Project Profile – Columbus, electric energy efficient home HVAC installation
Location – Lewis Center, OH 43035 in Delaware county

Custom Air Heating and Cooling designed and installed an energy efficient HVAC for a Lewis Center, OH home. This home, called the Legacy House, north of Columbus, OH in Delaware County is a net zero ready “green” home. The Legacy house has won numerous awards and is among the most efficient homes in central Ohio.

The project required very creative thinking and lots of design work and calculations. This project exceeded anything we had done by leaps and bounds in HVAC for energy efficient homes. A typical house of this size would have required double the amount of heating and cooling. When we ran the heating load calculations we had to triple check to make sure we were accurate. It required that we trust the science and not our instinct that given this house’s size, it needed more registers and bigger equipment.

Mitsubishi air handler & electric heat pump installation in energy efficient home

Legacy house dining room

Dan Troth, GreenTech Construction

Electrification in energy efficient homes

Fossil fuels, such as natural gas, oil, and propane, are burned in furnaces and boilers to produce heat. These fuels contribute to global warming by releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) when burned. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the burning of fossil fuels for heating homes and commercial buildings accounts for 13% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States.

Strategic Electrification aims to reduce greenhouse gases by encouraging the use of highly-efficient, electric-powered mechanical systems to heat homes and buildings.

3 key HVAC systems for energy efficiency in the Legacy House

Custom Air installed 3 major systems that are key to the energy efficiency in the Legacy house

1. Mitsubishi MXZ electric outdoor heat pumps

The first key HVAC system installed was the Mitsubishi Electric’s variable-capacity heat pumps that provide consistent comfort and the energy-efficiency to fulfill Green Techs Construction’s energy efficient design. The Mitsubishi Electric system uses heat drawn from the outdoor air to keep Geo warm during the winter without burning fossil fuels.

Mitsubishi utilizes green technologies and are up to 40% more efficient than central air. The benefits of a Mitsubishi heat pump are:

Healthier – More sustainable home with no gas lines
Energy savings – Inverter driven compressor technology results in substantial energy and utility savings
Steady – Continuous fan movement for steady indoor temperatures
Control – Zoned control for improved comfort and decreased energy usage
Efficient – SEER ratings as high as 33.1—much better than conventional systems
Rebates – Local, state & federal rebates and incentive opportunities
Recyclable – 83% of system components are recyclable
Clean – Washable filters made from natural materials

A 12 year warranty on your HVAC purchase?

Custom Air is a Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor. Call or Text (614) 552-4822 or contact us here to get the Mitsubishi 12 & 12 Warranty on your HVAC install.

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2. Mitsubishi SVZ ducted air handlers

Custom Air installed 2 Mitsubishi SVZ ducted air handlers. Due to the design of the home, we placed one air handler in the basement and a second air handler in the attic above. This allowed us to have two zones of heating and cooling, one second floor and one first floor. If the second floor is not used, then they do not need to keep it as cool or warm as the area they are using. One of the great things about the Mitsubishi system is that even with having two indoor units, they run off of a single MXZ outdoor heat pump unit. The system has the capability for the indoor and outdoor units to ramp up or down to perfectly match the heating and cooling needs of the home without ever using more electricity than needed.

The system has the capability to adjust to perfectly match the heating & cooling needs without ever using more electricity than needed.

Ben Mangon, Custom Air

The Mitsubishi SVZ Series ducted air handlers

Mitsubishi Electric products are supported by a trusted team of Diamond Contractors®. When you choose to work with a Diamond Contractor, not only do you get the benefit of their experience and expertise, but you also increase the warranty on your purchase to 12 years!

What is an Air Handler?

The air handler works with the heating and cooling unit to deliver controlled climate air throughout your house. It works within your current heating and cooling system. An air conditioner can expel as much hot air as it can. Your furnace can generate lots of heat. But without the blower in an air handler, the inside air would stagnate. It needs a force behind it so that your HVAC can do its job.

Before air is delivered through your ventilation system, these devices regulate the temperature. The air moves through a filter in the handler before circulating throughout your ductwork as it passes through the unit. Your AC will operate more effectively and you will enjoy better quality air in your house if pollutants are caught and eliminated before the air goes through the ducts.

An air handler is an important part of your home’s climate control system, regulating the temperature before controlled air is delivered through your ventilation system. By installing an air handler in a well-ventilated area and ensuring that it is free from humidity and condensation, you can improve the quality of air in your home and enjoy more effective operation of your AC unit.

3. Energy Recovery Ventilation ERV

Very well insulated and sealed homes like the legacy House makes them more energy-efficient, but it also allows stale air pollutants to build up inside your home. Surprisingly, the air inside most homes is at least 5 times more polluted than the air outside.

Because the home was sealed so well, Custom Air installed a Honeywell VNT5150 energy recovery ventilator to provide fresh air into the home. The energy recovery ventilator or ERV takes stale air from inside the house and exchanges it with fresh air from outside. By passing both the indoor and outdoor through a heat exchanger we use the leaving air to help condition fresh air coming in there by saving energy costs while maintaining a healthy indoor climate.

An ERV system pre-conditions and dehumidifies during the warmer months; it humidifies and pre-heats during the colder ones. The use of an ERV system allows HVAC engineers to meet ventilation and energy standards while also improving indoor air quality and reducing total HVAC equipment capacity, resulting in lower energy consumption. An HVAC system can maintain a 40-50% interior humidity using an ERV technology, which is effective in all situations.

Proper ventilation is the key to a successful green build. “Build it tight, ventilate it right”

Dan Troth, GreenTech Construction

Custom Air can also can equipt most any home with a heat and energy recovery ventilator to get healthy air coming without your home’s air getting stale or even moist. Indoor air quality is important since homeowners spend a significant amount of time indoors.

Air inside most homes is at least 5X more polluted than outside air.

Call or Text (614) 552-4822 or contact us here about our Indoor Air Quality solutions and breathe easier.

Benefits of an Energy Recovery Ventilator

An energy recovery ventilator, or ERV, can help your home or business have better air quality, save money on utility expenses, and extend the life of your HVAC system.

Higher Indoor Air Quality

Energy recovery ventilators have their own air filters to capture pollutants before they enter your home and impact your family’s health. Air pollution is reduced by these ventilators since they include their own air filters to catch pollutants before they enter your house and harm your family’s health. These machines eliminate dirt, pollen, pet dander, dust, and other particles when they remove old air.

How does an Energy Recovery Ventilator work video from This Old House

They also remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as benzene, ethanol, xylene, acetone, and formaldehyde. These chemicals evaporate or off-gas at low temperatures and are prevalent in many commercial cleaning products and air fresheners. They can cause headaches, dizziness, tiredness, and other symptoms if breathed in over a long period of time. Air filters or air purifiers can’t detect them since they dissipate or off-gas at low temperatures.

Energy savings

An ERV works in a similar way to a heat pump. It uses a heat exchanger to transfer heat from or to the outgoing air and may help you save money on your energy bills. Although it is an investment, it will ultimately pay for itself by reducing costs and improving comfort. It has the potential to increase the value of your property significantly.

Longer life for your HVAC system

ERVs keep your heater and air conditioner from having to run as often, reducing wear and tear. They also prevent contaminants from clogging air filters or causing other issues such as dirty or leaky ductwork. They can reduce inconvenient, costly breakdowns and keep your HVAC system working longer.Custom Air can help you install an energy recovery ventilator and a variety of other heating, cooling, and indoor air quality equipment. For more information and outstanding service, insert contact snippet

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a heat pump?

Simply put, a heat pump is an appliance that both heats and cools your home. It’s similar to an air conditioner in that respect, but it uses less energy than a furnace or boiler.

A heat pump moves warmth from the outdoors into your home (or out of your home to cool it), using coils, a fan, and refrigerant. This is different than generating heat with fuel or through electrical resistance, which typically requires more energy.

There are different types of Heat Pump Systems with the most popular being Ducted Air-Source Heat Pump, Ductless (aka Mini-Split) Air-Source Heat Pump and Ground-source or geothermal heat pumps.

Heat pumps have been around for decades and are the primary HVAC system in more than 10% of American homes. They have been mostly used in the warmer areas of the country, where older heat pump designs may function effectively and efficiently.

Are heat pumps a popular HVAC choice?

Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular as a climate-friendly option for heating and cooling homes. Whether it’s ducted heat pumps, mini-splits, or even geothermal systems, more and more people are turning to this efficient HVAC technology.

Recently prominent news sources and magazines praised heat pumps for their potential to help reduce climate change. Several state and local governments have escalated the rebates and incentives they offer homeowners who install them. The Department of Energy is also throwing its weight behind heat pump adoption over traditional heating systems.

As of December 2021, shipments of heat pumps were up 14.6 percent year over year, according to the Air Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute (an industry trade group).

In a nationally representative survey of 2,103 U.S. adults in June 2022 by Consumer Reports, 49% of those without a heat pump said they would “maybe” consider it in the future. (9% replied with a clear-cut “yes.”) This number has been steadily increasing over recent years as more Americans explore energy efficient alternatives to traditional heating systems.

Why do you need an air handler?

Moving air through ducts and your home is the primary goal of an Air Handler. An air conditioner can expel as much hot air as it needs. You may have a lot of heat from your furnace. However, without a blower, the inside air would just stay stagnant. It takes power behind it in order for your HVAC to function properly.

An air handler is typically connected to a heat pump or an air conditioner. If you ever need emergency or supplementary heat, additional heat strips may be installed at any time. Other components might also improve your indoor air quality. Humidifiers, dehumidifiers, a HEPA filter, and other purification devices can all be added as needed.

Is an air handler the same as a furnace?

No, an air handler does not include a burner to heat air like a furnace. It can’t use natural gas or propane as a source to run and doesn’t have a burner to heat air. An air handler is entirely electric and does not require any exhaust ventilation. The only way an air handler can warm air is by using an outdoor heat pump or employing an optional electric heat element, also called heat strips which acts like a toaster heating the warmed airstream. During this mode of heating, the evaporator coil and outdoor unit are turned off.

What is the difference between HRV and ERV?

A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) saves energy by transferring heat between the stale air exhausted to the outside and the fresh air that is brought inside. By doing so, the HRV prevents the need to use as much energy to heat or cool the home.The heat is retained inside the house in the winter or outside the house in the summer thanks to this. The Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) saves energy by transferring heat as well as moisture. Both HRVs and ERVs are Whole-House Ventilation Systems that allow you to save energy by providing ventilation while also allowing you to use less

More project details & sources

Mitsubishi MXZ-SM48NAM-U1 4 Ton Multi-Zone Inverter Outdoor Heat Pump

FEATURES:

SEER: 23
Refrigerant: R-410A
Quiet outdoor unit operation, rated sound pressure as low as 51 dB(A)
Compressor thermal protection
Compressor overcurrent detection
Fan motor overheating/voltage protection

Custom Air load calculations

The Legacy House energy efficient home details

The Legacy house is home of George Yeager and Sharon Riskedahl, in the Evans Farm subdivision in Delaware County, goes well beyond the EfficiencyCrafted standards. In fact, it might be one of the most efficient homes in central Ohio.

The Legacy house is a 2,466 square foot home designed and built with energy efficiency focus and features an open floor plan, structural insulated panels (SIP), spray foam insulation, and high-efficiency windows. The home was certified by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as a Zero Energy Ready Home, and is under the U.S. EPA WaterSense program for new homes.

Thanks to various sustainable design elements, the owners spent less than $1,000 on utility costs in 2020, including one month when the electric bill was a mere $4.63.

Date Completed: August 2019
Total cost of project (exclusive of land): $600,000
Walls & roof: Structural Insulated Panels (SIP) construction
Architect: F5 architects located in New Albany, OH architects plans for the house – Link
Home awards & certifications

About the builder: GreenTech Construction

Owner: Dan Troth
Phone: 614-989-1122
Email: dtroth@greentechconstruction.com
Website: greentechconstruction.com

Columbus, OH

Dublin, OH

Delaware, OH

Mitsubishi air handler & electric heat pump installation in energy efficient home

The Legacy house is more than 8X as energy efficient as a typical house.