Green HVAC Guide

Ever since mankind began to industrialize, environmentalism has been a constant dilemma. From the coal-stained streets of London to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, we have always traded the destruction of one existing circumstance for our personal comfort and survival. The question has always been the same: how can we have our cake and recycle it too?

In the case of heating and cooling our homes, human beings have actually begun to be relatively successful. Of course, every HVAC system is dependent on existing power grids, but designers in the 21st century have been remarkably ingenious in maximizing their efficiency and minimalizing their impact on the environment, to the point where whole businesses have sprung up specializing in environmentally conscious HVAC systems.

What Counts As A Green HVAC?

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning businesses have continually grown over the years, improving on environmental augmentation with new technologies and new materials. In this light, adding tree hugging to the industry is a natural and necessary development, made official by the Environmental Protection Agency’s legal muscle.

The US Green Building Council established The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system in 1998, a third-party certification criteria with over 14,000 projects worldwide. Our current system rates on a gold, silver and bronze standard, with platinum for exceptionally green buildings. The new 7 World Trade Center in New York City, for example, is a LEED gold standard building with energy saving design elements like recycled steel, channeling natural sunlight and rainwater collection for cooling.

Green HVAC industry falls into the standards promoted by LEED, namely energy conservation, water efficiency and materials used or wasted. Reducing toxic by-products is also a high-level concern, especially for systems that circulate air throughout entire buildings. For the average homeowner or small building owner, installation of Energy Star heating and cooling devices is the American standard. Look for the IAQ Home Label that marks the EPA’s standard for air quality if you’re looking to purchase a home or building with a green HVAC system.

Hmm… Okay, Sell Me On This, Why Should I Get Into Green HVAC?

Green HVAC is a relatively new business venture, but it’s been quickly gaining ground in the design of new buildings for their energy saving, and thus cost-saving, benefits. As if that wasn’t appeal enough, Uncle Sam actually foots some of the bill with many Federal assistance and funding programs aimed at promoting large-scale energy efficiency. You’re likely to gain some tax exemptions from an installation as well.

What Are The Benefits And Options?

The more adventurous entrepreneur has a lot of options in this rapidly developing industry, especially for real estate developers. Blue roofs, for example, harvest rainwater for cooling, recreation or energy. Carbon dioxide sensors can be installed to maintain optimum ventilation within a building, as opposed to leaving costly circulating equipment operating throughout the length of the day. Solar panels are a long-established technology, and the planned Solar Tower in Australia is expected to provide up to 200,000 homes with electricity when completed. Smaller panels are available for installation in residential neighborhoods.

Installing energy-efficient HVAC systems is an investment in finances and environmentalism alike that should appeal to building owners looking to reboot their older HVAC systems. For example, chiller boiler systems are kind of like the gingerbread house kits for green HVAC. By using water instead of air to modulate temperature, these systems are much more efficient and can be installed in a mechanic-friendly pre-engineered pack. Companies will also appraise your property for the appropriate HVAC system, as well as possible solar or geothermal applications.

Sounds Good, Are There Any Risks?

In addition to normal HVAC business issues, Green HVAC companies have their own can of worms. Any ventilation equipment is also potential harbor for mold, and with water-cooled green systems, the potential for fungal infestation is relatively high.

New kinds of equipment inevitably have a lot of gremlins, but an experienced company will be familiar and up to date with green technology. Repairs for new equipment can be difficult or costly, but your standard HVAC equipment is very similar to your old: boiler, ducts, cooling elements. It’s likely that falling back on our old friends duct tape and elbow grease can fix a lot of these kinks.

To sum it up, yes, green HVAC has a certain element of financial risk, but there is a large buffer zone of tried and true technology. Considering the environmental and cost benefit, installing green systems is both looking to the future and looking out for our social butts.