HVAC design Archives - Energy Vanguard https://www.energyvanguard.com/tag/hvac-design/ Building science knowledge, HVAC design, & fun Tue, 27 Aug 2024 10:54:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 A Fistful of New Building Science Videos https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-fistful-of-new-building-science-videos/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-fistful-of-new-building-science-videos/#view_comments Mon, 26 Aug 2024 20:00:40 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=9175 We’re doing some new things here at Energy Vanguard.  We’ve had a YouTube channel since 2010 but haven’t done much with it.  So one of the new things is working on putting out new videos every week.  Here are the…

The post A Fistful of New Building Science Videos appeared first on Energy Vanguard.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-fistful-of-new-building-science-videos/feed/ 1 What’s the Correct Air Flow for an Air Conditioner? https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/whats-the-correct-air-flow-for-an-air-conditioner/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/whats-the-correct-air-flow-for-an-air-conditioner/#view_comments Tue, 07 May 2024 17:34:30 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=9011 Air conditioning is a wonderful thing.  Now that warm weather is returning here in the northern hemisphere, ACs are getting turned on and cranked up again.  The air in a house gets warm because of the heat coming in through…

The post What’s the Correct Air Flow for an Air Conditioner? appeared first on Energy Vanguard.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/whats-the-correct-air-flow-for-an-air-conditioner/feed/ 9 Heat Pump Basics https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/heat-pump-basics/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/heat-pump-basics/#view_comments Tue, 05 Dec 2023 02:02:58 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8710 Whether you’re thinking of getting a heat pump or you already have one, knowing these heat pump basics can help you get the right heat pump and operate it properly.  The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) here in the US has…

The post Heat Pump Basics appeared first on Energy Vanguard.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/heat-pump-basics/feed/ 43 Do You Really Need That Much Window Area? https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/do-you-really-need-that-much-window-area/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/do-you-really-need-that-much-window-area/#view_comments Tue, 01 Aug 2023 15:43:57 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=7937 Windows are thermal bridges in pretty much every home.  The best windows available have an R-value of only about 12.  More affordable windows are in the R-3 to R-6 range.  Wall R-values are in the 13 to 15 range on…

The post Do You Really Need That Much Window Area? appeared first on Energy Vanguard.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/do-you-really-need-that-much-window-area/feed/ 43 Cooling Load Variation With Changing Temperatures https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/cooling-load-variation-with-changing-temperatures/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/cooling-load-variation-with-changing-temperatures/#view_comments Wed, 28 Jun 2023 13:48:18 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8379 Sizing an air conditioner (or heat pump) shouldn’t be left to guesswork.  That’s why we have engineering protocols like ACCA Manual J for calculating the amount of cooling load a house experiences.  Among the factors that contribute are the outdoor…

The post Cooling Load Variation With Changing Temperatures appeared first on Energy Vanguard.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/cooling-load-variation-with-changing-temperatures/feed/ 12 Will a Heat Pump Work in an Old House? https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/will-a-heat-pump-work-in-an-old-house/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/will-a-heat-pump-work-in-an-old-house/#view_comments Wed, 15 Feb 2023 01:07:40 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8085 The question of heat pumps in old houses is coming up a lot lately.  With the great electrification upon us, heat pumps are quickly becoming the number one choice for space heating.  In fact, data from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and…

The post Will a Heat Pump Work in an Old House? appeared first on Energy Vanguard.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/will-a-heat-pump-work-in-an-old-house/feed/ 69 The Top 10 Articles in the Energy Vanguard Blog in 2022 https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-top-10-articles-in-the-energy-vanguard-blog-in-2022/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-top-10-articles-in-the-energy-vanguard-blog-in-2022/#view_comments Thu, 29 Dec 2022 14:16:50 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=7968 It’s been a good year in the Energy Vanguard Blog.  Counting this one, I’ve published 46 articles during the year.  Of the previous 45 articles, I think the following might be ten most important ones.  This is just my own…

The post The Top 10 Articles in the Energy Vanguard Blog in 2022 appeared first on Energy Vanguard.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-top-10-articles-in-the-energy-vanguard-blog-in-2022/feed/ 2 Heat Pump or Furnace: Which Is Better for Comfort? https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/heat-pump-or-furnace-which-is-better-for-comfort/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/heat-pump-or-furnace-which-is-better-for-comfort/#view_comments Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:36:16 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=7910 With all the incentives for heat pumps and the talk of electrification these days, you may be thinking of going with a heat pump.  Heat pumps can work in both new and existing homes.  But can you be comfortable with…

The post Heat Pump or Furnace: Which Is Better for Comfort? appeared first on Energy Vanguard.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/heat-pump-or-furnace-which-is-better-for-comfort/feed/ 79 4 Ways to Fix Your Duct System https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/4-ways-to-fix-your-duct-system/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/4-ways-to-fix-your-duct-system/#view_comments Tue, 16 Aug 2022 13:33:22 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=7679 I’ve written a lot of articles about ducts here, but I haven’t yet addressed today’s topic:  common problems with ducts and how to fix them.  This one is for homeowners or renters who want to save money and be more…

The post 4 Ways to Fix Your Duct System appeared first on Energy Vanguard.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/4-ways-to-fix-your-duct-system/feed/ 13 Air Conditioner Sizing: Load Calculations vs Rules of Thumb https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/air-conditioner-sizing-load-calculations-vs-rules-of-thumb/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/air-conditioner-sizing-load-calculations-vs-rules-of-thumb/#view_comments Tue, 14 Jun 2022 15:20:21 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=7505 It’s time to revisit one of my favorite topics:  air conditioner sizing.   Many contractors use rules of thumb to decide what size cooling equipment to install.  Usually, the rule is based on the amount of conditioned floor area, and contractors…

The post Air Conditioner Sizing: Load Calculations vs Rules of Thumb appeared first on Energy Vanguard.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/air-conditioner-sizing-load-calculations-vs-rules-of-thumb/feed/ 14