A Complete Heating and Cooling System: Efficient Equipment

A COMPLETE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM
Heating and cooling can cost the average homeowner more than
$1,000 a year—nearly half of the total energy bill. To help reduce
these costs, ENERGY STAR certified homes come equipped with
heating, ventilating, and cooling (HVAC) systems that are designed
and installed to optimize performance, lower utility bills, keep you
more comfortable, and provide better moisture control, better indoor
air quality, and quieter operation. During design and construction,
ENERGY STAR builder partners must meet all of the requirements of
EPA’s comprehensive HVAC Quality Installation inspections and work
with trained and credentialed HVAC professionals to ensure that—
• Heating and cooling equipment and associated ductwork are sized
and installed correctly to maximize comfort and performance.*
• Ducts are properly sealed to reduce air leakage, comfort
problems, and expenses.
• Air is filtered and a mechanical ventilation system that draws in
outside air is provided to reduce indoor air pollutants.
When builders meet these rigorous requirements, you get a home
with a complete heating, ventilating, and cooling system—a better
approach to building a better home.
EFFICIENT EQUIPMENT
ENERGY STAR certified homes typically include high-efficiency
components and shorten the equipment’s life. HVAC
HVAC equipment that uses less energy and operates at
professionals are required in most cases to perform
reduced noice levels, helping you save on utility bills and
detailed calculations to determine the optimal heating and
maintenance costs. cooling system for your ENERGY STAR certified home based
on factors such as home location and orientation, house size,
PROPER SYSTEM DESIGN AND QUALITY INSTALLATION window types and locations, and insulation levels.
Trained HVAC professionals design and install the heating Duct Design and Installation – In many homes, ductwork
and cooling systems in ENERGY STAR certified homes in carries air from the central heater or air conditioner to
accordance with best practices astablished by the leading each part of the home and back again. In ENERGY STAR
industry association and equipment manufacturers.* certified homes where ducts are used, they are properly
System Design and Sizing – Proper sizing of equipment and sized to ensure that the right amount of air gets to each
dectwork is essential to achieving optimum performance room and has a path to get back to the central unit. HVAC
and comfort. Homes with oversized systems may not be as professionals install ducts without kinks, sharp bends,
comfortable because of frequent on/off cycling, which can or excessive coiling or looping to help air flow freely and
cause large temperature swings and lead to poor humidity efficiently throughout the house. In addition, they insulate
control. Incorrect sizing can also put stress on system ducts in unconditioned spaces, such as crawl spaces and
attics, to minimize energy losses.
*Applies to installation of ventilating systems and the most common types of heating and cooling systems in new homes.
Duct Sealing – Sealing air ducts is an important step in the
installation process. In a typical house, about 20 percent of the
air moving through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes,
and poor connections. As the owner of an ENERGY STAR
certified home, you can be sure you are paying less to heat or
cool air because duct joints and seams are properly sealed
with durable materials. HVAC professionals will also typically
seal ducts at the connections to air inlets and registers to
prevent conditioned air from seeping into the walls, ceilings, or
floors, which could condense and lead to moisture problems.
System Tests – HVAC professionals work with trained Home
Energy Raters to perform several system tests of your
Combustion appliances, such as furnaces, boilers, and water
ENERGY STAR certified home, as applicable, to ensure that
heaters are directly vented to the outdoors; installed in lower-
the HVAC systems are operating properly. For example,
risk areas, such as garages or attics; and combustion tests are
the HVAC professionals check the refrigerant charge in air
done to help ensure safe operation.
conditioners and heat pumps—an important step because an
improperly charged system can consume more energy and
BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE
provide less dehumidification. The HVAC professionals also
check the electrical connections of the equipment because An ENERGY STAR certified new home delivers better energy
if the voltage or current is too high or too low, it can shorten efficiency and so much more. An ENERGY STAR certified
the life of the unit. Last, but not least, the HVAC contractors home is built better and built to last because the best, tried-
take measurements to make sure that the proper volume of and-true, integrated construction practices are used from the
air is flowing in the equipment and in each room—this helps ground up. The result is better quality and durability, better
to avoid comfort problems and high utility bills. Raters also comfort, better systems, a better value for today, and a better
test the duct system to verify that connections have been investment for tomorrow—plus a label backed by EPA. In
properly sealed for optimum performance. short, better is better.
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental
WHOLE-HOUSE MECHANICAL VENTILATION Protection Agency in 1992 as a market-based partnership
Every ENERGY STAR certified home is built with a mechanical to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy
Ventilation system to provide outside air and to reduce indoor efficiency. ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers
air pollutants. These mechanical ventilation systems are energy-efficient solutions to decrease energy consumption,
designed to ensure that any outside air inlets are located save money, and help protect the environment for future
away from known contamination sources, such as garages generations. Nearly 20,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR
or exhaust fans, and include screens to keep pests out. partners, committed to improving energy efficiency in homes,
Premium air filters (rated MERV-6 or higher) are used so you products, and businesses.
can breathe easier knowing that outside air and indoor return
air are filtered to help reduce dust, allergens, and other
airborne pollutants. These filters are located to allow for easy
routine maintenance.
Exhaust fans are installed in bathrooms and kitchens to
vent moisture and fumes directly to the outdoors (fans in many
typical homes often vent to the inside of the home). Quieter
fans are also used so you can run the fans when needed
without being disturbed by noise.

A Complete Heating and Cooling System: Efficient Equipment

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A COMPLETE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM

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