Energy-Efficient HVAC Systems North Las Vegas

Typically, the most energy-efficient HVAC system for North Las Vegas is a geothermal heat pump. Compared to traditional systems, geothermal heat pumps are more efficient, using the stable ground temperatures of the Earth to heat and cool homes. Unlike forced air units, which push air through ducts, geothermal systems use a series of coils to move heat into and out of the Earth—from the Earth to the home during winter and from the home to the Earth during summer. As a result, geothermal systems reach efficiencies of 300-600% during the coldest winter nights, compared to 175-250% for air-source heat pumps. While geothermal heat pumps have a higher up-front cost, the long-term energy savings make them a cost-effective solution for many homeowners.

In Las Vegas, efficient air conditioning is vital, but keeping a home cool is about more than just the AC. The first step to ensuring energy-efficient cooling is to have a well-sealed and insulated house, one that keeps the cool air in and the hot air out. This means good insulation not just in the walls and roofs, but around windows and doors, too. Once a house is properly sealed, it can be cooled effectively with a range of high-performance, energy-efficient, and properly sized HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems that are either appropriately located within the house or are cool enough to serve the house well. Ceiling fans—as well as other kinds of fans—used to their fullest potential help overwork the AC and also cool the humans who inhabit the house. Last, but certainly not least, the energy chains that run through any house—from lighting to cooking to laundry—can be optimized to run cooler and more efficiently.

In North Las Vegas, the HVAC system can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000, and in some cases, the price can go as high as $12,000 or more. But why the wide-ranging costs? Several factors contribute to the variance, including the type and size of the system, its energy efficiency, and the home's specific heating and cooling requirements. The best way to gauge just how much you'll need to pay for your system is to get multiple quotes from local contractors. And when you do, be sure to let them know if you've decided on a certain system so they can tailor their recommendations and pricing to your situation.

Undoubtedly, North Las Vegas homeowners reap many rewards from energy-efficient HVAC systems. For one thing, these systems are designed to work with today's best building practices. They reduce energy consumption—typical energy savings are about 30% compared to a standard unit. Because most of the "smart" features work in tandem with a homeowner's regular actions, the user experience is much better than what is encountered with a standard system. Overall, we're looking at much better temperature control, much better air quality, a huge reduction in your energy bill, and an increase in your house value because of the smart technologies employed.

Indeed, it is worth paying more to install an efficient, high-quality HVAC unit in a home in North Las Vegas. The reason isn't just that you will save a lot of money in the long run and earn a much lower utility rate for cooling this desert domicile. You will not only save your own money; you will be saving water, given that these units use much less of that precious resource. At the same time, you will be emitting much less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In a city where the price of a nice home goes through the roof, such a unit will likely add to your home's value. And there are rebates and incentives to install efficient, high-quality units.

When choosing an air conditioning system for your home in North Las Vegas, you need to consider several factors. Your specific needs and those of your home, the size of your house, and your budget all come into play. Yet, even with these factors influencing your choice, there remains an impressive array of manufacturers producing reliable, energy-efficient air conditioning systems. Among those fine companies are Trane, Carrier, Lennox, and Rheem, whose systems seem to get good marks from users as well as from independent efficiency raters. Still, even if you have the money to plunk down on one of their top-of-the-line systems, it's essential to consult a local HVAC professional who can help make sure you choose the right air conditioning system for your house.

Although high-efficiency furnaces can save energy and reduce environmental effects, they have several drawbacks that some might find a little off-putting. Primarily, they cost a lot more to buy up front than do efficiency-challenged standard models. And because they have more technology (or complex technology, at least, compared to the standard models), they may also require more service and more skilled service people to keep them going—garden-variety furnace guys may only be able to service the older, standard models. And that may also add to what is often seen (or what may even be!) a not quite propitious up-front investment. To get a high-efficiency furnace going in the first place may require system upgrades that some might not want to pay for or that some might find hard to justify paying for, just as they're paying to heat the place.

Typically, the most costly component of an HVAC unit is the compressor. This key player in the refrigeration cycle of an air conditioning system has the essential job of compressing the refrigerant and circulating it throughout the system. In doing so, the refrigerant exchanges heat and cools the indoor air. Because of the compressor's crucial, but complex, role in the system, replacing it can be one of the priciest repairs an HVAC technician might perform.

In North Las Vegas, how quickly a high-efficiency furnace will pay for itself can depend on a few different things. First, take the cost of the furnace itself and the furnace's efficiency rating. Also, consider local energy prices. Finally, think about your own usage! On average, we find payback periods of about 5 to 10 years. What we find here often doesn't take into account the newer, much-stronger furnace rebate programs that are now available! If we did include them, the average payback period would likely diminish significantly.

In most cases, it is worth it to replace a furnace that is 20 years old. This is especially true for a home in North Las Vegas. The reason is quite simple: a modern furnace is much more energy-efficient than a 20-year-old model. "For your average residential consumer, the difference between an average 1970s or '80s model and a contemporary model is approximately 30 to 40 percent in energy savings," said Cris Medina, who works with the furnace and ducting manufacturers CaptiveAire and Day & Night.