Since most of us spend the majority of our time indoors, it makes sense to have
an indoor environment thats healthy and comfortable.
While your home may have unique needs, the best way to insure your comfort and health is to have your heating and cooling system provide the right balance of heating, air conditioning, air cleaning and humidification. No other single system plays a larger part in how much you enjoy your time at home ... or in how much you pay out to utility companies each month.
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For most of us, comfort starts with keeping our home the right temperature, whether thats toasty warm on bone-chilling winter nights or pleasantly cool in the dog days of summer. Maintaining the perfect temperature is the job of your heating and cooling equipment.
Todays heating systems are more efficient and reliable than ever, but heating is still the single largest energy expense in most homes. In northern climates, it may account for up to two-thirds of the energy budget. So its important to understand what kind of system will give you both comfort and affordability.
Gas- and oil-fired furnaces provide warm, even heat throughout your home by circulating heated air through ducts. Boilers typically heat your home by circulating steam or heated water through a system of pipes and baseboard or radiator-type heat exchangers. Todays furnaces and boilers are far more efficient than they were even a decade ago.
The electric heat pump is another energy-efficient option that provides year-round heating and cooling. Heat pumps are much more reliable and efficient than they were 10 years ago, and theyre an excellent choice where gas is unavailable or where electricity is the most economical energy option.
On those sweltering days of summer, air conditioners provide cooling relief by taking heat from inside your home and moving it outside. In the process, they remove humidity from the air so you feel even cooler. New technology has made todays air conditioners quieter, more reliable and more efficient than ever before.
Right on the Money.
Thermostats help your heating and cooling equipment maintain the optimal temperature setting with the utmost energy efficiency. Todays electronic models are a vast departure from earlier mechanical styles. Microprocessors allow you to program your home temperatures to suit your lifestyle, so you can keep things comfortable while youre home and automatically set back your temperatures to save energy when youre away or sleeping. That keeps you comfortable all the way to the bank.
Breathe Easier.
Todays tighter homes are built to be more energy-efficient, and many seal in air as effectively as they keep the weather out. That may sound good at first, but it also means that air quickly gets stale. Plus, dust and other pollutants circulate throughout your home, settling on furniture, drapes, your heating and cooling equipment or, worse yet, your lungs. Todays mechanical and high-efficiency electronic air cleaners offer trouble-free, low-maintenance cleaning that will remove up to 95% of all airborne particles and make your home environment healthier and more comfortable. A ventilating system can provide up to eight air changes a day and eliminate the unhealthy build-up of gases and contaminants in your home. Its literally a breath of fresh air.
How Dry I Am.
Winter takes its toll on your indoor environment. The warm, dry air from your furnace or heat pump can damage wood moldings and furniture and sap your skin of its natural moisture. It even makes you feel colder because your body senses heat as a combination of temperature and humidity. If you add humidity with a humidifier, you can actually set your thermostat a few degrees lower. Youll feel just as warm, but youll notice the difference on your utility bills! Plus, youll replenish much-needed moisture to your home, making it a healthier, more comfortable place to spend your time.
In the Comfort Zone.
Wouldnt it be great if you could turn off heating and cooling in a room the same way you can a light switch? You wouldnt have to waste energy by heating or cooling a room youre not using. A zoning system is the perfect solution. By putting heating and cooling where you need it most, zoning can enhance your overall comfort and reduce your energy costs by as much as 30%!
No matter what climate you live in, youll find the best combination of comfort and energy savings with a complete indoor comfort system. Todays energy-efficient components work together to give you precise temperature control, healthy air and the right level of humidity and the savings on your utility bill might just make you the most comfortable of all.
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