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Focus (1994)

Do the programs that HL&P and the P.U.C. promote benefit the consumer?

Does the SEER rebate program promote the best equipment performance, the best equipment selection, the best equipment installation, the lowest electric bill, the highest comfort level, the longest life cycle and the healthiest home?

Is HL&P or the P.U.C. allowing, considering or openly receptive to alternative to their programs that may work better but do not meet their guidelines?

ARI SEER standards are based on 82 outdoor average and 65 wet bulb average and Houston is 86 to 88 average with 79 wet bulb. Does equipment rated on designs that do not exist in Houston, on average, perform to SEER standards? What effect do these ratings have on total equipment performance? Should these ratings be abandoned in a humid climate like Houston, Texas? What are the actual SEER rating for Houston area conditions? Shouldn't we use the true rating of EER for any given set of operating conditions.

How is HL&P assuring that the equipment is installed correctly? What percentage are rejected? Are inspectors trained in ACCA Manual D duct design?

Total Efficiency

  • Operating cost of the equipment.
  • Comfort to the customer's lifestyle.
  • Life cycle cost to own.
  • Reliability of the equipment.
  • Use of resources to provide comfort (electric vs. gas).
  • Allergy sensitivity of the occupants.
  • Overall healthy home.

System design for exact needs based on

  • Home design.
  • Levels of insulation.
  • Correction factors vs. ROI.
    • How long the customer will live in the house.
    • Financial position.
    • Setting a final goal.
    • Future expansion of the home.
    • Solving present dissatisfactions.
    • High electric bills.
    • Noise consideration.
    • Dirt and air filtration.
    • Equipment location for service and attic use.
    • Ductwork designed to ACCA manual D.
    • Furnace designed to meet City of Houston curb ordinance.
    • Setback thermostats for control of energy use.
    • Proper air flow across the coil.
    • Proper coil selection.
    • Proper humidity levels.
    • Correct refrigerant lines.
    • Sheet metal ductwork to SMACNA standards.
    • Expansion valve coils only.
    • Excellent air filtration.

Warranties and reliability.

  • Running a colder coil.
  • Compressor failures (causes: superheat)
  • Manufacturer's position.
  • The environment damage.
    • Venting.
    • Equipment failures.
    • Trash.
    • Money wasted.
    • Health costs.

Heap pump considerations.

  • Oversize evaporator coils.
  • Performance below 40 degrees.
  • Need for heating in Houston.
  • Locker sock odor syndrome.
  • Competency of technicians.

Rebate Program

In order to sell a non-heat pump system in a home and receive a rebate, the installer must be heat pump certified and tested. The testing requires knowledge and experience in a field the company may have no desire to participate in.

Heat pumps with gas backup.

Heat pumps with gas backup have been heavily encouraged in the past. This is a poor use of the best fuel for the job at hand. It invites more complication with the only net effect is to shift the use of fuel from gas to electric. If gas is available, a heat pump should not be used, let alone encouraged or rewarded.

Energy partner program.

Does it make sense to allow a utility to shut off the outside compressor while continuing to run the indoor fan over the warm wet coil through a hot attic?


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