Do I Need High-Efficiency Heating and Cooling?
If you have insulated, applied weatherstripping and caulk, and sealed holes and cracks in your home’s envelope, you have taken significant steps toward energy efficiency.
Installing energy-saving appliances and windows with low emissivity (low-E) glass to reflect heat fulfills even more of your efficiency goals.
Now, what about the heating and cooling system in your Pacific Northwest home?
If your older furnace has an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating in the 70s to low 80s or your outdated air conditioner is limping along with a low Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 2 (SEER2), you are wasting energy and money.
Why let your aging heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system prevent you from enjoying an energy-efficient home?
At Carrier Northwest, we are dedicated to helping consumers find the best local experts to assist with their HVAC needs. Our online directory includes an extensive list of Carrier dealers in Oregon, Washington, Montana, Northern Idaho, or Northern California who can recommend the best high-efficiency system for your budget and comfort goals. Click on our Find A Dealer link to get started.
Why Choose a High-Efficiency System?
High efficiency means your heat pump, furnace, or air conditioner uses less energy to heat or cool your home. Less energy translates into saving money. You spend fewer dollars heating your home with a new high-efficiency furnace than you would with an older, standard unit that met minimum efficiency standards when it was new.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says depending on where you live, you can reduce energy use by 50 percent for electric heating and cooling and up to 10 percent for gas furnace heating if you upgrade to high-efficiency HVAC equipment.
The agency also notes that heating and cooling equipment with the ENERGY STAR® can cut your energy bill by 10 to 30 percent.
While using less energy, you also contribute fewer greenhouse gas emissions to the environment and can shrink your carbon footprint. High-efficiency HVAC systems also operate quietly and control humidity better than previous models or newer, standard units.
Identifying High-Efficiency HVAC
Every piece of HVAC equipment carries an efficiency rating. The unit must meet the DOE’s minimum efficiency standards. Some systems have efficiency ratings beyond standard minimums and are considered highly efficient.
AFUE measures furnace heating efficiency, and SEER indicates cooling efficiency for air conditioners and heat pumps. A heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) measures the heating efficiency of heat pumps. This year, the DOE added a SEER2 and HSPF2 rating because of changes in HVAC testing. New testing requirements better reflect the way HVAC equipment operates in real life.
A Carrier dealer can help you compare SEER, AFUE, and HSPF ratings when you upgrade to a high-efficiency system. Typically, a high-efficiency gas furnace has an AFUE rating of 90 and above.
Beneficial Features
High-efficiency systems are more likely to offer features like variable-speed blowers and variable-speed compressors that can adjust the unit’s energy use and output.
High-efficiency furnaces have a second heat exchanger that captures some heat from exhaust gases that would other escape to the outdoors.
Pairing high-efficiency equipment with a smart thermostat lets you control your heating and cooling system anywhere.
Save on Energy Bills Now
Ask a Carrier dealer how a high-efficiency HVAC furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner can save money while providing superior comfort to your home. Carrier Northwest brings the best dealers in Oregon, Washington, Montana, Northern Idaho, or Northern California together in one directory. Choose an expert HVAC team by clicking on our Find A Dealer link.