The reliable and energy-efficient HVAC system is an indispensable investment for any home or business in Las Vegas. With the extreme heat of summer and the occasional chill of winter, the optimal indoor climate is unattainable without high-quality climate control. One of the best options you might consider is a central air conditioning system that has high efficiency and uses energy wisely. These systems usually provide a SEER of 16 or higher, which means you could save a good bit of money on your utility bills during the summer. When optimally installed and well maintained, a central air conditioning system provides cool comfort and maintains a high indoor air quality at a price that makes sense. A smart thermostat can obviously make a difference. But what about the actual "brains" of the operation? How good, really, is a central air conditioning system at achieving what the SEER claims it can achieve?
An alternative worthwhile to explore is the potential of mini-split HVAC systems. These systems are especially advantageous in older buildings or homes where installing ductwork is impractical. Unline many ducted systems, mini-splits do not have a problem maintaining climate control because they need room to room; the spaces pull air and adjust as necessary to reach their thermostats’ set points. (Some mini-split models operate with inverter technology, offering a more energy-efficient operation than your average inverter AC; these systems don’t quit when the compressor is at its lowest speed—they keep going, and going, and going, because a person’s space is in the range of 10,000-50,000 cubic inches—a pretty big difference when you’re talking about 1/8th to 1/2 of an inch in determining efficiency per RPM between one averaging 1,100 RPM and another averaging 1,463 RPM.)
In Las Vegas, where the sun shines most every day, using solar energy is not just a good idea—it's a perfect match. Why? Because local climate conditions are such that solar power really works here. And that's why, despite some of the solar systems requiring a large up-front investment, I reckon solar energy offers a pretty great return on investment when you take into account all the federal and state incentives you can initially take advantage of (and several that also recur annually). Actually, you could say that's the condition precedent for achieving peak efficiency: the profitability of going solar requires some condition of maintenance and monitoring that's pretty similar to the upkeep you'd need for any not-quite-clearly functional solar system. But when you go solar, and when you maintain what you just installed, the payoff is enhanced market value—because your property is now less energy-dependent and therefore more eco-friendly.