Heating and Cooling Systems for Zero Energy Homes
Cooling Systems
Whole House Fan or Economizer System
The principal of ventilation cooling is to circulate cool night air through buildings, thereby cooling (removing heat from) interior mass surfaces such as walls, concrete floors, and furnishings. During the day this cool mass absorbs heat from the air, keeping indoor temperatures more comfortable. Studies have shown that ventilation cooling can eliminate the need for air conditioning in coastal California climate zones, and can substantially reduce both total and peak demand air conditioning energy use in the inland valleys.
One example is:
Whole House Fan or Economizer System
The principal of ventilation cooling is to circulate cool night air through buildings, thereby cooling (removing heat from) interior mass surfaces such as walls, concrete floors, and furnishings. During the day this cool mass absorbs heat from the air, keeping indoor temperatures more comfortable. Studies have shown that ventilation cooling can eliminate the need for air conditioning in coastal California climate zones, and can substantially reduce both total and peak demand air conditioning energy use in the inland valleys.
One example is:
Davis Energy Group: Nightbreeze is an integrated night ventilation cooling system with intelligent adaptive controls that optimize security, cooling comfort and energy: www.davisenergy.com.
Auxiliary air conditioning should have a minimum of SEER 17. Building codes require a minimum of 13.
To maximize savings, consider advanced systems with SEER 18+ that come with high speed operation disabled. Also, evaporatively cooled condensers in hot locations are an option that work like air conditioners, but they accept outside air that is cooled by evaporation.
Heating Systems
Fully condensing gas furances (91%+) are highly efficient. Tankless gas heaters with hydronic loop, connected with a whole house economizer system (Nightbreeze, Rinani, Tacagui) are also efficient. If you use an electric heat pump, consider geothermal ground loop system and minimize circulation pump power.
