Energy Wise Home Builders

Energy Wise Home Builders, Co

Home • Floor Plans • Contact • Energy-Smart Home • Home Envelope • Foundation • Framing

Heating & Cooling • Windows and Doors • Roof • Ventilation • Appliances • Credits

Cooling and Heating Systems

Installing the right size cooling and heating equipment in your home will additionally guarantee comfort and savings. For maximum efficiency, furnace and air-conditioning units should not be tailored simply to the size of home but rather the heating and cooling load (efficiency) per square foot of the the home. Using an energy analysis program which takes into consideration the cubic area of the living space, the insulation R-value of the outer walls, roof and attic, the tightness of the home envelope as measured by a blower door depressurization test and the energy rating (U-value) of the window and door systems the heating and cooling load of the home is determined.

Equipment manufacturers also assign ratings that meet industry standards for performance and efficiency. We recommend central air-conditioning units with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of at least 12 and furnaces with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of at least 80 percent. We also recommend the installation of an energy-saving programmable thermostat to regulate the indoor climate.

In calculating the size of the air conditioning unit for a conventional timber framed residential home the rule of thumb is 12,000 BTU (one ton) per 500 sqft. Yet an energy smart home with a lower cooling load may require only 6,000 BTU or less for the same area. Thus a single two-ton (24,000 BTU) AC unit could conceivably cool to maximum comfort a 3,000 sqft energy smart home on a 100° F blistering summer day. This results in a dramatic 50 to 75 percent reduction in utility costs during the summer months. During the winter months the energy savings to heat the home are equally dramatic.

Air ducts

Many home owners are not aware of the role ductwork plays in energy efficiency and air quality. A typical home loses 20 to 30 percent of the air that flows through its ventilation system. The culprit is ducts that allow air to escape, causing costly losses of heat and air conditioning. A high quality duct system greatly minimizes energy loss from ductwork and prevents attic air from entering into the ventilation system. The system should be airtight, sized and designed to deliver the correct air flow to each room.

Generally we use a flex duct that is insulated to at least R-6, has a foil exterior and is reinforced with fiber scrim or a listing approving installation exposed to UV light. Air flow through a flex duct can be restricted due to the convoluted interior surface. This is accounted for in the system design.

One simple design strategy we incorporate into our home design is allowing adequate airspace under interior doors to permit air to return to plenums outside of the room. This prevents depressurization caused by closing interior doors, blocking air that is supplied to rooms from reaching the return air plenum (usually located in a central area of the house)

When requested or required we can install custom galvanized steel insulated duct work. This has the advantage of being more durable and easier to clean but may also be noisier and more expensive.

Home • Floor Plans • Contact • Energy-Smart Home • Home Envelope • Foundation • Framing Heating & Cooling • Windows and Doors • Roof • Ventilation • Appliances • Credits

For more information about these unique homes please call us at (832) 476-1956

Contact Energy Wise Home Builders, Co.