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Browse HVAC Subtopics

Acoustics & Soundproofing

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    Soundproofing Outdoor Generators and Condensers

    Special mounts, acoustic blankets, and properly sized barriers are all part of the solution.

     
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    Products

    Stainless-Steel Wiring Staples - Insulating Fire-Block - Site Shop Setup - Premium Sliders - Rust-Resistant Post Mount - Clear Storm Panels - Soundproofing Solution

     
  • Q&A: Soundproofing a Through-Wall Air Conditioner

    Q. My neighbor has a noisy through-the-wall air conditioner that runs day and night. So that I could get a better night's sleep, I thought I would offer to build him a soundproof box he could place around the AC unit, before I resort to more drastic measu

     
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    Products

    Air blocker; quick frieze; decking; exterior doors; ventilation

     

Air Conditioning

  • Heat pumps are refrigeration- cycle devices that use electricity to move and concentrate heat energy, and can be used for both heating and cooling. Although electricity is required to run a compressor,the energy needed to deliver a given quantity of heat with a heat pump is typically a fraction of what it would take to provide the same amount of heat with resistance baseboard heaters or wall-hung units.

    Ductless Heat Pumps(Subscriber content)

    These easily installed units offer flexible sizing and high efficiency at moderate cost.

     
  • Programmable Thermostat

    The Slimline Platinum thermostat provides control of both temperature and humidity levels.

     
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    Soundproofing Outdoor Generators and Condensers

    Special mounts, acoustic blankets, and properly sized barriers are all part of the solution.

     
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    Staff Report: Blackout Power Solutions

    The small, gasoline-powered portable generator is the classic ad hoc response to a major power outage. Yet it may be the homeowner's worst possible choice. Able to provide only enough output for a few lights and a refrigerator, gas-powered generators need frequent refueling and make a lot of noise...

     
 

HVAC

  • Programmable Thermostat

    The Slimline Platinum thermostat provides control of both temperature and humidity levels.

     
  • Maine Passive House: Focus on Fresh Air

     
  • Builder's Guide to Windows

    There are more than 100 million homes and approximately 20 billion square feet of clear-glass residential windows in the U.S. Most of those homes are more than 30 years old, and as a result, the market is growing for replacement windows with energy-efficient insulating glass.

     
  • Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger

    According to Triangle Tube, the Prestige Solo Condensing Boiler is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly heating systems on the market.

     
  • Floor Heat Cable

    WarmWire floor heat cable makes it easy to incorporate radiant heat into a kitchen or bath: You simply tape cable straps to each side of the subfloor, weave the cable between the straps, and cover with a cement-based or gypsum-based mortar.

     
  • Low-E Window Film

    Instead of replacing a sound single-pane window, consider adding Solar Gard Silver AG 50 Low-E Window Film.

     
  • Dryer Duct Booster

    With the Dryer Duct Booster you can set up a laundry room almost anywhere in the house without worrying about the length of the exhaust run or the number of bends.

     
  • Cree Acquires Ruud Lighting

     
  • Cree Acquires Ruud Lighting

    Cree and Ruud Lighting are the latest lighting companies to join the mergers and acquisitions activities that have characterized the lighting industry over the past several years. The announcement, that Cree was acquiring Ruud Lighting, was made on Aug. 17 and involves a stock-and-cash transfer...

     
  • Maine Passive House: Transition Details ~

     
  • Tightening a House When Replacing the Siding (Subscriber content)

    I don't think my client was planning on an energy retrofit when he first talked to me about repairing and repainting the shingle siding on his 120-year-old Massachusetts home.

     
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    Attic Insulation for Hot Climates?

    Q: Builders in cold climates often go beyond code-required attic insulation levels, especially when using a relatively inexpensive material like blown-in cellulose. Is the same approach helpful in cooling climates?

     
  • Building a Simple Passive House

    In September 2009 I completed a deep energy retrofit on a small house in Point Reyes Station, Calif., some 50 miles north of San Francisco.

     
  • Expanding a Kitchen

    We were wrapping up the latest in a series of renovation projects on a suburban Maryland split-level home when I casually mentioned to the owner that her Thanksgiving family gatherings would be a lot more enjoyable if her small kitchen weren't separated from the dining and living areas by a wall.

     
  • Hydronic Heating for Low-Load Houses

    With the right hardware and layout, hot-water heating saves energy and makes ideal use of the sun.

     
  • LED Light Bulb

    According to GE, fins surrounding the new 9-watt Energy Smart LED bulb dissipate heat and disperse light, making it the world's first omnidirectional LED replacement bulb.

     
  • Irene May Rake the East Coast ~

     
  • Brighter Fan Lights

    Broan and NuTone recently announced that they've improved the lighting for their Ultra Silent Ventilation Fans With Lights.

     
  • Low-Noise Fan

    A new player has jumped into the high-end bath-fan market. Delta Products Corp. says Breez Ventilation Fans have ball-bearing-equipped DC brushless motors and 67-fin impellers for ultra-quiet energy-efficient operation.

     
  • Special Citation - Anacostia Neighborhood Library, Washington, D.C.