CONTACT:  
Marilyn Wholley  
Carrier Corporation  
Carrier Context:  
Comfort At Home  
CARRIERS NEW DUAL-FUEL THERMOSTAT PROVIDES ENERGY-EFFICIENT HEATING ALTERNATIVE FOR MODERATE CLIMATES
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 19 Homeowners in moderate climates can customize their heating comfort while saving energy with a new dual-fuel thermostat from Carrier Corporation. The thermostats switch-over function enables homeowners to maximize home heating performance provided by both electric and gas utility sources.Carrier designed the new thermostat based on the feedback from consumers who said they wanted an attractive, easy-to-use product that would alert them to problems in their heating and cooling systems.
To ensure indoor comfort, the new thermostat triggers the homes combination heating system to switch automatically from electric heat pump to gas furnace heating when the temperature outside drops to a homeowner-selected balance point.
All dual-fuel models are mercury-free and made from plastic material that can be partially recycled at the end of consumer use.
The new thermostats also meet the qualifications of the Environmental Protection Agencys Energy Star Residential Program, which promotes the development and marketing of energy-efficient products that reduce energy consumption and pollution.
An electric heat pump and gas furnace combination heating system is ideal for regions of the country, such as the Southeast, where winter temperatures are usually moderate, but occasionally drop quite low, according to Joan Duvall, product manager systems controls and integration, Carrier Corporation.
In these climates, the electric heat pump performs efficiently and economically during normal, temperate winter days.
For customized comfort, homeowners can select one of three thermostat balance point options thermal, economic or comfort to designate when the heat pump will turn off and only the furnace will operate. During installation, the contractor enters the selected balance point from a range of outdoor temperatures between 15 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
The comfort balance point is a subjective setting at which the air supplied by the heat pump is a comfortable temperature for the homeowner. This option helps eliminate the cold blow feeling some heat pump owners experience.
The economic balance point is determined by relative costs of fuel and electricity in a given region, below which the gas furnace offers the more cost-effective heating alternative and above which the electric heat pump provides the more cost-effective heating option.
By comparison, the thermal balance point ensures indoor comfort by prompting the furnace to maintain a specified indoor temperature when the heat pump cannot offset the homes naturally occurring heat loss.
The wall-mounted, seven-day programmable dual-fuel thermostat is compatible with any Carrier single- or two-speed heat pump/gas furnace system configuration. Thermostat features include large, soft-rubber push buttons; a backlit liquid crystal display for easier viewing of time and temperature controls; Energy Savings and Auxiliary Heat indicators to denote heat pump and furnace operation, respectively; room air and outdoor temperature displays; and a Clean Filter indicator. The electronically controlled thermostat requires no battery back-up to retain memory in case of a power failure.
Homeowners can call 1-800-4-CARRIER or check the yellow pages under Heating or Air Conditioning to locate the Carrier dealer nearest them.
Carrier Corporation is the worlds largest manufacturer of heating and air conditioning systems and equipment. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, provider of a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace, building systems and automotive industries.
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