The Growing Demand for Sustainable HVAC Systems

“I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.”

Teddy Roosevelt

Today’s average proponent for conservationism usually lacks Teddy Roosevelt’s virility and charisma. Roughing it in the Dakota Territory – an inhospitable yet miraculously beautiful pocket of earth back during the 1880s – surely refined the president’s appreciation for the environment. 

We like to think he would be pleased by modern Americans’ efforts to preserve the only world God gave us. That is exemplified by the growing demand for energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, which has largely been born out of concern over carbon emissions, climate change and increasing energy prices.

Would you like to follow Teddy’s lead by upgrading your home or commercial property to a sustainable HVAC system? Then here are just some of the benefits you can expect!

Save Money on Your Energy Bills

At its heart, a sustainable HVAC system consumes relatively less energy than traditional alternatives. That means you can pay significantly less to keep your property comfortable all year long.

What kinds of savings are we talking about? Well, switching from a furnace or baseboard heaters to a high-efficiency heat pump can reduce your electricity use for heating by approximately 50%. A solar-powered air conditioner could shave a whopping 40% off your energy bills during the summertime. Even if you go with a traditional yet high-efficiency furnace, you can realistically save between 10 and 20% on your energy bill.

Sustainable HVAC appliances are poised to save you even more money once you consider tax incentives. You see, the Inflation Reduction Act wasn’t actually designed to reduce inflation in any significant way. What it really does is provide funding, programs and other incentives intended to accelerate the United States’ transition to clean energy. That includes a tax credit amounting to 30% (limited to $2,000) of the total cost of purchasing and installing a heat pump. And so long as it satisfies Energy Star’s highest standards for energy efficiency, a central AC, oil furnace, water boiler or water heater can also qualify for a $600 tax rebate.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

A sustainable HVAC system will reduce your carbon footprint (i.e. the total amount of greenhouse gasses you are responsible for releasing into the atmosphere) for the same reason it reduces your energy costs: It requires the combustion of fewer or zero fossil fuels.

High-efficiency HVAC appliances greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Thanks in part to its modern refrigerant, a heat pump produces at least 20% less greenhouse gas than a traditional gas boiler. A geothermal heating system won’t eliminate greenhouse gas production altogether, although it will emit approximately 99% less carbon dioxide than a system that utilizes fossil fuel. And even if they weren’t converted to solar power, simply doubling the energy efficiency of air conditioners could save Americans up to $2.9 trillion in electricity generation, transmission and distribution costs.

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

It’s not the chief reason why you would embrace green HVAC, but improved indoor air quality is a nice added benefit to upgrading your heating or cooling system. In addition to an easy-to-clean filter, a heat pump can feature a completely ductless design which accumulates far less dust and other air pollutants. Better yet, a heat pump’s electric motor cannot emit sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide or other harmful flue gasses.

Higher indoor air quality is not a unique benefit of heat pumps. Any high-efficiency furnace will necessarily produce lower concentrations of flue gasses. Furthermore, its state-of-the-art filtration system is significantly more effective at removing irritating particles from air before they can circulate throughout your home or business.

If you live or do business in the greater Sioux Falls, SD area, then you can count on PrairieSons for all your HVAC installation, maintenance, repair and replacement needs. Please contact us today if you’re ready to upgrade your property’s HVAC system to one that will save you money, reduce your impact on the irreplaceable environment, and help you breathe easier while you’re at it!

The Rise of Smart HVAC Systems

Why have so many Americans adopted smart HVAC systems at their homes? Because they are smart. They know that a smart HVAC system can reduce their energy usage by up to 33%, and also help them save up to 12% on their energy bills.

You’re smart too, because you are currently reading an article. But despite that, you might still be one of the 20% of Americans who spend almost four times more for heating and cooling than owners of energy-efficient homes.

How can you save big money while simultaneously doing your part to preserve the environment? Why, by installing a smart HVAC, of course!

What Is a Smart HVAC System?

A smart HVAC is designed to adjust the temperatures in each room of a domicile based on demand rather than a single predetermined setting. Basically, instead of heating or cooling every room to the same temperature, a smart HVAC anticipates and senses when residents are inside a given room, and controls that room’s temperature accordingly.

In addition to a furnace and air conditioner, a smart HVAC includes a network of Wi-Fi enabled thermostats, sensors and vents. These components communicate with one another so they can detect which rooms are being used at any given moment. Whenever a room is occupied – or whenever its temperature exceeds or falls below the homeowner’s desired temperature – the smart HVAC springs into action, which includes opening that room’s vents to allow influx of warm or cool air.

What Are the Benefits of a Smart HVAC System?

An HVAC which judiciously controls each individual room’s temperature poses more than one benefit. Let’s review all the advantages that await when you upgrade your home’s HVAC!

Lower utility bills – Simply installing a smart thermostat is typically enough to reduce your heating and cooling bills by 8%. Smart thermostat manufacturers promise much greater savings, such as ecobee with their estimate of 26%. Ultimately, the amount of money a smart HVAC shaves off your utility bills depends on your personal temperature preferences and the climate your home is located in. Residents of the Midwest stand to gain more than those of Hawaii (if only because Midwesterners spend significantly more on heating).

Reduced energy usage – Do you want to reduce your carbon footprint? Then one of the best ways to take action is by installing a smart HVAC at your home. An ENERGY STAR certified HVAC can reduce your home’s overall energy consumption by as much as 30%. That’s the magic of only climate controlling rooms that are being used!

Greater comfort – A smart HVAC doesn’t merely use sensors to detect when a room is occupied. Its thermostat may also include built-in software to predict when certain rooms are likely to become occupied in the immediate future, and accordingly raise or lower their temperatures ahead of time. Like a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat also offers a homeowner the option of scheduling when and how their rooms will be heated or cooled.

Cleaner air – A smart thermostat is a multi-talented mechanism. Certain models can even monitor indoor air quality, and alert you to when there are dangerously high levels of pollutants such as volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide inside your home. That will tip you off to when you should take immediate measures to improve indoor quality. Furthermore, a newly installed state-of-the-art HVAC can include integrated air purification technology and HEPA filters that markedly reduce levels of indoor airborne pollutants.

Remote control – Its Wi-Fi integration means that a smart HVAC can be controlled from anywhere on earth. That’s great if you’re driving home on a sweltering hot day and want to end your ordeal at a majestically cooled home. It also helps you save energy if you forget to change your temperature settings before leaving on vacation. You will feel like a citizen of the future when you lower your home’s temperature – from the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower.

How to Choose the Right Smart HVAC System for Your Home

The best smart HVAC for your home depends on several factors, including your:

    • Heating and cooling needs
    • Desired indoor air quality
    • Energy efficiency goals
    • Humidity control needs
    • Ductwork layout
    • Home size
    • Budget

In other words, there are just too many factors to take into account for a layman to identify the best smart HVAC. That’s just as well, because smart HVAC installation is strictly a job for an HVAC professional – precisely the person you should consult before committing to such a large home upgrade.

If you live or do business in the greater Sioux Falls, SD area, then you can count on PrairieSons for all your HVAC installation, maintenance, repair and replacement needs. Please contact us today if you’re ready to save money and conserve energy by modernizing your property’s HVAC system!