Energy Efficient Systems
Investing in a new home comfort system from Atomatic will save you money on your energy bills month after month. You will also enjoy the comfort and peace of mind that a new system can provide. Qualifying high efficient systems can earn you a tax credit of up to $1,500.00. Other rebates are also offered by government agencies, manufacturers and utilities. Click on the Rebates and Discount button in the left margin to learn more about the current rebate and discounts programs being offered.
The amount of energy your system uses will depend on several factors. These include:
- System Efficiency Ratings:
Older furnaces may have an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) as low as 64 percent or less. A fuel savings of over 30 percent will be achieved if this type of furnace is replaced with unit with an AFUE of 95 percent.
An air conditioning system must achieve 16 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) to qualify for the federal energy tax credit. This type of system would save up to 60 percent over an older system that has a SEER rating of 10.
- Proper System Sizing:
Most homes are equipped with heating and air conditioning systems that are too large. Sometimes these systems are as much as 50 percent larger than they should be. This can reduce efficiency in the same manner that jack rabbit starts are bad for automotive fuel economy. Homeowners also tend to keep their air conditioners set lower than they would with a properly sized system. This is because an oversized system will not remove as much humidity as a properly sized system. We call this the "meat locker effect".
- System Maintenance:
A properly maintained system will be much more efficient than one that is neglected. Air can not pass through air conditioning coils that are dirty as easily as those that are clean. A furnace that has not been maintained will not burn gas as efficiently. It may also have a dirty filter or dirty blower wheel that will cause a drop in the amount of air the system can produce.
- Lifestyle
How you use your system will affect the amount of energy used as well. For example, using a programmable thermostat to raise or lower the temperature at night or when no one is home will save a great deal of energy. If you keep you home very warm in winter or very cool in summer you will use more energy. Closing draperies in the summer will reduce cooling costs.
Indoor Air Quality
- Humidifiers
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| By-Pass Humidifier |
Power Humidifier |
Controlling the humidity in your home is good for your health (IAQ), the woodwork and will save energy. Overly dry air can cause itchy, cracked skin, dry nasal passages, annoying shocks from static electricity and cracked woodwork. As moisture from indoor air evaporates, the temperature in your home feels cooler. In the winter, that means you will likely turn up the thermostat to feel warmer, so your system will use more energy.
- Programmable Thermostats:
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| Carrier Edge |
Carrier Infinity |
Programmable thermostats allow for energy savings by watching and adjusting your system on a continual basis. The thermostat adjusts the system to supply condition air only during the times you need it. A programmable thermostat can also help you control humidity and monitor system performance and maintenance needs.
- Air Filtration:
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| Infinity Air Filtration System |
UV Lights |
Carrier’s Infinity Air Filtration system has a filtration efficiency rating of MERV-15. This filter doesn’t merely filter. It traps and kills air pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and mold.
Germicidal UV lamps keep coils free of mold and bacteria that can sometimes grow in the moist environment of your air conditioning’s indoor coils. This way unhealthy pollutants are killed and won’t circulate through your family home.