Energy Star and Appliances
From refrigeration to laundry to cooking to dishwashing, your appliances are a necessity in todays world. In this Conserve101 video, learn simple tips to kee...
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Comment by Hal Skinner on February 20, 2011 at 8:35am -
About a year ago I posed a question to the Energy Star program about central AC units. I asked them if they considered an AC unit as an 'Appliance'. The person said they would check but never got back to me.
I have over 20 years of performing 'energy efficiency upgrades' to rooftop AC units and exposed metal ductwork on residential and commercial buildings. I coat (paint) the units and ductwork with our Energy Star 'Cool Roof' coating. This drops the load on the units and makes them much more efficient. I have never dropped the air temperature coming into a building by less than 5-degrees F (on small residemntial units) and I have dropped it
as much as 25-degrees F (for commercial units with what would be consider alot of exposed ducting).
We have around 5 years of coating AC units, plenums and any metal of FLEX ducts in attics with very impressive results.
There are standard rebates available for REPLACING less efficient older AC units. However, the powers that be do not seem interested at all in giving any rebates for upgrading the energy efficiency of these units / systems.
I will also mention that I have contacted a handful of AC manufacturers over the years and presented them with our results. The only response I ever get is, basically, 'If you put your stuff on our units, you will immediately void the warranty'. They do not seem to want to make the units any more efficient.
Here is my rationale, please decide if it is sound. If I add standard insulation to my attic and increase the R-factor and reduce my cooling load and energy required, I can get an energy rebate. If I coat my AC unit and ducts and, in effect, add a substantial level of insulation value to THOSE surfacesand reduce my cooling load and energy required, there are no energy rebates out there that I can find. They do not have any rebates for ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES of older units /sytems.
It still escapes me as to why not.
If trhere is anyone in North Texas or Northern California that would be interested in a demonstration of how effective these methods are, please contact me and I will see what I can do to arrange that once the weather
permits it to be done. a NON-ENDORSEMENT statement of the results is all we would ask in return.
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