Minimize Cooling and Heating Costs

Right-size Your Cooling and Heating System by Calculating Efficiency

Half of the utility costs in the average American home go to cooling and heating, making climate control the single biggest expense in most U.S. homes. Calculating efficiency for a home's cooling (link is external) and heating (link is external) system is the key to conserving resources, lowering bills and making an investment that improves the home's overall cost and comfort.

Measuring the Efficiency of Heating Systems

• Furnaces, which heat air that is then distributed around the home through a network of ducts, can operate with an efficiency of as little as 59 percent or as much as 98.5 percent, depending on the unit's age. Furnaces are expected to last between 15 and 30 years.
• Boilers, which heat water to provide either steam or hot-water heat to radiators, pipes or coils, vary between 50 and 90 percent efficiency, depending on their age and the type of fuel they burn. Like furnaces, boilers last 15-30 years.
• Electric heat is very efficient, between 95 and 100 percent. But space heaters and baseboard units come with drawbacks such as specific location requirements and difficulty with zone control.
• Ductless heat pumps require more of an upfront investment, but they are the most efficient and provide the most precise zone control. They don't require invasive ductwork and they don't burn physical fuel. 

Calculating Efficiency for Different Types of Cooling Systems

Two-thirds of American homes have mechanical air conditioning. Homeowners spend $11 billion each year to run their air conditioners, which fall into three main categories. Here is how to measure the level of efficiency of each air conditioning system.

• Window-mounted units are the most popular option. They're relatively cheap to purchase and run, but they're horribly inefficient. If a home has a window unit without correctly installed foam panels between the window frame and the air conditioner, it is almost certainly losing air through leakage — as much as 10 percent.
• Central air can be cost effective, but only as long as the system's ductwork remains well maintained and doesn't run through unconditioned rooms such as garages. The outside compressor unit must be kept clear of leaves, snow and other debris to run at peak efficiency.
• Split-ductless units come with a higher up-front cost, but don't lose any energy through ductwork. They retain their efficiency in every climate and are low maintenance.

Cooling and heating dominates the utility budgets of most homes. Each type system comes with pros and cons, but calculating efficiency is crucial to choosing the system that will provide the most comfort, the most control, the best use of resources and the greatest cost savings.

Takeaway

While the upfront cost of a whole-home or multi-room ductless system may be higher than some of the alternatives, the long-term savings will offset the cost over the lifetime of the system. Cooling and heating costs can be minimized by offseting furnaces and central air systems with a ductless solution, reducing monthly expenses by taking advantage of ductless' efficiency over traditional options.

Too Hot? Too Cold?

Too Hot? Too Cold? Stop Suffering and Finally Achieve Comfort With Home Zoning

What if an electrician came to your home and rewired your house so that all of the lights were turned off and on at the same time using a single switch? Most homeowners would show that electrician the door. However we still use that same impractical and inefficient concept for heating and cooling our homes. A single thermostat controls the temperature for the entire house, leaving some rooms hot, some rooms cold, and some rooms in a constant state of flux.

For decades, homeowners have accepted this one-thermostat-for-all-rooms solution. They’ve begrudgingly used space heaters and window air conditioners in order to try and even out temperatures in attics, basements, rec rooms, and bedrooms that never feel comfortable. However, there are plenty of options when it comes to controlling home comfort. Whether the problem is a single room or single area of the home, or you’re looking for a more cost-effective and energy-conscious solution for the entire house, there are options.

Controlled Comfort With Home Zoning

A zoned home is divided into segments, based upon each segment’s need for conditioning. Each zone is controlled by a thermostat, but instead of those thermostats connecting to a single unit, each zone has its own, individual split-conditioning system that keeps that zone the perfect temperature, without affecting other zones. This can improve energy efficiency and reduces heating and cooling costs across the board.
Zoning is very popular in new builds, but it is also possible for existing homes. Zoning is appropriate for all homes that:

• Have two or more levels
• Have rooms with large windows and/or vaulted ceilings
• Make use of basements or attics as living space
• Are built over concrete slabs
• Experience extreme temperature swings or differentials
• Are over 60 years old and cannot be torn up for ductwork
• Experience family fights over the thermostat

Stop Treating Symptoms

In the past, homeowners have been forced to either accept hot spots and cold spots, or they have had to resort to expensive “band-aid” approaches like window AC units or space heaters to control the temperature in different areas of their home. These spot fixes can help control comfort, but they are expensive both to purchase and utilize, and they don’t solve the larger problem. It’s like taking aspirin when you have the flu – it can help treat the symptoms, but it doesn’t cure the virus.
Home zoning is an energy-efficient and cost-effective way to achieve the comfort that homeowners and their families deserve. Each zone is controlled by its own, individual thermostat that eliminates the need for supplemental systems and reduces energy bills. Once installed, zoned units are extremely quiet, causing no disruption in the everyday activities of life.

Single-unit cooling and heating is impractical and unnecessary. Homeowners have options that are completely customizable based upon individual needs and preferences. With home-zoning, families not only achieve comfort, but harmony in the home.

Trane recalls more than 100,000 ac systems

Trane recalls more than 100,000 air conditioning systems for sh - WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather

Mitsubishi Electric Introduces Most Energy-efficient HVAC Ductless Model on Market

Spring 2014

Helps Residential Builders Exceed Homeowner Expectations
Six years ago, the World Green Building Trends SmartMarket Report from McGraw-Hill Construction found that the top driver for green building was
"doing the right thing."
The current report, however, found that "business drivers such as client and market demand are the key factors" influencing builders to use sustainable practices and products in their work.
To meet this homeowner demand, Mitsubishi Electric US Cooling & Heating Division (Mitsubishi Electric) developed the Hyper-Heating INVERTER® (H2i®) MSZ-FH models, the most energy-efficient ductless cooling and heating systems on the market. Featuring an industry-leading efficiency rating of 30.5 SEER, the H2i MSZ-FH models are the latest innovation from Mitsubishi Electric, the first manufacturer to introduce ductless zoning technology to the U.S. more than 30 years ago.

The Demand
"Energy efficiency is no longer a fringe product benefit. Homeowners now demand that the products in their homes be energy efficient," says Mike Smith, senior product marketing manager, Mitsubishi Electric US Cooling & Heating Division. "The expectation is that energy-efficient solutions will save on rising utility costs."
Since heating and cooling costs are the largest contributor to home energy bills (nearly half of total costs), energy-efficient HVAC solutions should be a top priority.

The Solution
"Higher SEER ratings will lead to lower electrical costs," says Smith. "Ductless cooling and heating systems typically use up to 40 percent less energy than conventional central air systems and window units. We expect the H2i MSZ-FH models to exceed that figure. This is the solution residential building professionals need, and we're confident that the market will respond accordingly."
According to a 2013 report from Navigant Research, ductless cooling and heating systems will account for nearly 30 percent of all energy-efficient HVAC systems' revenue by 2020 - a 130 percent increase from 2013.
"Ductless cooling and heating is simply the way of the future when it comes to home comfort. These systems are ideal solutions for a growing number of applications in a widening range of geographic locations," says Smith.

Benefits for Residential Building

    •    Any room, any climate: H2i MSZ-FH models (available in 9, 12 and 15 kBtu/h capacities) offer year-round, high-efficiency cooling and heating for any room in the house, in any climate. The patented H2i technology allows them to operate at 100 percent heating capacity at +5 degrees Fahrenheit, giving them the highest performance capabilities in cold climates on the market.


    •    No separate heating product: H2i MSZ-FH models eliminate the need for a separate heating product, saving installation time, improving energy efficiency and addressing significant industry demand to provide heat pump operation throughout the year in extreme conditions without relying on fossil fuels.


    •    Efficient installation: Like all Mitsubishi Electric residential ductless zoning systems, the H2i MSZ-FH models can be installed in less than a day; the smaller footprint means less labor, fewer materials and easy installation.


    •    Building certifications: H2i MSZ-FH models are  ENERGY STAR® qualified and can help attain points to earn LEED® certification for homes, meet aggressive U.S. Passive House standards and qualify for local, state and federal tax credits or utility rebates in many states.


    •    Wireless control: Systems are compatible with the optional MHK1 radio frequency wireless wall-mounted controller that can be installed in any room. Users can also connect the Honeywell RedLINK Internet Gateway to the home's router, enabling system control from a PC or smart device.


    •    Automatic sensor: The H2i MSZ-FH model indoor unit (fan) features exclusive 3D heat imaging technology called the i-see Sensor™ 3D. This sensor automatically scans the space, measuring both its size and the location of people. The system then delivers the exact amount of hot or cold air needed to meet the desired temperature in the particular space.


    •    Unparalleled network of professionals: Mitsubishi Electric has one of the most extensive networks of qualified and well trained HVAC contractors and distributors among U.S. manufacturers. As the pioneer of ductless and VRF zoning technology in the U.S. market, Mitsubishi Electric has the longest record of product quality and support.

Energy Efficient Cooling and Heating Systems

Mitsubishi Electric Energy Efficient Cooling and Heating Systems

Our energy efficient systems save you money.

• More energy efficient than traditional HVAC Systems
  
• Use only the exact amount of energy needed to maintain comfort
  
• Are up to 40% more efficient than window units

 

 The majority of our systems are ENERGY STAR® qualified and many systems are eligible for federal and state tax credits plus local utility rebates.

INVERTER technology

Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating systems are dramatically more efficient than traditional HVAC systems. Utilizing INVERTER-driven compressors, our systems automatically adjust to changing conditions to deliver ideal comfort while only using the energy that is needed. No more. No less.

As a result, our systems are up to 40% more efficient than standard window units for cooling and our heating performance is far superior to traditional heat pumps. All this technological innovation means you reduce your energy consumption and can save money on your energy costs while enjoying the comfort of your home.

Why pay to cool/heat your home all year long when you only live in a few rooms at a time? With Mitsubishi Electric, you can actively condition the rooms you live in; the other rooms simply turn off or setback. Zoning your home to how you live using Mitsubishi Electric allows you to save energy while maximizing your personal comfort.

Climate control is here to help.