The magazine turned to Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems to provide hvac equipment for the project.
The 3,000-sq-ft home is currently under construction in Chapel Hill, N.C. Local dealer-contractor L.D. Swain & Son, Durham, installed the heating-cooling equipment in cooperation with the manufacturer’s North Carolina distributor, Thermo Industries, Inc.
“The home will showcase products and systems for the way we live today and the way we believe we will live over the next decade,” explained Bill Nolan, senior building editor at Better Homes and Gardens.
The way we will live
“In our research into the issues and trends that would affect our readers’ future, we learned about the mandated phaseout of R-22 refrigerant and the current availability of air conditioning systems that use ‘Puron’ refrigerant as an environmentally sound replacement,” said Nolan.“This is the type of product we wanted to include in Blueprint 2000.”
Bryant’s family of hvac equipment met the publication’s criteria that products showcased in the home must be energy and environmentally efficient, flexible, low maintenance, and family friendly.
The home’s first floor will have two 550A, 13-SEER air conditioners using non-ozone-depleting Puron (R-410A).
“In the years to come, non-ozone-depleting refrigerants certainly will shape consumers’ decision-making about hvac products and services as the phaseout of R-22 progresses,” commented Lorraine Ball, Bryant brand manager.
The manufacturer also will provide two Plus 90i™ high-efficiency gas furnaces for the showcase home. The unit features a combination of a two-stage gas valve, variable-speed inducer motor, variable-speed blower motor, and an intelligent electronic control center to adapt to changing needs within the home, says the company.
These variable-speed units help eliminate the discomfort of temperature swings and excessive energy use, says the manufacturer, and have an AFUE rating of 96.6. The furnaces are paired with a Bryant programmable thermostat.
For families on the go
“The programmable thermostat is ideal for families on the go,” said contractor Larry Swain, of L.D. Swain & Son. “As easily as the push of a button, family members can program the thermostat so that the furnace produces just the right amount of heat to keep them comfortable while at home, and save energy and money while they are at work or school.”A 12-SEER, Model 697-C, split-system heat pump will condition the home’s second floor and studio. The outdoor unit is protected by a DuraGuard™ coil guard, which helps prevent damage to the outdoor unit from rocks and other debris.
The home’s workshop, which has no ductwork and limited space, uses a Model 538B ductless heat pump, which is ceiling mounted.
The Blueprint 2000 show home will be open to the public in July and will be featured in the November 1999 issue of Better Homes and Gardens. For more information, visit the Bryant website at www. bryant.com.
