Today's energy efficient air conditioners use as much as 40% less electricity than older models. This reduced consumption results in major savings, with the same or greater levels of comfort. If an air conditioning unit is 10 years or older it is likely an upgrade to a new more efficient system will save money on your monthly electric bills.

BTU offer rebates to customers who install high efficiency HVAC equipment and do not require you have an energy audit to qualify.

A HVAC Rebate Application can be accesed here or picked up at BTU's main office at 205 E 28th, Bryan Texas. Local A/C contractors should have copies as well.

To qualify for a rebate:

• Units must be new and a have a minimum Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating of 14 or higher.
• Rebates can be for replacing existing older units and for new construction. To qualify for the rebate in new construction; ductwork must be a minimum of R8.
• Both the evaporator coil (inside unit) and the condensing unit (outside unit) must be replaced as a matching system as rated in the Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute directory. The A.R.I. reference number must be noted on the application.
• A/C replacement must be sized to no more than 12,000 Btu’s (1 Ton) for every 500 square feet of conditioned space.
• A/C equipment model, serial numbers and Job Permit Number should be provided by the installer and disclosed on the application form below. Job Permit numbers are not required outside of the Bryan city limits.
• Once the application inspection is completed, deliver it to our BTU Offices at 205 E 28th Street, Bryan, Texas or mail it to PO Box 1000 Bryan, TX. 77805, Attn: HVAC rebate program.
• BTU reserves the right to inspect the installed equipment.
• The rebate will be mailed directly to you within three to four weeks.
• Qualifying units installed after February 11, 2008, will be eligible.

RESTRICTIONS

• Rebates are subject to change without notice
• Limit one (1) HVAC Rebate per Customer Account.
• All rebates are subject to approval and are contingent upon fund availability.

What does SEER/EER mean?

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER, is the measure of a unit’s average energy efficiency over a cooling season. In January 2006, the federal energy-efficiency standard for new equipment changed from 10.0 SEER to 13.0 SEER. Units manufactured after January 23, 2006 must have a SEER rating of 13.0 or higher. While 13.0 SEER equipment may be more efficient than your current system, it is now considered standard efficiency.

Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) is a measurement of how energy-efficient an air conditioner remains at high outdoor temperatures and persistent use. Many central air conditioners do not operate efficiently at high outdoor temperatures (95°F and above). A high EER rating ensures that your unit is operating efficiently at all temperatures.

The SEER is defined as the total cooling output (in British thermal units or Btu) provided by the unit during its normal annual usage period divided by its total energy input (in watt-hours) during the same period.

To calculate for EER, take the Btu’s divide by the number of watts consumed by the unit. So for a 12,000 Btu unit that consumes 1200 watts, the EER is a 10.

What is a Central Air Conditioning system?

Central air conditioners circulate cool air through a system of supply and return ducts. Supply ducts and registers (i.e., openings in the walls, floors, or ceilings covered by grills) carry cooled air from the air conditioner to the home. This cooled air becomes warmer as it circulates through the home; then it flows back to the central air conditioner through return ducts and registers.

Air conditioners help to dehumidify the incoming air, but in extremely humid climates or in cases where the air conditioner is oversized, it may not achieve a low humidity.

Running a dehumidifier in your air conditioned home will increase your energy use, both for the dehumidifier itself and because the air conditioner will require more energy to cool your house.

Types of Central Air Conditioners

A central air conditioner is either a split-system unit or a packaged unit.

In a split-system central air conditioner, an outdoor metal cabinet contains the condenser and compressor, and an indoor cabinet contains the evaporator. In many split-system air conditioners, this indoor cabinet also contains a furnace or the indoor part of a heat pump. The air conditioner's evaporator coil is installed in the cabinet or main supply duct of this furnace or heat pump. If your home already has a furnace but no air conditioner, a split-system is the most economical central air conditioner to install.

In a packaged central air conditioner, the evaporator, condenser, and compressor are all located in one cabinet, which usually is placed on a roof or on a concrete slab next to the house's foundation. This type of air conditioner also is used in small commercial buildings. Air supply and return ducts come from indoors through the home's exterior wall or roof to connect with the packaged air conditioner, which is usually located outdoors. Packaged air conditioners often include electric heating coils or a natural gas furnace. This combination of air conditioner and central heater eliminates the need for a separate furnace indoors.

What are Heat Pumps and are they more efficient?

Three types of heat pumps are typically available for residences: (1) air-to-air, (2) water source, and (3) ground source. Heat pumps collect heat from the air, water, or ground outside your home and concentrate it for use inside. Heat pumps operate in reverse to cool your home by collecting the heat inside your house and effectively pumping it outside. Heat pumps have both heating and cooling ratings-both in terms of capacity and efficiency. Capacity ratings are generally in British thermal unit (Btu) per hour or tons (one ton equals 12,000 Btu/hr). Heating efficiency for air source heat pumps is indicated by the heating season performance factor (HSPF). The HSPF tells you the ratio of the seasonal heating output in Btu's divided by the seasonal power consumption in Watt-hours. A heat pump can supply 2 to 3 times as much heat as it consumes in electricity because it moves energy from outside to inside (or vice versa). Heat pump efficiency varies with outdoor temperature. The performance of an air source heat pump in heating mode decreases with the drop in outside air temperature. The actual seasonal efficiency (as opposed to the rating) is therefore higher in a mild climate than in a severe cold climate. In the cooling mode, a heat pump operates exactly like a central air conditioner. The seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) is analogous to the HSPF but tells you the seasonal cooling performance.

Why Buy Energy Efficient Heat Pumps?

If you use electricity to heat your home, consider installing an energy-efficient heat pump system. Heat pumps are the most efficient form of electric heating in mild and moderate climates, providing two to three times more heating than the equivalent amount of energy they consume in electricity. Air source heat pumps are recommended for mild and moderate climate regions, where the winter temperatures usually remain above 30°F. Ground source (also known as geothermal) heat pumps are more efficient and economical to operate when compared to conventional air source heat pumps, especially in climates with similar heating and cooling loads.

Does my HVAC system need Maintenance?

There are some other very good reasons to properly maintain your HVAC system, including:

• Lower utility costs.
• Increase the service life of the HVAC equipment (reduce replacement costs).
• Greater comfort for the building’s occupants.

Common best practices for maintaining an HVAC system are as follows:

• Select Best Filter Capacity
• Replace Filters (every month)
• Clean Evaporator and Condenser Coils (once or twice a year)
• Fix Leaks in Cabinet and Supply Duct (annually)
• Clean and Adjust Dampers (annually)
• Inspect Fan, Bearings and Belts (twice annually)
• Clean Air Ducts (Inspect every 2 years)