The Whole-House Approach to HVAC Systems

Many of our customers come to us because they’re building a new home. New construction gives homeowners a unique opportunity to design their HVAC systems from scratch, with future energy-efficiency and indoor air quality in mind. So, the planning stage of the process is a good time to think about the heating and cooling systems in terms of a whole-house approach.
Designing and constructing an energy-efficient house in Northeast Florida requires careful planning and attention to details. A whole-house systems approach can help you and your architect develop a successful strategy for incorporating energy efficiency into your home’s design.

A whole-house systems approach considers the interaction between you, your building site, your climate, and these other elements or components of your home:

■Appliances and home electronics
■Insulation and air sealing
■Lighting and daylighting
■Heating and cooling
■Water heating
■Windows, doors and skylights

Each of these elements can be designed, and materials chosen, to enhance your home’s energy-efficiency in order to reduce utility bills and improve home comfort. We’ll cover these elements in future posts.

Builders and designers who use this approach recognize that the features of one component in the house can greatly affect other components, which ultimately affects the overall energy efficiency of the house. Choosing a builder who believes in the whole house approach to HVAC is a smart move that pays off in reduced utility bills, lower maintenance costs and improved air quality while you live in the home.

Some benefits of using a whole-house systems approach include:

■Reduced utility and maintenance costs
■Increased comfort
■Reduced noise
■A healthier and safer indoor environment
■Improved building durability.

So, if you’re building, be sure to work with contractors who understand how to use the whole house approach to ensure your future comfort. This approach is meant to help your home work smarter, not harder. And, it can be used with any home design. We can work with you and your builder to incorporate all related systems in a way that meets your specifications, so ask us about the whole house approach, and how to plan your Florida dream home with comfort and energy efficiency in mind.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about The Whole-House Approach and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website.