June 2000
H.V.A.C. Consumer Assistance

Heating and cooling systems are some of the most important investments you'll ever make in your home. Whether you're buying a new house, renovating an old one or making an emergency purchase because "old faithful" finally conked out, there's a lot riding on the choices you make: Your comfort and safety are at stake, but so is your wallet.

Americans typically spend about 46 cents of every dollar they pay in utility bills for "space conditioning." You can lower those costs by selecting the most energy-efficient equipment that meets your needs and fits your budget.

The EnergyGuide label on home heating and cooling equipment is intended to help you do just that. These labels provide a "snapshot" of the more in-depth energy efficiency and usage information that manufacturers are required to provide with their products -- generally through a fact sheet or industry association directory.

Why should I care about energy efficiency?

The total cost of an appliance has three components -- the purchase price, the cost of repairs and maintenance, and the cost to operate it. The more energy efficient an appliance is, the less it costs to run and the lower your utility bills. Using less energy is good for the environment, too; it can reduce air pollution and help conserve natural resources.

Is there really that much of a difference among the various models on the market?

All products must meet minimum energy efficiency standards set by the Department of Energy. But many products beat the standard, use even less energy and cost less to run.

What makes one system more efficient than another?

Most of the differences are on the inside -- in the motors, compressors, pumps and valves. So even if two models look the same from the outside, these less-obvious features can mean a big difference in your monthly utility bills.

How can I be sure energy efficiency claims are not just sales hype?

Manufacturers must use standard tests developed by the Department of Energy to prove the efficiency of their products. Many have these tests performed by independent laboratories. The test results are reported on the EnergyGuide labels, and through fact sheets provided by the manufacturers or in industry association directories.

An Energy-Smart Deal On Home Heating & Cooling... Ask your builder, installer or home supply outlet about the EnergyGuide label and the fact sheets or product directories for each system you're considering. Compare the energy efficiencies and operating costs of competing models. Consider both the purchase price and estimated operating costs when you decide what to buy.

Before You Buy...

Conduct an energy audit. This will help you detect energy waste, gauge the efficiency of your current heating and cooling systems, and determine if conditioned air is being distributed properly. Your utility company may offer free or low-cost energy audits or a do-it-yourself kit. You also can hire a specialist to do a more comprehensive B and more expensive B energy audit.

Weatherize your home. Check the caulking, weatherstripping and insulation, and make any necessary repairs. This may enable you to install a smaller, less expensive heating or cooling system to get the same results.

Compare the performance of different brands and models. Study the product literature. Will the product do the job? How energy efficient is it? What's its repair history? Will it handle your needs today? Ten years from now? Does it fit your budget?

Estimate how much the appliance will cost to operate. The more energy an appliance uses, the more it costs to run. Consult the EnergyGuide labels, the manufacturers' fact sheets or the industry association directory to compare the energy efficiency of different models. The difference on your monthly utility bill can be significant, especially when considered over the lifetime of the product. You can save money over the long run by choosing a more energy-efficient model, even if it costs more initially.

Ask about special energy efficiency offers. Ask your local utility or salesperson if there are cash rebates, low-interest loans or other incentive programs in your area for buying energy-efficient products -- and how you can qualify.

How Do You Say "Efficiency"?

Heating and air conditioning systems have a language all their own...

• If you're referring to furnaces and boilers, it's"annual fuel utilization efficiency," or AFUE.

• For room air conditioners, it's"energy efficiency ratio," or EER.

• For central air conditioners and heat pump cooling, it's "seasonal energy efficiency ratio," or SEER.

• For heat pump heating, it's "heating seasonal performance factor," or HSPF.

Tips for Lowering Your Monthly Energy Bill

Being an energy-smart consumer means getting the most from the energy you use.

• Shade your room air conditioner from direct sun. This will reduce its workload. Clean the filters monthly and replace as necessary to save energy and reduce dust and pollen in the air. Lower the setting when you go out to reduce operating costs.

• Vacuum air vents, baseboard heaters and radiators regularly to remove dust that reduces heating efficiency. Move furniture, carpet or curtains that restrict their operation. If your baseboard heaters have movable deflectors or vents, open them in the winter and close them in the summer.

• Schedule annual tune-ups for your heat pump, furnace or boiler. Check to see if your utility company provides this service.

• Hire a professional to seal and insulate leaky ducts, and to ensure that the airflow distribution system serving your heating or cooling equipment is operating at peak efficiency.

• Check your attic, attic stairway, attached garage walls and basement to ensure that you have proper insulation between conditioned and unconditioned spaces.

• Open your foundation vents each spring if your home has a crawl space under it. Close the vents in the winter.

• Prune back shrubs that may block airflow to your air conditioner or heat pump.

• Consider installing ceiling fans. The air circulation promotes cooling in the summer and heating efficiency in the winter.

For More Information

The Federal Trade Commission offers a wide range of business and consumer education information online at www.ftc.gov. This information also is available by calling the toll-free helpline at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) (TDD: 202-326-2502) or by writing: Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580.

The Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network offers a clearinghouse of energy-efficiency information at www.eren.doe.gov. This information also is available by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-800-DOE-EREC (363-3732) (TDD: 1-800-273-2957) or by writing: U.S. Department of Energy B EREC, PO Box 3048, Merrifield, VA 22116.

Your state and local energy offices and local utility company also may be valuable sources of information.

You can file a complaint with the FTC by contacting the Consumer Response Center by phone: toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357); TDD: 202-326-2502; by mail: Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20580; or through the Internet, using the online complaint form. Although the Commission cannot resolve individual problems for consumers, it can act against a company if it sees a pattern of possible law violations. The FTC publishes free brochures on many consumer issues. For a complete list of publications, write for Best Sellers, Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20580; or call toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357), TDD 202-326-2502. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR THE CONSUMER 1-877-FTC-HELP www.ftc.gov

Basic Information on Different Types of Residential
H.V.A.C. Equipment

Central Air Conditioning

A Residential Split System Central Air Conditioning system keeps your entire home cool in the warmer months, while it helps lower indoor humidity levels.

The system includes a compressor, a fan, condenser coil, evaporator coil, and a refrigerant. It extracts heat from indoor air and transfers it outside, leaving the cooled indoor air to be recirculated.

The efficiency of central air conditioning systems is rated using SEER ratios.

A central air conditioning system uses electricity as its power source, and requires:

• An outdoor section (the condensing unit).
• A matching indoor gas or oil furnace with coil, or air handler.
• Ductwork to transfer the cooled air throughout the home.

Care Heating and Cooling offers a wide variety of York and Lennox Residential Split System Central Air Conditioning systems in different sizes and efficiencies.

Natural Gas Heating And Cooling Systems

A Natural Gas Heating and Cooling System is a split system providing year 'round comfort. In the summer it draws heat out of your home to keep it cool and control humidity. In the winter it draws heat from outside air into your home to keep it warm. Outside air always has heat in it -- even at very low outdoor temperatures.

Home temperature is maintained 24 hours a day. A microprocessor control "modulates" the operation of the system to help reduce operating costs. On the coldest days, a Natural Gas Heating And Cooling System can use an optional instantaneous boiler to automatically supplement heat brought in from the outside.

The efficiency of Natural Gas Heating and Cooling Systems is rated using SEER (for cooling efficiency) and HSPF (for heating efficiency). AFUE% equivalents may also be used to determine heating efficiency.

Electric Heat Pumps

A Residential Split System Heat Pump is a year 'round comfort system. In the summer it draws heat out of your home to keep it cool, and in the winter it draws heat from outside air into your home to keep it warm. Many heat pump installations have a booster electrical resistance heater that automatically supplements heat brought in from the outside. Outside air always has heat in it -- even at very low outdoor temperatures.

Like a central air conditioning system, it includes a compressor, a fan, outdoor coil, indoor coil, and a refrigerant.

The efficiency of Heat Pumps is rated using SEER (for cooling efficiency) and HSPF (for heating efficiency).

A Heat Pump uses electricity as its power source, and requires:

• An outdoor Heat Pump section.
• A matching indoor gas (natural or propane) or oil furnace with coil, or air handler.
• Ductwork to transfer the heated or cooled air throughout the home.

Care Heating and Cooling offers a wide variety of York and Lennox Residential Split System Heat Pumps in different sizes and efficiencies.

Furnaces

A Residential Furnace keeps your home warm during the cold months, and can be an integral part of a central air conditioning and/or indoor air quality system.

The basic components of a furnace system are:

• A Burner, through which gas (natural or propane) or oil is delivered and burned.
• A Heat Exchanger, where the heat produced from the burning gas is transferred to the air distribution system.
• Ductwork, to transfer the heated air throughout the home.
• A Flue or Vent Pipe, to exhaust byproducts of combustion (such as water vapor and carbon dioxide) to the outside.

The efficiency of a furnace is rated using a percent of AFUE.

A gas furnace uses natural gas, although some models can be converted to utilize propane. An oil furnace uses heating oil. An electricity source is required to run the control systems, blower and some accessories.

Care Heating and Cooling offers a wide variety of York and Lennox Residential Gas and Oil Furnaces in different sizes and efficiencies.

Single Packages

A Residential Single Package System is a year 'round comfort system in which all equipment is self-contained in one unit and installed outdoors, typically on a concrete slab or other platform.

In the summer, a single package system provides the comfort of central air conditioning. During the colder months, the unit provides heat. Essentially, it is an air conditioner and heating unit in a single package, hence the name.

Models are available using:

• Electricity for resistance heating and cooling.
• Gas for heating and electricity for cooling.
• Heat pump models using electricity.

The efficiency of single packages are rated using SEER (for cooling efficiency), AFUE% (for gas heating efficiency) and HSPF (for heat pump efficiency). Ductwork is required to transfer the heated or cooled air throughout the home.

Care Heating and Cooling offers a wide variety of York and Lennox Residential Single Package Systems in different sizes and efficiencies.

Air Cleaners and Other Accessories

Home comfort is more than just heating and air conditioning. It also depends on regulating the flow of heat, eliminating drafts, and improving the quality of the air you breathe.

Electronic and Media Air Filters

Electronic air cleaners can remove up to 95% of airborne dust, pollen, odors, tobacco, and cooking particles. Advanced passive media filters are up to five times better at cleaning than typical furnace filters. Both are installed in your home's ductwork, typically adjacent to a furnace or air handler.

Effective filtration systems can help maintain or improve the operating efficiency of heating and cooling equipment. Operating costs savings have been projected as high as 15% over the life of the system.

Heat Recovery Ventilator

A Heat Recovery Ventilator exchanges stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air with minimal heat loss. In winter, warmth from the indoor air being vented out is transferred to the outside air being drawn in. The system can effectively control moisture and pollutants.

Zone Control Systems

Zone Control Systems eliminate "hot and cold spots" and can help save energy.

A Zone Control System splits your house into areas with common heating and cooling requirements, and puts every "zone" under the control of its own thermostat. Each zone is effectively heated or cooled independently of the others. A system of electronically controlled dampers directs heated or cooled air to where it is needed -- reducing energy bills as much as 30%.