Venus Nappi strolled through a community center in South Portland in early April, chatting with vendors at Maine's annual Green Home + Energy Show about electric heat pumps, solar power, and the discounts that aim to make these and other technologies affordable. A worker in an oversized plush heat pump costume waved a gloved hand nearby.

Nappi heats her Gorham home with oil, as do 60% of Mainers more than any other state, as The Maine Monitor reported in the first part of this series. She finds oil to be dirty, inconvenient and expensive. Her oil costs this winter, she said, were "crazy, absolutely right up through the roof."

This story was originally published byThe Maine Monitor, a nonprofit civic news organization.To get regular coverage from the Monitor, sign up for a free Monitor newsletterhere.

Nappi joined a record-breaking crowd at this expo because she's ready to switch to heat pumps, which can provide heating or cooling at two or three times the efficiency of electric baseboards and with 60% lower carbon emissions than oil, according to Efficiency Maine.

"It's good to have incentive to try to go somewhere else rather than just the oil," Nappi said. "Even gas, propane, is actually a little expensive right now, too. The heat pumps are kind of in the middle."

Government rebates of up to $2,400, with new tax breaks coming soon, help with up-front heat pump installation costs that can range above $10,000. These incentives have helped put Maine more than 80% of the way to its 2019 goal now a centerpiece of the state climate plan of installing 100,000 new heat pumps in homes by 2025, and many more in the years after that.

"This is a real highlight of our climate action," said state Climate Council chair Hannah Pingree. The state aims to have 130,000 homes using one or two heat pumps by 2030 and 115,000 more using "whole-home" heat pump systems, meaning the devices are their primary heating source.

But Maine lags much further behind on a related goal of getting 15,000 heat pumps into low-income homes by 2025, using rebates from MaineHousing. At the end of last year, it had provided just over 5,000 heat pumps to the lowest-income homes.

These homes face particular barriers to maximizing the benefits from this switch from poor weatherization, to navigating a daunting web of incentives, to fine-tuning a blend of heat sources that can withstand power outages and actually save money instead of driving up bills.

As fossil fuel costs remain high, the pressure is on for advocates and service providers to expand access to heat pumps and other strategies for reducing oil use, especially for people most often left out of the push for climate solutions.

In Maine and beyond, it's clear that heat pumps are having a major moment heralded in national headlines as a crucial climate solution that successfully weathered a historic cold snap.

But the technology is not new. It's long been used in refrigerators and air conditioners.

"The problem was, when you design a heat pump to primarily provide cooling it is not optimized for making heat," said Efficiency Maine executive director Michael Stoddard. "So everyone concluded these things are no good in the winter. And then around (the) 2010, '11, '12 timeframe, the manufacturers started introducing a new generation of heat pumps that were specially designed to perform in cold climates. It was like a switch had been flipped."

Maine has offered rebates for heat pumps ever since this cold climate technology emerged. Even former Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican who frequently opposed renewable energy and questioned climate science, installed them in the governor's mansion and told The Portland Press Herald in 2014 that they'd been "phenomenal" at replacing oil during a cold snap.

Heat pumps provide warmth in cold weather the same way they keep warmth out of a fridge by using electricity and refrigerants to capture, condense and pump that heat from somewhere cold to somewhere warmer. Simply put, they squeeze the heat out of the cold air, then distribute it into the home.

The current generation of heat pumps will keep warming your home even if it's around negative 13 degrees out.

Heat pumps are less efficient in these colder temperatures, requiring more electricity to make the same heat. With outdoor temperatures in the 40s and 50s, today's typical cold-climate heat pumps can be roughly 300 or 400% efficient tripling or quadrupling your energy input.

As temperatures drop into the teens, heat pumps are often about 200% efficient. And in the single digits or low negatives, heat pumps can be closer to the 100% efficiency of an electric baseboard heater. Costs at this level are closer to that of oil heat, which usually has about an 87% efficiency rating.

This means heat pumps often generate the most savings and are most efficient when temperatures are above freezing, or when used to provide air conditioning in the summer something Mainers will want increasingly as climate change creates new extreme heat risks.

"During the shoulder seasons, you can definitely use a heat pump. When it's wicked cold out, then you'd probably turn on your backup fuel. That's not the official line of Efficiency Maine Trust, but a physical and engineering reality," said energy attorney Dave Littell, a former top Maine environment and utilities regulator whose clients now include Versant Power which, along with Central Maine Power, now offers seasonal discounts for heat pump users.

This is a relatively common approach among installers, such as ReVision Energy, a New England solar company that also sells heat pumps. They don't recommend heat pumps as the only heating source for most customers, especially those who live farther north, unless the home can have multiple units, excellent insulation, and potentially a generator or battery in case of a power outage a costly package overall.

"(Heat pumps) do still put out heat (in sub-zero weather), but less, obviously, and they have a lot more cold to combat in those conditions," said Dan Weeks, ReVision's vice president for business development. "Generally we do recommend having a backup heating source."

These blends of heating sources are nothing new in Maine many families combine, say, a wood stove with secondary heat sources that rely on propane, oil or electricity. Experts say heat pumps are a powerful addition in many cases, adding flexibility and convenience.

Heat pumps will add to your electric bills but also reduce another expense thats eating up a lot of household budgets heating oil. Instead of spending hundreds to fill your tank just as winter starts to wane (a full 275-gallon tank would run more than $1,000 right now), you might be able to switch entirely to your heat pump in early spring. Vendors say a heat pump will be much more cost-effective than fossil fuels for the vast majority of Maine's heating season.

One study from Minnesota which has lower electric rates and more access to gas, but has made a similar push for heat pumps found the greatest savings from using a heat pump for 87% of the heating season, switching to a propane furnace only below 15 degrees.

Electricity costs also change less frequently than fossil fuel prices. And the advent of large-scale renewable energy projects, like offshore wind, aims to help smooth over rate hikes that are now driven by the regional electric grid's dependence on natural gas, said Littell of Versant Power. (While Maine has little gas distribution for home heat, New England power plants use a lot of it to make the electricity that's primarily imported to Maine on transmission lines.)

This will also mean the electricity that fuels your heat pump will be even lower-emissions than it is now. The emissions comparison between heat pumps and oil is based on the current New England electric grid's carbon footprint, which is set to continue shrinking.

Paige Atkinson, an Island Institute Fellow working on energy resilience in Eastport, pitches heat pumps as a good addition to a home fuel mix. But she said all these cost comparisons can cause anxiety for people unsure about switching. Oil costs, though rising and prone to fluctuations, can be a "devil you know" versus heat pumps, she said.

"Transitioning to an entirely new source of heat creates a lot of 'what-ifs,' " she said. "There's a lot of uncertainty about how to best use that system will it meet my needs?"

The best way to guarantee savings from a heat pump is likely to work closely with your contractor about where to install it, and when and how to run each part of your home's fuel mix.

"Our job is to educate (customers) on proper design, proper sizing, best practices for installation," said Royal River Heat Pumps owner Scott Libby at the South Portland expo. "I always tell people to use the heat pump as much as possible. If you are starting to get chilly, that might just be for a couple hours in the morning when the temperature outside is coldest, so maybe use your fossil fuels just to give the system a boost in the morning, for even an hour."

The condition of your house is another big factor in the heat pump's performance.

"Weatherization is a great tool. It is not necessary to make a heat pump work but the heat pump will work better if the house is well weatherized," said Stoddard with Efficiency Maine. "When you have those super, super cold days, it won't have to work as much."

The need, ideally, for updated insulation and air sealing as prerequisites for heat pumps may help explain the slower progress on getting them into low-income homes. (We'll address heat pumps as a potential benefit for renters later in this series.)

"I think a lot of the homes especially that (qualify for rebates from) MaineHousing require a lot of upgrades, just sort of basic home improvements, to get to the next step," said Hannah Pingree of the state Climate Council.

Bob Moody lives in the kind of house Pingree is talking about in Castle Hill, a tiny town just outside Presque Isle. The ramshackle clapboard split-level totals four stories, set into a wooded hillside. Moody grew up down the road, and his family built this place in the 1980s using much older scrap materials from the former Loring Air Force Base in Caribou.

On a snowy day in March, Moody was visited by a small team from Aroostook County Action Program, or ACAP. It included his next-door neighbor, ACAP energy and housing program manager Melissa Runshe. She and her colleagues were there for an energy audit, a precursor to weatherization projects all paid with public funds through MaineHousing.

"Weatherization is at the very top. If your heat isn't flying out of your house, it's going to save you money," Runshe said. "We have a lot more winter here (in Aroostook County) than in the rest of Maine, so it's really important to make sure that the houses are energy-efficient so that they're not burning as much oil, so that they're not spending as much money on oil."

ACAP officials said they don't push any technology over another when meeting new clients, but instead describe the options and benefits savings, comfort, a smaller carbon footprint. This all typically happens after someone has called for heating aid or an emergency fuel delivery or, in Moody's case, an emergency fix for their heating equipment.

Moody's health forced him to retire early, and he now lives alone on a low fixed income. He's gotten energy assistance and upgrades from other state and county programs before, but first called ACAP late last year when his main heat source, a kerosene furnace, suddenly died. ACAP got him a new, more efficient oil furnace, then signed him up for a weatherization audit.

"If it hadn't been for assistance, I would have been really in trouble," Moody said as he filled out paperwork at his kitchen table. A sticker on the wall proclaimed Murphy's Law anything that can go wrong, will. "Murphy has been settling in very heavily on me," he laughed.

Moody's ACAP audit included a blower door test, which depressurizes the house to expose air leaks. They showed up on a thermal imager as cold seeping in through window seams, power outlets, hairline cracks in the walls, and most of all, an uninsulated exterior-facing wooden door that was down the hall from Moody's new furnace, sucking heat from the rest of the house.

"He has, roughly, a (total of a) one-by-two-foot-square hole that's wide open in the house," said energy auditor BJ Estey. "It's basically like the equivalent of having a window open year-round."

The inspection showed weatherization could save Moody $1,230 a year on oil. New windows and doors would help even more but the weatherization program doesn't offer those, and there's a 900-person waiting list for ACAP's program that does. Instead, the staff told Moody to try a federal option for home repair grants and loans, and promised to help him with the forms.

For people who dont receive MaineHousing-funded upgrades, Efficiency Maineoffershealthy rebatesfor air sealing and insulationperformed by contractors. Last winter italsoadded a small new rebate for do-it-yourself home weatherization, such as plastic wrap for windows, pipe wraps and caulk,which has sinceexpired.

Groups like ACAP also offer free heat pumps for low-income residents using MaineHousing funds. The rebates feed the state's goal, where progress has been slow.

Moody has one kind of heat pump in his home but it's not the type that provides hot air it's a heat pump-based hot water heater, which he got for free through a rebate from Efficiency Maine. He loves the savings and convenience it's provided.

But he doesn't think an air-source heat pump the kind that can replace an oil furnace will work for his home, which has many small rooms split up across levels. (Installers often recommend at least one heat pump per floor.) He's also worried about how a heat pump would affect his electric bills. He knows he couldn't afford electric baseboard heat, so he's concerned about the very cold conditions where a heat pump's efficiency drops down to around that level.

"Sometimes in the middle of the winter, you get so cold that you just might as well have an electric (baseboard) heater," he said. "And there ain't no way that I can afford an electric heater not even one month."

Down the road in Castle Hill, Melissa Runshe's newer-construction house came with three heat pumps, a boiler that can use wood pellets or oil, and a propane fireplace. "I think (heat pumps) are wonderful," for heating when temperatures are above about 20 and for summer cooling, she said. "They definitely offset the cost of my oil."

While not every house is heat pump-ready, it may be even more important to get folks like Moody connected with this energy safety net in the first place. This will continue to decrease his oil dependence, offering escalating upgrades as his home changes and funding sources shift.

"In the social services world, there's this idea of 'no wrong doors,' and we need to adopt that for home energy as well," said Maine Conservation Voters policy director Kathleen Meil, the co-chair of state Climate Council's buildings group. "There's no distilling and simplifying how people live in their homes. You experience your house and your home's heating situation not as a data point, but as your daily life."

For people like Meil, there are multiple goals working in tandem help Mainers reduce their reliance on planet-warming fuels like heating oil, while helping them lower household energy costs, and live with more comfort and convenience. This is what climate advocates mean when they say the crisis is "intersectional" it's interwoven with health, race, poverty and more.

Juggling these issues can mean making more incremental progress toward emissions goals but that's far better than nothing in scientific terms, said Ivan Fernandez, a professor in the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute.

"Everything we do, every increment we do, counts," Fernandez said. "I think we need to do this transition in a relatively quick way, recognizing that it will be imperfect, and spending a good part of our focus on realistic, data-driven, science-driven tracking of where we are at, so we're not telling ourselves fables that aren't substantiated by the science."

Officials say Maine used this kind of science in building detailed goals for things like heat pump adoption, adding them up toward a path to the two biggest targets that are inked in state statute reducing emissions 45% over 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% by 2050.

"Ultimately the atmosphere will determine how successful we are. It's already telling us that we have not been very successful in many ways," said Fernandez. "But I think we're embracing the reality of that a lot better."

Setting these goals carefully and pushing hard to meet them does not guarantee equity and there are still holes in the state's approach, according to people working on spreading the benefits of the energy transition to those who might not be able to access it without help.

The Community Resilience Partnership, or CRP, is the state's signature grant program for town-level climate action. Each project starts with a local survey to determine residents' priorities out of a 72-item list that includes everything from flood protection to energy efficiency.

State officials say the CRP was designed primarily to build up towns' capacity to respond to climate change. But advocates say they've had to work around a crucial gap in the program: It won't buy equipment directly for individuals, which is often what people say they want the most.

"There are communities who really do have the need to fund heat pumps beyond what Efficiency Maine is providing," said Sharon Klein, an energy consultant and University of Maine professor who works with Maine tribes on their CRP projects. "Because there's still that last piece of it where money still needs to be put up, and some people don't have that money."

For people whose income is not quite low enough to qualify for a totally free heat pump through MaineHousing, Efficiency Maine's rebates will cover $2,000 for a first unit and $400 for a second. People at any income level can get $400 to $1,200 for one or two units. This might cover some or all of the cost of a typical single heat pump but total installation costs can range from around $4,000 to above $10,000, depending on the complexity of the system.

Starting this tax year, theInflation Reduction Actwill offer new tax credits of 30% for heat pumps,up to $2,000 per year. The IRA will also provide additional rebates to cover heat pumps and other home electrification projects, but the details of those rebates are still being finalized. The IRA allows states to, in theory, offer as much as 100% of project costs up to $8,000 for low-income families, or 50% of costs for moderate-income families -- but state officials are still deciding how exactly this limited pot of money will be used and who will be eligible. The rebates will not be universal or unlimited, said Stoddard with Efficiency Maine, but should benefit several thousand homes.

Dan Weeks of ReVision Energy said increasing availability of low- or no-interest loans is another priority for those who want to see more people switch from oil to efficient electric heat. The IRA will help Maine expand its Green Bank in the next year or so to "start offering financing to particularly low-income folks and folks with poor credit," Weeks said.

But tax credits and cheap loans are still deferred ways of helping people lower their oil costs and cover those remaining heat pump costs. Downeast CRP coordinator Tanya Rucosky, who works on community resilience for Washington County's Sunrise County Economic Council, said many families simply can't afford to make the switch.

"Folks need just a little bit of seed money," she said. Without more support, "it locks out the people that potentially need it the most."

Atkinson, the Island Institute Fellow, said Eastport found a creative way to offer direct funding within the constraints of its CRP grant. People who participate in the city's peer-to-peer energy coaching program, Weatherize Eastport, can get another $2,000 toward heat pump installation.

"They're agreeing to become almost ambassadors for this program. One of the steps to do that is to volunteer some time," Atkinson said. "The city is compensating these residents for their time involved in this partnership, rather than saying, we will just give you funds for X, Y and Z."

Solutions like this are key to ensuring these tools for moving off oil can grow equitably, said Rucosky helping more people to join the transition and spread the gospel of its benefits.

"Especially for Mainers they're so salty and smart. They're like, 'What's the catch?' So I don't think there's any getting around the labor of it," Rucosky said. "The more people have successful experiences doing this, the more I don't have to be the one saying it and it can be like, Bob down the road. And so it builds but it takes a long time to build that, where everybody knows this is how you get this done. That's going to be years in the making."

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Hooked on heating oil: Pushing for heat pumps and weatherization - PenBayPilot.com

Policy makers can create regulatory environments that help maximise data use,allowing power systems to reap fuller benefits.

First, regulations should ensure that consumer have easy access to their data and can share it with third parties. Setting general principles is not enough. A recent study mapping access to smart meter data in Europe shows that while European regulations give consumers the right to access and share their data, administrative and technical barriers often limit consistent access: poorly defined and documented procedures, lack of a legally responsible party to create a unified access point, insufficient APIs (application programming interfaces) for automatically connecting to datasets, and inadequate standards for interoperability. Removing these barriers is crucial for ensuring seamless sharing between various stakeholders, for instance, a grid operator who collects smart meter data, and a supplier that will use it to provide tailored advice its consumers. Policymakers wanting to reap the benefits of digitalisation should adopt regulations that effectively ensure data availability. A focus on implementation will be crucial to unleash the power of data for power systems.

Second, there is a need to ensure demand-response readiness, i.e., appliances that can send, receive, and share data on standardised protocols that all relevant objects can understand, regardless of their maker. Companies might naturally prefer to use proprietary interfaces, though this risks making connections to other systems, or from new external stakeholders, more complex or costly.

Many countries are already starting to implement such policies. The United Kingdom is considering mandating that larger domestic-scale appliances, including private Electric Vehicle charging points, batteries, heat pumps, storage heaters and heat batteries, are interoperable with flexibility service providers.The European Union's planned Smart Readiness Indicator is intended to quantify the energy flexibility capability of buildings, and represent it in a meaningful way for stakeholders.More policies regulating demand-response readiness, informing consumers and incentivising demand-ready appliance could help bring these new sources of flexibility to power systems.

The IEA will continue to work with countries around the world to help identify the best policy tools to improve data environment for power systems

From 6-8 June the 8th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency will be held in Paris, hosted by French Minister of Energy Transition, Agns Pannier-Runacher and IEA Executive Director, Dr Fatih Birol, in partnership with Schneider Electric.

During a special event on 6 June Powering the Future: Leveraging digitalisation for whole system efficiency the IEA will launch the Digital Demand-Driven Electricity Networks (3DEN) Initiative's first flagship report on Unlocking smart grid opportunities in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies.

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Unleashing the benefits of data for energy systems Analysis - IEA

CHICAGO, May 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --The report "Thermal Insulation Material Market by Material Type (Fiberglass, Stone Wool, Foam, Wood Fiber), Temperature range (0-100?, 100-500?, 500? and above), End use industry (Construction, Automotive, HVAC, Industrial), and Region - Global Forecast to 2028",is projected to grow from USD 71.7 billion in 2023 to USD 96.0 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2023 to 2028. The thermal insulation material market is mainly driven by the demand for thermal insulation material in various end-use industries, including construction, automotive, HVAC and industrial applications coupled with the increasing demand for indoor air quality, energy efficiency regulations and concerns for the environmental impact. Moreover, it is also driven by rapidly developing and emerging economies.

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Fiberglass by material type is projected to grow at fastest CAGR, in terms of value, during the forecast period.

Fiberglass is projected to be the fastest-growing segment in the global thermal insulation material market by material type, in terms of value, during the forecast period. One of its primary benefits is its strength and durability. Fiberglass is incredibly strong and can withstand heavy loads and impacts, making it ideal for use in structures and products that require high strength and longevity. Additionally, fiberglass is lightweight, which makes it easy to transport and install. It is also highly resistant to corrosion and extreme weather conditions, making it a good choice for use in harsh environments other benefits of fiberglass include its insulation properties, fire resistance, and low maintenance requirements. Because of these benefits, fiberglass is widely used in industries such as construction, automotive, aerospace, marine, and more.

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0-100? is projected to be the fastest growing temperature range in the market, in terms of value.

Thermal insulation materials that can withstand temperatures ranging from 0 to 100 degrees Celsius are widely available and commonly used in a variety of applications. These materials include mineral wool, polyurethane foam, cellulose insulation, fiberglass insulation, and aerogel insulation. This range of temperatures is relevant for a variety of applications because it includes typical indoor temperatures, the range of temperatures commonly found in many industrial settings, and the range of temperatures experienced by many vehicle components. In building construction, thermal insulation materials with resistance to this range of temperatures are used to improve energy efficiency, reduce heating and cooling costs, and increase overall comfort. These materials help to prevent heat transfer through walls, floors, and roofs, keeping indoor spaces cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Thus, helping to improve energy efficiency, increase safety, and reduce maintenance costs.

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Europe is expected to be the fastest growing market for thermal insulation material during the forecast period, in terms of value.

Europe was the largest thermal insulation material market, in terms of value, in 2021. The European market is regulated by Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical Substances (REACH), which monitors and sets up the guidelines for protecting the environment and preventing health hazards from chemical substances. Industrial expansion and technological developments in the region are driving the consumption of thermal insulation material. Market growth is also expected to be supported by the improving global economy. The rising investments are contributing to the growth of the manufacturing industry in Germany. Economies, including Germany, the UK, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, and are important markets for thermal insulation material.

The key players in this market are Saint Gobain SA (France), Kingspan Group (Ireland), Rockwool International A/S (Denmark), Owens Corning (US), Knauf Insulation (US), BASF SE (Germany), Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan), Recticel (Belgium), GAF Material Corporation (US), Evonik (Germany). These companies are strong in their home regions and explore geographic diversification alternatives to grow their businesses. They focus on increasing their market shares through new product launches and other expansions.

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Building Thermal Insulation Market- Global Forecast to 2027

OEM Insulation Market - Global Forecast to 2026

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Thermal Insulation Material Market worth $96.0 billion by 2028 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets - Yahoo Finance

The ACT Government has today announced the inclusion of ceiling insulation rebates in the Home Energy Support Program and launched a pilot scheme to help Canberrans with chronic health conditions live more comfortably.

Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Shane Rattenbury said the government is committed to supporting low-income households and Canberrans with chronic health conditions to have more comfortable and energy efficient homes.

"We are in the middle of an inequality crisis. This program will assist those doing it tough by helping Canberrans on lower incomes to increase the energy efficiency of their home, reducing energy bills whilst also reducing emissions, Minister Rattenbury said.

All Canberrans deserve a warm home in winter and cool house in summer. Its critical that we continue to prioritise our support to those who need it most as we make the transition to an efficient and all-electric city, Minister Rattenbury said.

Heating and cooling makes up 60% of an average Canberra households energy use. Installing insulation in your home is one of the most cost-effective home improvements Canberrans can make to reduce their energy bills.

Eligible low-income households were previously able to access a $2500 rebate under the Home Energy Support Program to install efficient electric appliances. This has been expanded to also include ceiling insulation as an eligible product for the rebate to help Canberrans on lower incomes boost the energy efficiency of their home.

The government has also commenced the Chronic Health Conditions Pilot Program which will offer up to $10,000 to help Canberrans with chronic health conditions install electric appliances and ceiling insulation.

Pilot participants will be identified through referrals from health or low-income support not-for-profit organisations. The pilot will upgrade 20 homes by the end of the year, with plans to expand the program in the future.

This pilot will make a big difference for those members of our community who live with chronic health conditions that effect their ability to regulate body temperature. Having a comfortable home that supports wellbeing year round is important for everyone, and particularly important for those with chronic health conditions.

The Home Energy Support Program and Chronic Health Conditions Pilot Program are part of a $50 million government commitment over four years to improve building efficiency and sustainability for social and public housing, low-income owner occupiers and low performing rental properties.

Eligible homeowners who can apply for a rebate include Pension Concession Card holders and Department of Veteran Affairs Gold Card holders.

For more information and to check your eligibility, visit theEveryday Climate Choices websitehttps://www.climatechoices.act.gov.au/.

The following can be attributed to Gemma Killen, Head of Policy at ACT Council of Social Services (ACTCOSS):

It is important that low-income and vulnerable households dont get left behind in our path to electrification. Expanding programs and rebate offerings will help overcome barriers to having an energy efficient, and comfortable, home.

We look forward to continuing to work with the ACT Government to provide insight into new ways to support the Canberra community in a just transition.

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Creating comfortable and energy efficient homes for low-income ... - Australian Greens

Lets say the benefits of a smart home sound appealing, and you want to get started on one. Now what? The leap from theory to practice can be a little daunting, especially given the pricetags on some of the accessories available. Thats where this guide comes in well fill you in on core concepts and device types, and the general steps needed to deck out a house or apartment.

Concepts you need to know before building a smart home

Platforms

By necessity, all smart homes are platform-based. That could be as simple as a single accessory makers Android or iPhone app, but odds are youre going to need accessories from multiple brands. Thats where industry standard platforms come in, the most prominent being Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Home. These not only control compatible accessories from multiple brands, but provide a framework for pairing, automation, and voice assistant support. Other platforms are available, such as Samsung SmartThings and Hubitat, but these they tend to have less support, higher costs, and/or more required technical knowledge so if youre just starting out, wed steer clear. Youll also have to avoid HomeKit unless you have an iPhone or iPad for setup and control, and a HomePod or Apple TV 4K to act as a Home Hub for automations and remote access.

Wireless protocols and hubs

There are four main wireless protocols in use by smart home accessories: Wi-Fi, Thread, Zigbee, and Z-Wave. Some accessories may still use Bluetooth, but this is increasingly rare, or included alongside other standards only as a fallback. Some smart speakers offer a direct Bluetooth connection as an alternative to Wi-Fi, for example, and some smart lamps use the tech to be controllable away from home.

Zigbee and Z-Wave are both hub-based standards, meaning you need a compatible hub module connected to your Wi-Fi router to link them with other devices and the internet. They also dont offer much bandwidth, so dont expect them to handle audio or video. A hub does ensure automations will run with or without internet access, however, and the two protocols consume very little power, which makes them ideal for things like sensors and light bulbs. They also form their own mesh networks, allowing them to relay data from distant rooms.

Thread is a newer protocol based on Zigbee, and ultimately poised to replace it. It offers many of the same benefits, but is less dependent on hubs, since some Thread accessories can act as their own border routers for reaching the internet or establishing a local network. Routers can include everything from smart speakers and displays to light panels, but check for support, since some Thread accessories are only endpoints.

Wi-Fi is the most common standard. It not only offers as much bandwidth as you could want, but allows accessories to operate without any hubs or meshes, making for simple setup. You usually forego the advantages of hubs and meshes, however, including offline automations if the internet is unreachable, a Wi-Fi accessory may not trigger. Devices like speakers and security cameras have no choice but to use Wi-Fi if theyre not wired, though some security systems use cellular as backup.

Matter

Matter is technically a wireless protocol too, enabling features like mesh networking and reduced dependence on brand-specific hubs. But it gets own section here because it functions as an application layer on top of other protocols, above all Thread and Wi-Fi theres no such thing as a Matter radio. There is such as thing as a Matter controller, though, which is a device that doubles as a hub for Matter-compatible accessories. Examples of controllers include products like the Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod, and Google Nest Hub.

The most important aspect of Matter is multi-platform pairing. Matter-labeled accessories can be paired with Alexa, HomeKit, Google Home, or SmartThings without a developer having to add specific platform support. Its still early goings Google Home still only supports pairing Matter products via Android, for instance, and only some accessory categories are Matter-compatible but down the road, it could make platform choice purely a question of preference.

Voice assistants

Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

There are three main voice assistants associated with smart homes: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apples Siri. There others, like Samsungs Bixby and Sonos Voice Control, but they dont have much use beyond their namesake brands, if any.

As you might guess, the big three are associated with their companies respective smart home platforms. You cant use Google Assistant to control an Alexa home, or Siri to control Google. They also have different strengths, weaknesses, and compatibilities you need to be aware of before settling on a platform.

Types of smart home devices

Speakers and displays

Roger Fingas / Android Authority

These are frequently the foundation of a smart home, since they enable hands-free voice control not just for accessories, but for music, radio, and podcasts. In 2023 they also tend to serve as Matter controllers and Thread border routers, and in the case of HomeKit, you can use a HomePod as a Home Hub. Some Amazon Echo models act as Zigbee hubs.

Smart speakers are mostly self-explanatory, and range from basic models through to ones that support spatial audio, like the Echo Studio or the Sonos Beam soundbar. Smart displays enhance speaker functions with touchscreen controls, extra visual feedback, and streaming video. You might for instance watch Netflix or YouTube, or check who rang your video doorbell. Dedicated smart speakers tend to have superior audio.

Security cameras and doorbells

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

All smart security cameras and doorbells offer some degree of motion detection and the ability to stream footage remotely, but features can differ radically from there. There are wired and wireless models, and indoor and weatherproof ones. Some support local recording, others can only save to the cloud, and often features like (meaningful) cloud recording require a monthly subscription. Better models support person, animal, vehicle, and/or package detection, which cuts down on false alerts. Some subscriptions offer professional monitoring as a top-tier option.

Lights and blinds

Lights can be extremely diverse, but there are three main types. Smart bulbs are often the most affordable, and plug into conventional light sockets. Smart lamps are completely standalone devices. Decorative lights consist of things like panels and lightstrips, and are meant less to illuminate a space than add style to it. Many smart lights are color-changing, and some can sync with your PC, TV, or music playback.

Smart blinds are sold either as complete units or upgrade add-ons for your existing fixtures. Complete units can be prohibitively expensive, since they often have to be customized for your window dimensions, but there are fixed-size options available from brands like IKEA.

Switches

Smart switches are often the best way to go for lights if youre worried about someone accidentally disabling a smart bulb or lamp by flipping a switch. Most work just like the conventional switches in your house, simply enabling automations and remote control. Be aware that though that if you buy switches that replace your wall units, you wont get any color or media sync functions, and you shouldnt double them up with smart bulbs or lamps. That simply creates chaos.

Sensors

There are many sensor types out there, covering things like motion, water leakage, door and window status, and indoor or outdoor climate. Sensor data can be useful on its own, but its often at its best as a trigger for automations. A motion sensor, for example, might automatically trigger smart lights when you walk into a room, and turn them off when activity is dormant again. A climate sensor might trigger a fan, blind, heater, or dehumidifier.

Thankfully, some smart speakers are beginning to include their own sensors. The 4th gen Echo and 5th gen Echo Dot have motion and temperature sensors, and all current HomePod models can sense temperature and humidity.

Plugs

Roger Fingas / Android Authority

Perhaps the simplest and cheapest product type, smart plugs stick into an existing outlet and turn connected appliances on or off thats it, except for any energy monitoring they might do. Their very strength however is in automating appliances that wouldnt normally have smarts. The main restrictions are that an appliance has to have a permanent on/off toggle, and for high-voltage appliances like dryers, youll need specialized plugs.

Appliances

A growing number of appliances have smarts built-in, ranging from small ones like humidifiers and coffee makers through to washers, dryers, fridges, TVs, and EV chargers. Its usually not worth upgrading a major appliance just for the sake of smart features, but if you need a new one anyway, its probably worth considering how it might integrate into the rest of your smart home plans.

Thermostats

Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority

On top of allowing remote control and automation, smart thermostats can actually save you money by improving the efficiency of heating and cooling say by taking advantage of outdoor weather, or lowering power consumption when they sense people are away. More advanced models may include sensors for carbon monoxide and other pollutants, or double as their own smart speakers.

Media streamers

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Pretty much any modern media streamer can integrate into one of the big three smart home platforms, often enabling two-way control. A Google Chromecast, for example, can not only control the rest of your home via Google Assistant, but integrate into automations. A Hey Google, its movie night command might lower your blinds, dim the lights, and find action movies on your TV.

Locks

These typically replace an existing deadbolt or mount on top of it, letting you control a door via an app, voice assistant, and/or other methods such as a keypad or an NFC-equipped device. You can often enable geofencing triggers and other unique automations. If a smart lock doesnt come bundled with one, its good to pair with a door sensor so you can be sure a door is shut.

Security systems

These arent their own category so much as an amalgamation of sensors and cameras paired to a base station, control pad, and/or a monitoring service. Base stations and control pads are the only unique components, making it easy to arm or disarm security. Some base stations have cellular backup, but where the option exists, youll have to pay for a monitoring subscription to keep it active.

How to set up a smart home

Choosing a platform

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

The most critical decision youll make is choosing a platform. You can use multiple platforms in the same home, but unless youre a tech journalist or some feature absolutely demands it, we recommend avoiding that. Multiple platforms complicate setup and maintenance, and can confuse both yourself and others about which thing controls what.

As for which platform to choose, that depends entirely on the features you care about most. People deeply immersed in the Apple or Google ecosystems should probably pick HomeKit or Google Home, but there are perks and drawbacks no matter which direction you go. Google Home, for instance, has native support for YouTube and YouTube Music, but no option for pairing Google Nest speakers with a TV. Alexa is a relatively neutral platform with the largest number of compatible devices and accessories, including third-party soundbars, but only the 4th gen Echo can act as a Thread border router, and the only Echo product with native (non-web) YouTube support is the Echo Show 15. Check out some of the platform and voice assistant guides linked in this article, and our smart home privacy guide if thats a concern.

If you think you might switch platforms down the road, you can win some flexibility by picking accessories that support two or three platforms out of the box. Products with HomeKit tend to be more expensive than their counterparts, but having the option might be worth the cost, and Matter can sometimes detour both price and compatibility issues.

Wireless tech

For a reliable smart home, youll need a Wi-Fi 6 or 6E router as a backbone. Wi-Fi 5 (a.k.a. 802.11ac) just cant handle enough simultaneous connections these days, and when a router becomes oversaturated, it tends to kick older connections off no matter how important they are.

You should probably also make it a mesh router, such as the Nest Wifi Pro or Eero 6 Plus. Mesh systems help eliminate dead zones without requiring separate network IDs (SSIDs) like some Wi-Fi extenders. Some people do prefer using separate SSIDs for the 2.4, 5, and/or 6GHz bands, especially since most smart home accessories use 2.4GHz, but that can make it harder for your devices to see each other. If your smartphone is connected to a 5GHz-only SSID, you might have to switch to the 2.4GHz SSID any time you want to use smart home apps.

An ideal mesh router is also a tri- or even quad-band device, since one band has to shuttle data back and forth in the mesh, and you want to avoid overlap with the rest of your data consumption if you can. A few routers have Thread built in, which can be a handy way of growing your Thread network.

Some smart home setups inherently require one or more hubs, and as we mentioned, HomeKit demands a HomePod or Apple TV 4K to act as a Home Hub. If a hub has to connect directly to your Wi-Fi router via Ethernet, you may end up having to buy an Ethernet switch to expand ports. For Matter support youll need at least one device that doubles as a Matter controller probably a smart speaker or display.

Buying speakers and displays

Lily Katz / Android Authority

If youve got a rich friend, you may have seen smart speakers and displays scattered across every room in their house, but dont think you have to follow suit. Determine where youll actually make use of voice control, audio playback, and/or video streaming, then further prioritize how important is for those places to have high-end specs. Cinephiles might want an expensive Sonos Arc hooked up to their TV, but have no problem using Echo Dots in places like a nursery or kitchen. If youre in an apartment, you might be able to get away with just one or two devices total.

You may want at least one smart display if you plan to have a smart camera or doorbell. While you can certainly get along using your phone, tablet, or TV to check video feeds and talk to visitors, a smart display makes this even more convenient. You can use a smart display as a baby monitor as long as a camera stays wired for continuous streaming.

Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority

Smart displays also make for excellent bedside devices. Apart from time and alarm functions, they offer silent control when others are sleeping, and better information for starting your day. You can watch video when falling asleep, or use security functions to see what that bump in the night was. We do recommend switching off a bedroom displays camera if it has one, however.

Choosing and controlling lights

There are a few forks in the road with smart lights, the first being whether to prioritize smart switches or smart bulbs/lamps. Smart bulbs and lamps are often attractive for their color-changing abilities and easy installation, but as we mentioned, smart switches eliminate any worries about control. You cant accidentally disable their smart functions, and that manual fallback is useful for less tech-savvy guests and family members. There is some electrical work involved in upgrading wall switches, but its not that hard, and you can pay for a professional install if youre uncomfortable and have a big budget.

In some homes, the best solution may be a mix involving smart switches in some or most areas, but smart bulbs and lamps for things like a gaming room or home theater. Indeed you can get lamps, lightstrips, and other products that are intentionally designed for syncing with a PC or TV.

If youre going to depend on bulbs and lamps, consider installing motion sensors around your home and setting up automations that trigger lights based on occupancy. Theres a growing category of millimeter wave (mmWave) sensors, like the Aqara FP2, that are sensitive enough to tell when someone is in a room even when theyre laying perfectly still.

Whether or not you install motion sensors, youll want to create lighting automations (using a platforms app) that factor in everyone in your household. Set common area lights to turn on just before the first person rises, for example, and off only during daylight, or when the last person leaves or goes to bed. Dont set bedroom lights to blast full tilt when you wake up if your partner can afford to sleep in.

Climate control

If youre a homeowner, a smart thermostat is a must-have accessory, given that it can actually save you money. Wed recommend models such as the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced or Nest Thermostat, but there are other viable options out there such as the Amazon Smart Thermostat if youre an Alexa user. Check wiring compatibility before buying anything though, and understand that some homes may need more than one thermostat if they have split HVAC zones.

Apart from thermostats, dont worry about climate control accessories unless you have specific problems to solve, such as excessive humidity or dryness. If you dont have a central HVAC system, you can buy smart window or radiator products, and/or set up appliances connected to smart plugs. You can link those smart plugs to indoor climate sensors to trigger them above or below specific thresholds.

Building a security system

If you need professional monitoring, any major security company should now be able to install a complete smart system. If you dont want a monitoring service, or youd rather choose one associated with a particular product brand like Arlo or Ring, your options open up.

As far as camera coverage goes, some people wont need anything more than a smart doorbell and a separate camera for their balcony or backyard. If you live in an apartment, you can sometimes buy no-drill mounts to get around rental restrictions.

There are plenty of reasons you might need additional coverage, though. Your driveway might be too far away from your doorbell, or there might be an alley thieves can sneak through. If you have kids or pets, indoor cameras can keep tabs on them when youre elsewhere.

Cameras may be all you need so long as you know youll get the right alerts when it counts, which is why person and package recognition are so useful. Door and window sensors can verify the presence of intruders if youre worried. Water leakage sensors arent essential for most people, but can prevent floods from spreading unchecked.

A final note here is that youll have to evaluate whether cameras support cloud recording, local recording, or both. Cloud recording offers saved video access anywhere, but requires that your internet access hold up, and usually a paid subscription. Local recording avoids subscription and internet issues, but you may need to buy your own storage, and a thief or disaster can potentially wipe out footage.

Locks, media streamers, and other accessories

Beyond the categories weve discussed, things become increasingly optional. Smart locks are convenient, especially if you regularly need to allow guest entry, but they can also be pricey without necessarily improving your quality of life. They usually only matter for your main entrance, and their best use tends to be in geofence triggers, offering peace of mind when you leave while making it easy to get back in without fumbling for a key.

Its best if your media streamer or smart TV integrates with your smart home platform of choice, if just for maximizing control and automation options, but dont fret about it. Its more important that you like the onscreen interface and content a device provides.

If youre a gamer or cinephile, we would recommend investigating light sync options if you have disposable cash. They can dramatically enhance the atmosphere of a movie or game, projecting onscreen colors into the space around you. The top of the line in this regard is Philips Hue, but on TVs the company forces you to use a pricey HDMI sync box, so you may want to consider camera-based sync options from brands like Govee and Nanoleaf.

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How to build a smart home - Android Authority

COMFORT SYSTEMS USA INC Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (form 10-K)  Marketscreener.com

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Grab a Refurbished Ecobee Smart Thermometer for as Little as $87 and Cut Your Utility Costs  CNET

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Grab a Refurbished Ecobee Smart Thermometer for as Little as $87 and Cut Your Utility Costs - CNET

Who is eligible to receive HEAP?You may be eligible if:

Learn more about current monthly income limits.

What is the Clean and Tune Benefit?The HEAP Clean and Tune benefit opened October 3, 2022. Eligible households can receive energy efficiency services, which includes the cleaning of primary heating equipment, but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats, if needed, to allow for the safe, proper and efficient operation of the heating equipment. Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to provide clean and tune services, up to a maximum of $500. No additional HEAP cash benefits are available.

Your household may be eligible a Heating Equipment Tune-up benefit if:

Your household eligibility requirements include filing an application with your local department of social services, providing all necessary documentation, and the household must reside in an eligible living situation.

Review additional requirements to determine if youre eligible to apply.

Problem with your heating equipment?You may call your HEAP Local District Contact to apply for Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefits. The in-person interview and application requirement is temporarily suspended. The district will provide more information on how to submit the application and required documentation.

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Apply for Heating and Cooling Assistance (HEAP) - The State of New York

Technology of indoor and vehicular environmental comfort

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)[1] is the use of various technologies to control the temperature, humidity, and purity of the air in an enclosed space. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. HVAC system design is a subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. "Refrigeration" is sometimes added to the field's abbreviation as HVAC&R or HVACR, or "ventilation" is dropped, as in HACR (as in the designation of HACR-rated circuit breakers).

HVAC is an important part of residential structures such as single family homes, apartment buildings, hotels, and senior living facilities; medium to large industrial and office buildings such as skyscrapers and hospitals; vehicles such as cars, trains, airplanes, ships and submarines; and in marine environments, where safe and healthy building conditions are regulated with respect to temperature and humidity, using fresh air from outdoors.

Ventilating or ventilation (the "V" in HVAC) is the process of exchanging or replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air quality which involves temperature control, oxygen replenishment, and removal of moisture, odors, smoke, heat, dust, airborne bacteria, carbon dioxide, and other gases. Ventilation removes unpleasant smells and excessive moisture, introduces outside air, keeps interior building air circulating, and prevents stagnation of the interior air. Methods for ventilating a building are divided into mechanical/forced and natural types.[2]

The three major functions of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are interrelated, especially with the need to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality within reasonable installation, operation, and maintenance costs. HVAC systems can be used in both domestic and commercial environments. HVAC systems can provide ventilation, and maintain pressure relationships between spaces. The means of air delivery and removal from spaces is known as room air distribution.[3]

In modern buildings, the design, installation, and control systems of these functions are integrated into one or more HVAC systems. For very small buildings, contractors normally estimate the capacity and type of system needed and then design the system, selecting the appropriate refrigerant and various components needed. For larger buildings, building service designers, mechanical engineers, or building services engineers analyze, design, and specify the HVAC systems. Specialty mechanical contractors and suppliers then fabricate, install and commission the systems. Building permits and code-compliance inspections of the installations are normally required for all sizes of buildings.

Although HVAC is executed in individual buildings or other enclosed spaces (like NORAD's underground headquarters), the equipment involved is in some cases an extension of a larger district heating (DH) or district cooling (DC) network, or a combined DHC network. In such cases, the operating and maintenance aspects are simplified and metering becomes necessary to bill for the energy that is consumed, and in some cases energy that is returned to the larger system. For example, at a given time one building may be utilizing chilled water for air conditioning and the warm water it returns may be used in another building for heating, or for the overall heating-portion of the DHC network (likely with energy added to boost the temperature).[4][5][6]

Basing HVAC on a larger network helps provide an economy of scale that is often not possible for individual buildings, for utilizing renewable energy sources such as solar heat,[7][8][9] winter's cold,[10][11] the cooling potential in some places of lakes or seawater for free cooling, and the enabling function of seasonal thermal energy storage. By utilizing natural sources that can be used for HVAC systems it can make a huge difference for the environment and help expand the knowledge of using different methods.

HVAC is based on inventions and discoveries made by Nikolay Lvov, Michael Faraday, Rolla C. Carpenter, Willis Carrier, Edwin Ruud, Reuben Trane, James Joule, William Rankine, Sadi Carnot, and many others.[12]

Multiple inventions within this time frame preceded the beginnings of the first comfort air conditioning system, which was designed in 1902 by Alfred Wolff (Cooper, 2003) for the New York Stock Exchange, while Willis Carrier equipped the Sacketts-Wilhems Printing Company with the process AC unit the same year. Coyne College was the first school to offer HVAC training in 1899.[13]

The invention of the components of HVAC systems went hand-in-hand with the industrial revolution, and new methods of modernization, higher efficiency, and system control are constantly being introduced by companies and inventors worldwide.

Heaters are appliances whose purpose is to generate heat (i.e. warmth) for the building. This can be done via central heating. Such a system contains a boiler, furnace, or heat pump to heat water, steam, or air in a central location such as a furnace room in a home, or a mechanical room in a large building. The heat can be transferred by convection, conduction, or radiation. Space heaters are used to heat single rooms and only consist of a single unit.

Heaters exist for various types of fuel, including solid fuels, liquids, and gases. Another type of heat source is electricity, normally heating ribbons composed of high resistance wire (see Nichrome). This principle is also used for baseboard heaters and portable heaters. Electrical heaters are often used as backup or supplemental heat for heat pump systems.

The heat pump gained popularity in the 1950s in Japan and the United States.[14] Heat pumps can extract heat from various sources, such as environmental air, exhaust air from a building, or from the ground. Heat pumps transfer heat from outside the structure into the air inside. Initially, heat pump HVAC systems were only used in moderate climates, but with improvements in low temperature operation and reduced loads due to more efficient homes, they are increasing in popularity in cooler climates, they can also operate in reverse by cooling an interior.

In the case of heated water or steam, piping is used to transport the heat to the rooms. Most modern hot water boiler heating systems have a circulator, which is a pump, to move hot water through the distribution system (as opposed to older gravity-fed systems). The heat can be transferred to the surrounding air using radiators, hot water coils (hydro-air), or other heat exchangers. The radiators may be mounted on walls or installed within the floor to produce floor heat.

The use of water as the heat transfer medium is known as hydronics. The heated water can also supply an auxiliary heat exchanger to supply hot water for bathing and washing.

Warm air systems distribute the heated air through ductwork systems of supply and return air through metal or fiberglass ducts. Many systems use the same ducts to distribute air cooled by an evaporator coil for air conditioning. The air supply is normally filtered through air filters to remove dust and pollen particles.[15]

The use of furnaces, space heaters, and boilers as a method of indoor heating could result in incomplete combustion and the emission of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, and other combustion byproducts. Incomplete combustion occurs when there is insufficient oxygen; the inputs are fuels containing various contaminants and the outputs are harmful byproducts, most dangerously carbon monoxide, which is a tasteless and odorless gas with serious adverse health effects.[16]

Without proper ventilation, carbon monoxide can be lethal at concentrations of 1000 ppm (0.1%). However, at several hundred ppm, carbon monoxide exposure induces headaches, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin in the blood, forming carboxyhemoglobin, reducing the blood's ability to transport oxygen. The primary health concerns associated with carbon monoxide exposure are its cardiovascular and neurobehavioral effects. Carbon monoxide can cause atherosclerosis (the hardening of arteries) and can also trigger heart attacks. Neurologically, carbon monoxide exposure reduces hand to eye coordination, vigilance, and continuous performance. It can also affect time discrimination.[17]

Ventilation is the process of changing or replacing air in any space to control the temperature or remove any combination of moisture, odors, smoke, heat, dust, airborne bacteria, or carbon dioxide, and to replenish oxygen. Ventilation often refers to the intentional delivery of the outside air to the building indoor space. It is one of the most important factors for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in buildings. Methods for ventilating a building may be divided into mechanical/forced and natural types.[18]

Mechanical, or forced, ventilation is provided by an air handler (AHU) and used to control indoor air quality. Excess humidity, odors, and contaminants can often be controlled via dilution or replacement with outside air. However, in humid climates more energy is required to remove excess moisture from ventilation air.

Kitchens and bathrooms typically have mechanical exhausts to control odors and sometimes humidity. Factors in the design of such systems include the flow rate (which is a function of the fan speed and exhaust vent size) and noise level. Direct drive fans are available for many applications and can reduce maintenance needs.

In summer, ceiling fans and table/floor fans circulate air within a room for the purpose of reducing the perceived temperature by increasing evaporation of perspiration on the skin of the occupants. Because hot air rises, ceiling fans may be used to keep a room warmer in the winter by circulating the warm stratified air from the ceiling to the floor.

Natural ventilation is the ventilation of a building with outside air without using fans or other mechanical systems. It can be via operable windows, louvers, or trickle vents when spaces are small and the architecture permits. ASHRAE defined Natural ventilation as the flow of air through open windows, doors, grilles, and other planned building envelope penetrations, and as being driven by natural and/or artificially produced pressure differentials.[2]

In more complex schemes, warm air is allowed to rise and flow out high building openings to the outside (stack effect), causing cool outside air to be drawn into low building openings. Natural ventilation schemes can use very little energy, but care must be taken to ensure comfort. In warm or humid climates, maintaining thermal comfort solely via natural ventilation might not be possible. Air conditioning systems are used, either as backups or supplements. Air-side economizers also use outside air to condition spaces, but do so using fans, ducts, dampers, and control systems to introduce and distribute cool outdoor air when appropriate.

An important component of natural ventilation is air change rate or air changes per hour: the hourly rate of ventilation divided by the volume of the space. For example, six air changes per hour means an amount of new air, equal to the volume of the space, is added every ten minutes. For human comfort, a minimum of four air changes per hour is typical, though warehouses might have only two. Too high of an air change rate may be uncomfortable, akin to a wind tunnel which has thousands of changes per hour. The highest air change rates are for crowded spaces, bars, night clubs, commercial kitchens at around 30 to 50 air changes per hour.[19]

Room pressure can be either positive or negative with respect to outside the room. Positive pressure occurs when there is more air being supplied than exhausted, and is common to reduce the infiltration of outside contaminants.[20]

Natural ventilation [21] is a key factor in reducing the spread of airborne illnesses such as tuberculosis, the common cold, influenza, meningitis or COVID-19. Opening doors and windows are good ways to maximize natural ventilation, which would make the risk of airborne contagion much lower than with costly and maintenance-requiring mechanical systems. Old-fashioned clinical areas with high ceilings and large windows provide the greatest protection. Natural ventilation costs little and is maintenance free, and is particularly suited to limited-resource settings and tropical climates, where the burden of TB and institutional TB transmission is highest. In settings where respiratory isolation is difficult and climate permits, windows and doors should be opened to reduce the risk of airborne contagion. Natural ventilation requires little maintenance and is inexpensive.[22]

An air conditioning system, or a standalone air conditioner, provides cooling and/or humidity control for all or part of a building. Air conditioned buildings often have sealed windows, because open windows would work against the system intended to maintain constant indoor air conditions. Outside, fresh air is generally drawn into the system by a vent into a mix air chamber for mixing with the space return air. Then the mixture air enters an indoor or outdoor heat exchanger section where the air is to be cooled down, then be guided to the space creating positive air pressure. The percentage of return air made up of fresh air can usually be manipulated by adjusting the opening of this vent. Typical fresh air intake is about 10% of the total supply air.[citation needed]

Air conditioning and refrigeration are provided through the removal of heat. Heat can be removed through radiation, convection, or conduction. The heat transfer medium is a refrigeration system, such as water, air, ice, and chemicals are referred to as refrigerants. A refrigerant is employed either in a heat pump system in which a compressor is used to drive thermodynamic refrigeration cycle, or in a free cooling system that uses pumps to circulate a cool refrigerant (typically water or a glycol mix).

It is imperative that the air conditioning horsepower is sufficient for the area being cooled. Underpowered air conditioning systems will lead to power wastage and inefficient usage. Adequate horsepower is required for any air conditioner installed.

The refrigeration cycle uses four essential elements to cool, which are compressor, condenser, metering device, and evaporator.

In variable climates, the system may include a reversing valve that switches from heating in winter to cooling in summer. By reversing the flow of refrigerant, the heat pump refrigeration cycle is changed from cooling to heating or vice versa. This allows a facility to be heated and cooled by a single piece of equipment by the same means, and with the same hardware.

Free cooling systems can have very high efficiencies, and are sometimes combined with seasonal thermal energy storage so that the cold of winter can be used for summer air conditioning. Common storage mediums are deep aquifers or a natural underground rock mass accessed via a cluster of small-diameter, heat-exchanger-equipped boreholes. Some systems with small storages are hybrids, using free cooling early in the cooling season, and later employing a heat pump to chill the circulation coming from the storage. The heat pump is added-in because the storage acts as a heat sink when the system is in cooling (as opposed to charging) mode, causing the temperature to gradually increase during the cooling season.

Some systems include an "economizer mode", which is sometimes called a "free-cooling mode". When economizing, the control system will open (fully or partially) the outside air damper and close (fully or partially) the return air damper. This will cause fresh, outside air to be supplied to the system. When the outside air is cooler than the demanded cool air, this will allow the demand to be met without using the mechanical supply of cooling (typically chilled water or a direct expansion "DX" unit), thus saving energy. The control system can compare the temperature of the outside air vs. return air, or it can compare the enthalpy of the air, as is frequently done in climates where humidity is more of an issue. In both cases, the outside air must be less energetic than the return air for the system to enter the economizer mode.

Central, "all-air" air-conditioning systems (or package systems) with a combined outdoor condenser/evaporator unit are often installed in North American residences, offices, and public buildings, but are difficult to retrofit (install in a building that was not designed to receive it) because of the bulky air ducts required.[23] (Minisplit ductless systems are used in these situations.) Outside of North America, packaged systems are only used in limited applications involving large indoor space such as stadiums, theatres or exhibition halls.

An alternative to packaged systems is the use of separate indoor and outdoor coils in split systems. Split systems are preferred and widely used worldwide except in North America. In North America, split systems are most often seen in residential applications, but they are gaining popularity in small commercial buildings. Split systems are used where ductwork is not feasible or where the space conditioning efficiency is of prime concern.[24] The benefits of ductless air conditioning systems include easy installation, no ductwork, greater zonal control, flexibility of control, and quiet operation.[25] In space conditioning, the duct losses can account for 30% of energy consumption.[26] The use of minisplits can result in energy savings in space conditioning as there are no losses associated with ducting.

With the split system, the evaporator coil is connected to a remote condenser unit using refrigerant piping between an indoor and outdoor unit instead of ducting air directly from the outdoor unit. Indoor units with directional vents mount onto walls, suspended from ceilings, or fit into the ceiling. Other indoor units mount inside the ceiling cavity so that short lengths of duct handle air from the indoor unit to vents or diffusers around the rooms.

Split systems are more efficient and the footprint is typically smaller than the package systems. On the other hand, package systems tend to have a slightly lower indoor noise level compared to split systems since the fan motor is located outside.

Dehumidification (air drying) in an air conditioning system is provided by the evaporator. Since the evaporator operates at a temperature below the dew point, moisture in the air condenses on the evaporator coil tubes. This moisture is collected at the bottom of the evaporator in a pan and removed by piping to a central drain or onto the ground outside.

A dehumidifier is an air-conditioner-like device that controls the humidity of a room or building. It is often employed in basements that have a higher relative humidity because of their lower temperature (and propensity for damp floors and walls). In food retailing establishments, large open chiller cabinets are highly effective at dehumidifying the internal air. Conversely, a humidifier increases the humidity of a building.

The HVAC components that dehumidify the ventilation air deserve careful attention because outdoor air constitutes most of the annual humidity load for nearly all buildings.[27]

All modern air conditioning systems, even small window package units, are equipped with internal air filters. These are generally of a lightweight gauze-like material, and must be replaced or washed as conditions warrant. For example, a building in a high dust environment, or a home with furry pets, will need to have the filters changed more often than buildings without these dirt loads. Failure to replace these filters as needed will contribute to a lower heat exchange rate, resulting in wasted energy, shortened equipment life, and higher energy bills; low air flow can result in iced-over evaporator coils, which can completely stop airflow. Additionally, very dirty or plugged filters can cause overheating during a heating cycle, which can result in damage to the system or even fire.

Because an air conditioner moves heat between the indoor coil and the outdoor coil, both must be kept clean. This means that, in addition to replacing the air filter at the evaporator coil, it is also necessary to regularly clean the condenser coil. Failure to keep the condenser clean will eventually result in harm to the compressor because the condenser coil is responsible for discharging both the indoor heat (as picked up by the evaporator) and the heat generated by the electric motor driving the compressor.

HVAC is significantly responsible for promoting energy efficiency of buildings as the building sector consumes the largest percentage of global energy.[28] Since the 1980s, manufacturers of HVAC equipment have been making an effort to make the systems they manufacture more efficient. This was originally driven by rising energy costs, and has more recently been driven by increased awareness of environmental issues. Additionally, improvements to the HVAC system efficiency can also help increase occupant health and productivity.[29] In the US, the EPA has imposed tighter restrictions over the years. There are several methods for making HVAC systems more efficient.

In the past, water heating was more efficient for heating buildings and was the standard in the United States. Today, forced air systems can double for air conditioning and are more popular.

Some benefits of forced air systems, which are now widely used in churches, schools, and high-end residences, are

A drawback is the installation cost, which can be slightly higher than traditional HVAC systems.

Energy efficiency can be improved even more in central heating systems by introducing zoned heating. This allows a more granular application of heat, similar to non-central heating systems. Zones are controlled by multiple thermostats. In water heating systems the thermostats control zone valves, and in forced air systems they control zone dampers inside the vents which selectively block the flow of air. In this case, the control system is very critical to maintaining a proper temperature.

Forecasting is another method of controlling building heating by calculating the demand for heating energy that should be supplied to the building in each time unit.

Ground source, or geothermal, heat pumps are similar to ordinary heat pumps, but instead of transferring heat to or from outside air, they rely on the stable, even temperature of the earth to provide heating and air conditioning. Many regions experience seasonal temperature extremes, which would require large-capacity heating and cooling equipment to heat or cool buildings. For example, a conventional heat pump system used to heat a building in Montana's 57C (70F) low temperature or cool a building in the highest temperature ever recorded in the US57C (134F) in Death Valley, California, in 1913 would require a large amount of energy due to the extreme difference between inside and outside air temperatures. A metre below the earth's surface, however, the ground remains at a relatively constant temperature. Utilizing this large source of relatively moderate temperature earth, a heating or cooling system's capacity can often be significantly reduced. Although ground temperatures vary according to latitude, at 1.8 metres (6ft) underground, temperatures generally only range from 7 to 24C (45 to 75F).

Photovoltaic solar panels offer a new way to potentially decrease the operating cost of air conditioning. Traditional air conditioners run using alternating current, and hence, any direct-current solar power needs to be inverted to be compatible with these units. New variable-speed DC-motor units allow solar power to more easily run them since this conversion is unnecessary, and since the motors are tolerant of voltage fluctuations associated with variance in supplied solar power (e.g., due to cloud cover).

Energy recovery systems sometimes utilize heat recovery ventilation or energy recovery ventilation systems that employ heat exchangers or enthalpy wheels to recover sensible or latent heat from exhausted air. This is done by transfer of energy from the stale air inside the home to the incoming fresh air from outside.

The performance of vapor compression refrigeration cycles is limited by thermodynamics.[30] These air conditioning and heat pump devices move heat rather than convert it from one form to another, so thermal efficiencies do not appropriately describe the performance of these devices. The Coefficient of performance (COP) measures performance, but this dimensionless measure has not been adopted. Instead, the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) has traditionally been used to characterize the performance of many HVAC systems. EER is the Energy Efficiency Ratio based on a 35C (95F) outdoor temperature. To more accurately describe the performance of air conditioning equipment over a typical cooling season a modified version of the EER, the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), or in Europe the ESEER, is used. SEER ratings are based on seasonal temperature averages instead of a constant 35C (95F) outdoor temperature. The current industry minimum SEER rating is 14 SEER.[31] Engineers have pointed out some areas where efficiency of the existing hardware could be improved. For example, the fan blades used to move the air are usually stamped from sheet metal, an economical method of manufacture, but as a result they are not aerodynamically efficient. A well-designed blade could reduce the electrical power required to move the air by a third.[32]

Demand controlled kitchen ventilation (DCKV) is a building controls approach to controlling the volume of kitchen exhaust and supply air in response to the actual cooking loads in a commercial kitchen. Traditional commercial kitchen ventilation systems operate at 100% fan speed independent of the volume of cooking activity and DCKV technology changes that to provide significant fan energy and conditioned air savings. By deploying smart sensing technology, both the exhaust and supply fans can be controlled to capitalize on the affinity laws for motor energy savings, reduce makeup air heating and cooling energy, increasing safety, and reducing ambient kitchen noise levels.[33]

Air cleaning and filtration removes particles, contaminants, vapors and gases from the air. The filtered and cleaned air then is used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Air cleaning and filtration should be taken in account when protecting our building environments.[34]

Clean air delivery rate (CADR) is the amount of clean air an air cleaner provides to a room or space. When determining CADR, the amount of airflow in a space is taken into account. For example, an air cleaner with a flow rate of 30 cubic metres (1,000cuft) per minute and an efficiency of 50% has a CADR of 15 cubic metres (500cuft) per minute. Along with CADR, filtration performance is very important when it comes to the air in our indoor environment. This depends on the size of the particle or fiber, the filter packing density and depth, and the airflow rate.[34]

The HVAC industry is a worldwide enterprise, with roles including operation and maintenance, system design and construction, equipment manufacturing and sales, and in education and research. The HVAC industry was historically regulated by the manufacturers of HVAC equipment, but regulating and standards organizations such as HARDI (Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International), ASHRAE, SMACNA, ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America), Uniform Mechanical Code, International Mechanical Code, and AMCA have been established to support the industry and encourage high standards and achievement. (UL as an omnibus agency is not specific to the HVAC industry.)

The starting point in carrying out an estimate both for cooling and heating depends on the exterior climate and interior specified conditions. However, before taking up the heat load calculation, it is necessary to find fresh air requirements for each area in detail, as pressurization is an important consideration.

ISO 16813:2006 is one of the ISO building environment standards.[35] It establishes the general principles of building environment design. It takes into account the need to provide a healthy indoor environment for the occupants as well as the need to protect the environment for future generations and promote collaboration among the various parties involved in building environmental design for sustainability. ISO16813 is applicable to new construction and the retrofit of existing buildings.[36]

The building environmental design standard aims to:[36]

In the United States, HVAC engineers generally are members of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), EPA certified (for installation and service of HVAC devices), or locally engineer certified such as a Special to Chief Boilers License issued by the state or, in some jurisdictions, the city. ASHRAE is an international technical society for all individuals and organizations interested in HVAC. The Society, organized into regions, chapters, and student branches, allows the exchange of HVAC knowledge and experiences for the benefit of the field's practitioners and the public. ASHRAE provides many opportunities to participate in the development of new knowledge via, for example, research and its many technical committees. These committees typically meet twice per year at the ASHRAE Annual and Winter Meetings. A popular product show, the AHR Expo, has been held in conjunction with each winter ASHRAE meeting. The Society has approximately 50,000 members and has headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

The most recognized standards for HVAC design are based on ASHRAE data. The four volumes of most popular ASHRAE Handbooks are Fundamentals, Refrigeration, HVAC Applications, and HVAC Systems and Equipment. The current versions of the four handbooks are shown below:[37]

Each volume of the ASHRAE Handbook is updated every four years. The Fundamentals Handbook includes heating and cooling calculations. The design professional must consult ASHRAE data for the standards of design and care as the typical building codes provide little to no information on HVAC design practices; codes such as the UMC and IMC do include much detail on installation requirements, however. Other useful reference materials include items from SMACNA, ACGIH, and technical trade journals.

American design standards are legislated in the Uniform Mechanical Code or International Mechanical Code. In certain states, counties, or cities, either of these codes may be adopted and amended via various legislative processes. These codes are updated and published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) or the International Code Council (ICC) respectively, on a 3-year code development cycle. Typically, local building permit departments are charged with enforcement of these standards on private and certain public properties.

An HVAC technician is a tradesman who specializes in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. HVAC technicians in the US can receive training through formal training institutions, where most earn associate degrees. Training for HVAC technicians includes classroom lectures and hands-on tasks, and can be followed by an apprenticeship wherein the recent graduate works alongside a professional HVAC technician for a temporary period.[citation needed] HVAC techs who have been trained can also be certified in areas such as air conditioning, heat pumps, gas heating, and commercial refrigeration.

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers is a body that covers the essential Service (systems architecture) that allow buildings to operate. It includes the electrotechnical, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration and plumbing industries. To train as a building services engineer, the academic requirements are GCSEs (A-C) / Standard Grades (1-3) in Maths and Science, which are important in measurements, planning and theory. Employers will often want a degree in a branch of engineering, such as building environment engineering, electrical engineering or mechanical engineering. To become a full member of CIBSE, and so also to be registered by the Engineering Council UK as a chartered engineer, engineers must also attain an Honours Degree and a master's degree in a relevant engineering subject.[citation needed] CIBSE publishes several guides to HVAC design relevant to the UK market, and also the Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. These guides include various recommended design criteria and standards, some of which are cited within the UK building regulations, and therefore form a legislative requirement for major building services works. The main guides are:

Within the construction sector, it is the job of the building services engineer to design and oversee the installation and maintenance of the essential services such as gas, electricity, water, heating and lighting, as well as many others. These all help to make buildings comfortable and healthy places to live and work in. Building Services is part of a sector that has over 51,000 businesses and employs represents 2%-3% of the GDP.

The Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association of Australia (AMCA), Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH), Australian Refrigeration Mechanical Association and CIBSE are responsible.

Asian architectural temperature-control have different priorities than European methods. For example, Asian heating traditionally focuses on maintaining temperatures of objects such as the floor or furnishings such as Kotatsu tables and directly warming people, as opposed to the Western focus, in modern periods, on designing air systems.

The Philippine Society of Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers (PSVARE) along with Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) govern on the codes and standards for HVAC / MVAC (MVAC means "mechanical ventilation and air conditioning") in the Philippines.

The Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) was established to promote the HVAC industry in India. ISHRAE is an associate of ASHRAE. ISHRAE was founded at New Delhi[38] in 1981 and a chapter was started in Bangalore in 1989. Between 1989 & 1993, ISHRAE chapters were formed in all major cities in India.[citation needed]

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Dust in your HVAC system? Sounds gross, but it happens. Dust can get into the air ducts and settle on every surface of your home. It gets everywhere: furniture, clothes, carpeting. Your family breathes this dust in all day long and night after night without realizing how much damage is being done to their health. These are not just harmless specks of dirt; these particles contain allergens that can cause a multitude of respiratory problems for you and your loved ones!

Homeowners in Colorado Springs often overlook their ductwork until they notice a change in their indoor air quality. If you are noticing that your home is either too hot or too cold, then there might be an issue with your ductwork. Rather than trying to diagnose the problem yourself, it would be best to call on a professional who can find the source of the leak and get it repaired as soon as possible. Duct sealing and cleaning company Air Doctors has been providing these services for years, so give them a call today!

Elevation Mechanical HVAC Colorado Springsis proud to be a leader in air duct cleaning, sealing, and ventilation services. We have been helping homeowners for over 10 years with their heating and cooling needs. One of the most important parts of our job is getting your vents cleaned out so that they are operating at peak efficiency while also preventing mold growth which can lead to serious health problems! This blog will outline how we clean your vent systems first, then seal them so that dirt doesnt get back into your homes living areas.

When it comes to your homes heating and cooling system, nothing is more important than indoor air quality. In order for your furnace or AC to work properly, the ducts need to be sealed from leaks and other problems that can cause poor air flow. This will lead to stale, stuffy rooms and higher energy bills. If you want an expert who knows how important indoor air quality is in your home, then give us a call today!

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Heating And Cooling Colorado Springs | Elevation Mechanical