant to evaporate and become gaseous. The gas is then pressurized in an electric compressor. This raises the temperature to 180+ degrees Fahrenheit. The heat is pumped into the house, and as the refrigerant cools, the process begins all over again. Advantages • Compared with a home with electric heat, cooling, and water heating, the GHPs use between to 25% and 50% less electricity. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), a housing project in Louisiana with 4003 units will save 25.8 million kilowatt hours in a typical year after switching to GHP. EnergyStar-rated pumps are also available. www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/factsheets/geo_heatpumps.html • During the summer GHP (equipped with a device called a "desuperheater") using heat taken from the home will warm your water for free. During the winter, you can expect a 50% reduction in the cost of heating water. • GHPs are smaller and quieter than gas and oil furnaces. • New homes may come equipped with GHP, but older homes can be retrofit as well. Obviously efficiency is an issue in either case, and for the full benefit to be realized, ducting and insulation must be properly installed. And the house must be thoroughly weather proofed. • GHP systems have few moving parts and require very little maintenance. • Switching to a GHP system is cost effective. Installing a system will cost approximately $7,500, where a comparable conventional system (heat and cooling) costs around $4,000, but, according to the Department of Energy, the savings from lower untility bills, will pay for the difference in two to ten years. Disadvantages • The initial cost is quite high. • Leaks in underground pipes are hard to repair. • Water is a better heat source than earth, but water-coupled systems require a body of water, more complex engineering and the built-in cost of a water pump. For more information about GHP systems and a list of certified service providers in California visit the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium website (www.geoexchange.org). Many states offer incentive programs, but surprisingly not California. EnergyStar labeled models are usually eligible for low interest loans. The EPA has more information about financing, and they encourage home owners to call their free hotline: 1-888-STAR-YES Given that you're currently using wood heat, another option would be to trade in your old stove for a super-efficient advanced combustion wood burning stove. (See "Is Burning Wood Greener Than Burning Gas?")"

However, in order to determine how best to heat or cool your home, it is important to speak to a licensed contractor who has your best interest in mind. Research your options. A heat pump is most beneficial in more humid southern climates. The highest percentages of heat pumps are installed in Florida.