Heating & Cooling

Having a comfortable home is really about having a home with a well-functioning heating and cooling system, as comfort from cold and heat is necessary. Having a cost-effective heating and cooling system is also important as it can consume 35 to 50 percent of yearly energy bills, especially in warmer climates.

A typical home heating system consists a furnace or other appliance that generates heat using oil, gas or electricity, and a typical home cooling system consists an air conditioner or other appliance that generates cool air using electricity. Both have common features, such as a thermostat, which controls temperature, and ductwork, which transfers the heat to different parts of the home.

Determining which heating and cooling system is best for your home depends on a multitude of factors, such as the climate you live in and your heating and cooling needs.

If your current heating system isn't working as it should or isn't as energy efficient as you'd like it to be, there are options to consider, such as switching to a more economic fuel source with a small initial investment or going "green" with geothermal heat. Whichever you decide, there are always options to choose from - from the most common and basic furnace or air conditioner to an eco-friendly and complex solar heating system.

Energy Efficiency and Home Cooling
There are several ways to keep cool and save energy without installing a cooling unit. In all but the hottest climates, proper insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, shading, and ventilation typically keep homes cool with minimal energy use. So, before you consider installing or upgrading cooling equipment, reduce the need for that equipment in the first place:

• Properly insulate and seal your entire home.
• Remove inefficient appliances, and unplug appliances not in use, that give off heat.
• Consider painting your home cooler: use lighter-colored or "cool" roofing and siding products - these reduce heat gain.
• Shade or improve windows: keep shades drawn during the day; plant trees and climbing foliage on south-facing windows, so you can take advantage of low-angle sun in the winter when the leaves fall; and cover summer sun windows with low-e glazings to block unwanted heat gain.
• Install ceiling and whole-house fans: fans use less energy than larger air conditioning units and work best in non-humid climates.

Energy Efficiency and Home Heating
Correctly Size your New Heating System: the size of your heating system is critical to efficiency. A too-large system will constantly waste energy cycling off and on, and a too small system will fail to perform adequately. A properly-sized system will be designed to the specific needs of the house and will take into account factors such as the local climate, insulation levels, and the house size and shape, among other things.

The US Dept of Energy suggests homeowners insist "contractors use a correct sizing calculation before signing a contract. This service is often offered at little or no cost to homeowners by gas and electric utilities, major heating equipment manufacturers, and conscientious heating and air conditioning contractors. Manual J, 'Residential Load Calculation,' published by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), is the recommended method for use in the United States." Also, "If ducts are part of the installation, they should be sized using the ACCA's Manual D, 'Residential Duct Design.'"

ENERGY STAR on Heating and Cooling Units:

• Central Air Conditioners
• Room Air Conditioners
• Air-Source Heat Pumps
• Geothermal (Ground-Source) Heat Pumps
• Furnaces
• Boilers
• Ventilating Fans