ST. LOUIS — Unico Inc., a manufacturer of small-duct central heating and air conditioning systems, announced its commitment to mitigating climate change by making highly efficient electronically commutated (EC) motors standard for all blower models within its modular air handling units.

While the government has mandated all U.S manufacturers of interior air conditioning components equip fan coil and blower units with EC motors by the end of the calendar year 2022 to receive efficiency ratings such as SEER and HSPF, Unico is making this change immediately.

“From the basics of our design — smaller, tightly-sealed ducting with less thermal energy loss or leakage — to our Green Series air handling units, Unico is a proud leader of energy efficient, environmentally friendly, superior indoor comfort products,” said Ashton Gavelek, marketing manager for Unico. “We’re excited to once again be ahead of the curve in the industry by making EC motors standard in all our fan coil unit and modular blower offerings.”

Gavelek notes that while Unico is not discontinuing use of permanent split capacitor (PSC) single speed motor-equipped blowers, they will only be made available upon specific request for like-for-like replacements and/or installations involving hydronic coils (chilled or hot), as no efficiency regulations currently exist for these applications.

“Our installing contractors are the best in the industry,” added Gavelek, “They are the early adopters of innovative, highly efficient technologies that ecologically conscious homeowners increasingly demand, so we know our excitement will extend to them in making these motors standard for most Unico System installations.”