A characteristic of green HVAC equipment is that it saves energy. Building owners, managers, and homeowners all likely want to save money; and as energy costs money, these groups would likely want to save energy as well.

To provide products for this demand, HVAC manufacturers have produced a slew of green products. Whether a commercial or residential contractor, the following are units that can be installed in new and/or retrofit applications to help end users save energy and improve comfort. Listed below in alphabetical order are but a few of the many green HVAC products that are available on the market.

American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning
www.americanstandardair.com
The American Standard Precedent 17 Plus new models T/YHC037E, 047E, 067E3,4 are gas and electric, light commercial, 3- to 5-ton packaged units offering 60- to 130-MBtuh input (natural gas and propane) and 6- to 23-kW electric heat. The equipment has efficiency levels up to 17.5 SEER on select models; direct drive electronically commutated motor (ECM) on all models (preprogrammed with enhanced comfort and energy curves); unloading compressor (0 percent/67 percent/100 percent); single-zone VAV, which improves comfort and efficiency; and enhanced dehumidification offering. Features include multi-stage, variable speed, 78 to 80 percent AFUE, colored and numbered wiring, easy-access low-voltage terminal board (LTB), ReliaTel microprocessor controls, quick-access panels, single-side service, and standardized components.

Broan-NuTone
www.broan.com or www.nutone.com
Designed for multifamily construction and renovation, the Broan-NuTone® LoProfile Fan can be installed between 2x4 wall studs. The LoProfile Fan includes a 4-inch oval duct connector and a transition for 4-inch oval to 3-inch round ducts. The fan operates at 80 cfm and at a quiet 1.1 sones. The LoProfile Fan is HVI-certified to move at least 50 cfm of air at 0.25 inches of static pressure, thus exceeding the ASHRAE 62.2 minimum intermittent local ventilation requirement. According to the manufacturer, ASHRAE 62.2 is a requirement of most green building certifications frequently sought by multifamily developers. The motor is engineered for continuous operation. The fans are UL-listed for use over bathtubs or showers with GFCI circuit.

ClimateMaster Inc.
www.climatemaster.com
The ClimateMaster Tranquility® 30 Digital (TE) joins the Tranquility® 22 Digital (TZ) as geothermal heat pump product lines that integrate digital communicating controls, two-stage capacity, variable-speed fan and variable-flow geothermal source functions within a single package. According to the manufacturer, the Tranquility 30 Digital has been designated as a Most Efficient Energy Star-qualified product for 2012 due to its ultra-high efficiency and smart controls and that it exceeds Tier 3 requirements for the uncapped 30 percent federal geothermal heat pump residential tax credit. By delivering up to 30 EER and 4.8 COP, ClimateMaster has made a significant upgrade in rated efficiency, it said. The series utilizes vFlow™ (variable water flow) technology, which reduces water pumping power by 60 to 80 percent compared to traditional external fixed-speed loop pumping modules, claimed the company.

CQM Systems
www.cqmsystems.com
CQM Systems’ Automatic Tube Cleaning System (ATCS) provides energy-saving, on-line condenser tube cleaning for water-cooled chiller applications. The system periodically injects sponge balls into the condenser water stream, and prevents condenser tubes from developing scale or microbial fouling deposits. Installations often result in 10 to 25 percent improvement in chiller efficiency, while eliminating manual condenser cleaning and extending chiller equipment life. The tube cleaning system eliminates scaling and biofilm condenser fouling to continuously operate the chiller condenser at maximum efficiency, while reducing comfort cooling energy costs by up to 25 percent, said the company. According to the manufacturer, there is a typical simple payback period of less than two years on the equipment, and equipment life of 15-20 years often yields internal rates of return (IRR) in excess of 50 percent. The ATCS drastically reduces or eliminates costly and time-consuming offline condenser cleaning costs and reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenheck Fan Corp.
www.greenheck.com
Greenheck has added the 1-hp Vari-Green motor to its current line of fractional-sized motor offerings for the CUE and CW fan models. The direct drive Vari-Green motor can help meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Prerequisite Two: Minimum Energy Performance; and Credit One: Optimize Energy Performance. The motor provides increased motor efficiency, speed adjustability for either building balance or variable volume applications, as well as extended bearing life. According to the manufacturer, The Vari-Green motor is capable of operating from 20 to 100 percent (80 percent turndown) of full speed versus 70 to 100 percent (30 percent turndown) for standard industry PSC motors.

Jackson Systems LLC
www.jacksonsystems.com
The Lodge Watch™ Wireless Energy Management System from Jackson Systems is a cost-effective way to reduce wasted energy by as much as 40 percent in vacation rental properties, said the company. This is achieved by turning off HVAC equipment when doors and windows are left open. Equipment operation is restored when doors and windows are closed. This monitoring device helps prevent equipment short cycling while saving the property owner on energy costs.

Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating
www.mehvac.com
Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating (Mitsubishi Electric) has made significant improvements to its variable refrigerant flow (VRF) zoning R2-Series and Y-Series cooling and heating systems. The latest units feature flexibility and ease of installation as well as a smaller footprint and improved efficiencies. Both the R2-Series (PURY) and Y-Series (PUHY) units take advantage of Mitsubishi Electric’s inverter-driven compressor technology and use intelligent controls for superior operation, said the company. The R2-Series units are two-pipe systems and offer simultaneous cooling and heating. Features of the enhanced model include simultaneous cooling and heating to 14˚F ambient conditions and support of an extended set point range. Features of the upgraded Y-Series units include cooling or heating up to 50 zones through one outdoor unit and cooling to -10˚ with optional low ambient kit.

Noritz America Corp.
www.noritz.com
The NH150-DV and NH199-DV tankless hydronic boilers from Noritz America Corp. are ideal for constant room temperature comfort for various heating choices, said the manufacturer. The direct-vent units appear similar to tankless water heaters and weigh only 66 pounds, said the company. Featuring a gas-consumption range of 55,500-150,000 Btuh for the NH150-DV and up to 199,900 Btuh for the NH199-DV, the units can be used for residential or light commercial applications. They also offer nine temperature settings (140-180˚F) for hydronic heating applications. Each unit has a high-flow capacity of 14 gallons per minute with a three-speed Grundfos Pumps circulator, providing multiple pump curves. This makes it easier to correct flows and pressure losses, allowing the hydronic boilers to better adapt to changing demand in a heating system. The units also include an outdoor reset control (ORD).

Titus HVAC
www.titus-hvac.com
The EOS, by Titus HVAC, is a solar-powered, energy-harvesting diffuser. It features wireless, energy-harvesting technology. The EOS is completely powered by natural light. It delivers both heating and cooling by utilizing a unique auto-changeover function powered by light energy. According to the manufacturer, this eliminates the wasteful compromise by automatically changing the air discharge pattern to the correct horizontal or vertical position for heating and cooling applications. The energy harvesting feature on the EOS allows energy savings in the range of 30 percent over traditional linear diffusers in the split system, claimed the company. ASHRAE standards 55 for thermal comfort, 62.1 for IAQ and 90.1 for energy savings can all be more easily achieved with the EOS, said the company.

Victaulic Co.
www.victaulic.com/balancing
Victaulic has announced the availability of the TA-SCOPE by Tour & Andersson (TA). The TA-SCOPE is a wireless handheld device that allows contractors to verify, measure, and maintain complex hydronic systems quickly and efficiently, contributing to lower energy costs with added accuracy and ease in the hydronic balancing process. The TA-SCOPE provides swift and accurate measurement of differential pressure, flow, temperature, and power. An independent wireless sensor communicates with the device to deliver data quickly, enabling contractors to troubleshoot hydronic problems and log system performances onsite. The digital data captured by the TA-SCOPE can be uploaded with a USB cable to TA Select valve selection software, making it quick and easy for balancing contractors to interpret data and make the most appropriate valve selections.

WaterFurnace International Inc.
www.waterfurnace.com
The 7 Series 700A11 variable-capacity geothermal heat pump from WaterFurnace International Inc. surpasses both 41 EER and 5.3 COP. The 700A11’s InfiniSpeed™ variable-capacity technology works in concert with a variable-speed loop pump and variable-speed blower motor. According to the manufacturer, the unit is the first variable-capacty geothermal system launched to the residential market and provides the industry’s widest capacity range — from 20 to 130 percent — to keep homeowners comfortable over the widest scope of conditions, allowing the unit to provide excellent humidity control. It can also eliminate the need for auxiliary heat in cold-weather climates. The unit is Energy Star-rated and use of geothermal energy eliminates utilizing the combustible fossil fuels. The Comfort Talk and plain English status updates on the thermostat make the 7 Series easy to diagnose, said the company. Features include a bi-directional electronic expansion valve, SuperBoost™, IntelliZone2 capability, energy monitoring, and a dedicated front-facing communication port.

Publication date: 9/24/2012