With such industry changes afoot, builders are weighing HVAC components for their costs and their down-the-road value to customers. Market conditions will determine whether they’ll offer a code-compliant box that blows hot or cold air, or something more sophisticated.
For Drees, a high-tech system is a no-brainer, at least in its Cincinnati market. “We’re talking about a savings of $2,000 to $4,000 a year, so payback comes quickly for our buyers,” Halpin says. “It puts us at another plateau that nobody else will be at.”
This story first appeared in BIG BUILDER magazine.
York. The Affinity 8T air conditioner and heat pump is engineered with an innovative scroll compressor for energy savings, reduced noise, and increased comfort, says the firm. It can reach up to 18 SEER when paired with a York variable-speed furnace or an air handler, the maker claims. The exclusive hot heat pump technology produces discharge temperatures that are about 10 degrees warmer than standard units, the firm says. 800-481-9738. www.yorkupg.com/affinity. Lennox. The G61V furnace is Energy Star compliant, so it reduces energy use by at least 20 percent to 40 percent, according to the firm. The furnace also is the quietest on the market, claims the maker, which says it’s 49 percent quieter than competitors’ products. The furnace also provides added comfort because it runs at a low speed 80 percent of the time, and has two levels of heat output for more even temperatures, the firm says. 800-453-6669. www.lennox.com. Trane. The XL14i and XL16i air conditioners offer up to 15 and 17.5 SEER respectively. The units are long-lasting and quiet, the maker says. They feature a baked-on powder paint finish and corrosion-resistant WeatherGuard fasteners. 608-787-2000. www.trane.com. Rheem. Prestige series RASL air conditioners have an 18-SEER rating so they provide low annual operating costs, say the maker. They’re equipped with two-stage compressors for superior efficiency, better humidity control, and quieter operation, says the firm. They operate at a low speed most of the time. The Comfort Alert diagnostics monitors and analyzes the units’ performance. 479-648-4900. www.rheem.com. Bryant. The Evolution Energy-Star-rated system integrates all of the firm’s most advanced HVAC units and accessories into one unit. It’s the first system to use a single control to integrate and manage all six comfort functions: temperature, air flow, humidity, ventilation, indoor air quality, and zoning. The basic system includes a variable-speed furnace paired with a heat pump or a two-speed 16.5-SEER air conditioner. 800-428-4326. www.bryant.com. Comfortmaker. The SoftSound 1400R split-system air conditioner uses R-410A, a chlorine-free refrigerant that delivers high efficiency without harming the ozone. The easy-to-install 14-SEER unit includes an enhanced Copeland scroll compressor and a special fan motor enclosure to reduce noise and block dirt and debris. 931-359-3511. www.comfortmaker.com
