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Homeowner Benefits? - These are the potential benefits that a typical homeowner will realize by following the tips or by installing the home-related products that are discussed in this column.
312 - New heat
pumps eliminate that chilly feeling and lower utility bills
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of the most efficient,
comfortable heat pumps, capacities, compressor types, output levels, blower
speeds, efficiencies (HSPF and SEER), warranties, illustration and description
of how a scroll compressor works, heat pump maintenance suggestions and a
payback chart.
Homeowner Benefits: Lower electric bills, greater heat and cooling
output efficiency
421 - Mini-split
ductless central air conditioners, heat pumps for efficiency,
comfort
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 10 ductless mini-split air
conditioners/heat pump systems, cooling outputs (SEER), heating outputs (HSPF),
efficiency ratings, comfort features, zones available, illustrations of several
models, typical installations and a chart on how much you will save by
installing a mini-split system.
Homeowner Benefits:Install whole-house air-conditioning without ducts,
zone cool home
425 - Easy-to-use
smart thermostats save money, improve comfort
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 11 smart programmable
thermostat manufacturers (25 models), time/temperature schedules, number of
setback options, comfort/convenience features, installation instructions with
illustrations, typical time/temperature family schedule chart and a setback
saving charts.
Homeowner Benefits:Improve comfort, lower heating and air-conditioning
bills
458 - Air-condition
your house while heating your water for free
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of comfort/efficiency devices -
heat pump water heaters, whole-house geothermal/desuperheater units,
dehumidifying heat pipes (with or without blowers), and other cooling/comfort
devices, payback/savings tables and water heating efficiency tips.
Homeowner Benefits:Lower water heating bills, additional free house
cooling in summer
463 - Roll small
portable air conditioner/heat pump from room to room
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 10 manufacturers (30
models) of portable air conditioners/heat pumps showing cooling capacity,
efficiency ratings, dehumidifying outputs, comfort/convenience features,
weights/dimensions, and cost-to-use and utility bills savings charts.
Homeowner Benefits: Roll one unit from room to room, spot cool any room,
lower utility bills
486 - Register/duct
booster fans improve year-round comfort, savings
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 14 automatic register and
duct booster fan, filter and decorator register manufacturers listing design
types, dimensions of the units, fan air flow ratings, electricity usage,
features describing automatic and special controls, decorative finishes
(registers only), illustrations of many units, and prices.
Homeowner Benefits:Boost cooling output to a hot room (summer) or heat
to a chilly room (winter), more attractive registers
493 - Decorative
ceiling fans for style, comfort and savings
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 11 manufacturers of
high-quality, standard and air cleaner ceiling fans listing unique and unusal
styles, blade pitch, blade size, blade finishes and colors, speed range (rpm),
controls (hand-held or wall-mount), features, many illustrations and features
of selected models, a chart showing recommended fan sizes and temperatures for
various rooms.
Homeowner Benefits: Improve indoor comfort year-round, lower utility
bills, attractive appearance
589 - Room zoning
system saves money, improves family's comfort
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 13 home zoning systems,
number of zones, type of dampers (internal, side or bottom mount), range size
of dampers (rectangular of round), control/comfort features, a savings chart
and illustrations and descriptions of several models and designs.
Homeowner Benefits:Even room temperatures, improved comfort, lower
utility bills year-round
617 - Window film
improves comfort, blocks fading, saves energy year-round
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of do-it-yourself and
professional window film manufacturers (34 films) listing colors, properties
(total solar transmittance, total solar reflectance, total solar absorption,
visible light transmittance, ultraviolet rejected, U-factor, shading
coefficient, emissivity, total solar energy rejected), prices,
definitions/technical terms of the properties and installation instructions.
Homeowner Benefits:Reduce summer heat, winter heating bills and
furniture fading, safer around children
641 - Whole-house
fans cool house quietly and inexpensively, easy to install
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of eight whole-house fan
manufacturers (28 models) listing blade diameters, maximum air flows, rpms,
drive types (direct or belt drive), features, prices, suggested operation of a
whole-house ventilation fan, and do-it-yourself installation instructions with
a diagram, illustrations, diagram and explanation of how whole-house fan draws
in cool air and expels hot air.
Homeowner Benefits: Lower electric bills, greater comfort, fresh air in
home
713 - Mini-duct,
pressurized central air conditioners for comfort, savings
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of mini-duct pressurized
central air-conditioning system manufacturers, model names, ranges of cooling
capacities, main duct and room outlet sizes, many system/component
illustrations, installation details, efficiency/cost-to-use chart, and a list
of manufacturers of the most efficient compatible outdoor compressor units.
Homeowner Benefits:Install whole-house air-conditioning without ducts,
very quiet, even heating cooling
733 - Duct cleaning
can improve air quality and lower utility bills
Update Bulletin Description - List of 550 certified duct cleaning
companies across the country, number of certified technicians at each company,
descriptions of the three most common duct cleaning methods, and a checklist
for selecting a duct cleaning company in your area.
Homeowner Benefits: Reduce allergies, better overall indoor air quality,
improve furnace/air-conditioner
803 - Tune up your
window and central air conditioner yourself
Update Bulletin Description - Do-it-yourself maintenance for central and
window air conditioner tune-ups; do-it-yourself instructions for making a
shade/storage bin for an air conditioner with illustrations and dimensions,
required materials list and a troubleshooting guide for air conditioners (a/c
problems shown with possible solutions).
Homeowner Benefits: Lower utility bills year-round, lower maintenance
costs, more cooling output
861 - Quiet
window/room air conditioners save money, have remote controls
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of nine most efficient and
quiet window air conditioners (36 models), EER's, blower speeds, moisture
removal rates (pints/hour), wattages, chassis types (fixed, slide-out),
dimensions, weights, comfort features, a capacity worksheet, efficiency and
maintenance tips for room air conditioners.
Homeowner Benefits: Quiet comfort for sleeping, lower utility bills
921 - New central
A/C models save money, the ozone layer with better comfort
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of the most efficient
modulating and two-stage central air conditioners for 2010 listing type of
refrigerant used, cooling output ranges, SEER efficiency ratings, type of
compressor design, comfort features, warranties, tips for selecting a quality
air-conditioning dealer, description and an illustration of how a scroll
compressor works, savings/payback chart, and info on the new thermostats.
Homeowner Benefits:Lower electric bills, higher cooling output on hot
afternoons, quieter operation, more comfortable and better dehumidification.
723 - Geothermal
heat pumps for lowest utility bills, best comfort
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 14 single and multilevel
geothermal heat pump manufacturers (26 models) listing efficiencies
(cooling-EER, heating-COP), output levels, blower speeds, types (loop or DX),
features, freon/R410A, many illustrations, closed loop earth coupled
applications with descriptions and diagrams and a fuel cost comparison chart.
Homeowner Benefits: Lower utility bills year-round, more heat and
cooling output, very quiet
950 - Central air
cleaners are effective for allergies, improve efficiency
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 11 whole-house air cleaner
maufacturers (35 models) listing filtration methods (self-charging
electrostatic, pleated media, HEPA, electronic, UV purifying), dust arrestance
ratings, features, prices, an allergen/design selector chart and illustrations
and descriptions of selected models.
Homeowner Benefits:Reduced allergies, better indoor air quality, lower
heating and cooling costs
993 - Whole-house
heat recovery ventilators bring in fresh air
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 13 whole-house HRV and ERV
manufacturers listing model numbers, air flow rate ranges, energy transfer
efficiency ratings, type of heat exchanger design (enthalpic or just
heat/cool), electric power consumption, unique features, prices, illustrations
of models and a chart of common indoor air contaminants/problems.
Homeowner Benefits: Bring fresh air into home efficiently, control
indoor humidity