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the importance of efficient power and climate control systems

efficient temperature regulation systems, lighting, and backup power increase your home’s resilience by optimizing energy use, comfort, and reliability. Here are the best options for Big Sky.

HVAC

did you know that reducing the temperature by just 3°F for 24 hours a day can save 30% on heating costs? According to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), 40-50% of Montana's household energy is used for temperature regulation. This makes heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) a valuable opportunity to save money and energy. Read on to understand your options for HVAC energy conservation.

‍types

central HVAC: heat and cool a building through a network of ducts that circulate air.

‍ductless systems: utilize individual units in each room that are connected by refrigerant lines, allowing for temperature control in each room. Ductless systems are more efficient than traditional systems because the energy lost isn’t through ducts.

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heat pumps

heat pumps are an energy-efficient electric option that can heat, cool, humidify, and filter the air inside your home with a single machine. Instead of burning fuel to generate the heat, they concentrate and transfer heat from the air into your home during the winter. In the summer, they reverse this process to cool your home.

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check out this short video to see how heat pumps work during the cold winter months in Big Sky.

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air source

how it works

air source heat pumps consist of an outdoor unit connected to one or more indoor units by refrigerant lines. They can distribute temperature-controlled air throughout your home using ducts, much like traditional heating and air conditioning systems.

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alternatives include ductless mini-split and mini-duct systems, which are hybrids of ductless and ducted systems. Additionally, air-source heat pumps can supply heat to in-floor radiant heating systems, commonly called air-to-water heat pumps.

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cold climates

heat pumps have historically only worked in mild climates, but recent advancements in cold-climate technology have dramatically improved their performance. Heat pumps have been popular in countries like Norway, Sweden, and Finland for years and are gaining traction in the US’s northern climates, such as Maine and Alaska.

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however, depending on your home setup and ability to retrofit with a heat pump, keeping a backup heating source for particularly cold days might be wise. Even with a backup heating source, your heat pump can cover the vast majority of the heating load and all of the cooling load.

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explore the NEEP Heat Pump Database to determine what heat pumps will work well in our Big Sky climate.

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heat recovery ventilators (HRV)

with a tight building envelope, it is important to replace indoor air with fresh outdoor air. A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) is a ventilation device that not only ensures a continuous supply of fresh outdoor air but also helps make your home healthier, cleaner, and more comfortable by replacing stale indoor air. 

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a heat recovery system works through a heat recovery ventilation (HRV) unit, typically located in the attic, roof space, or plant room of a building. Rather than just extracting indoor air and replacing it with outside air, this system captures heat from the outgoing air and transfers it to incoming fresh air. This process ensures that the extracted and incoming airflow through different pipes and, therefore, do not mix, preventing cross-contamination. The HRV unit is connected to the home’s network of ducts that distribute air throughout the building.

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by utilizing existing heat, a heat recovery system significantly reduces our collective environmental impact and daily heat loss. These systems capture a property's warm air or water and repurpose it to enhance energy use by reducing waste.

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water heating

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heat pump water heaters (HPHWs) cost slightly more than standard electric or propane water heaters, but they can easily pay for themselves in annual energy cost savings.

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HPWHs reduce CO₂ emissions by about 50% and are more efficient than Energy Star natural gas heaters. Their efficiency depends on incoming water and ambient air temperatures, which vary significantly by climate, so having realistic expectations for their unassisted performance is key. 

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water heaters are the second-largest energy users after heating and cooling systems. Switching to an ENERGY STAR-certified electric water heater can save hundreds of dollars a year – the average family of four could save about $550 annually. Those savings and rebates from the Inflation Reduction Act mean a homeowner could recoup the cost in as little as three years.

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efficiency comparisons

• electric resistance water heaters: HPWH’s consume about one-third as much energy, reducing your annual energy costs for hot water by 67%.
• energy star propane water heaters: HPWHs are about five times as efficient, reducing annual energy costs by 75% and carbon emissions by 60%.
• energy star natural gas water heaters: HPWHs are about five times as efficient, with 50% less carbon emissions, and have similar annual energy costs.

for more on how a heat pump water heater works, watch this video: WATCH THIS VIDEO: https://youtu.be/f7KeX8bse-0

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tankless electric water heaters

with their high power draw, tankless electric water heaters are often impractical for the whole home. However, they can be easily adapted for point-of-use heaters for remote fixtures. A smaller heat pump tank can provide the same effective volume as a larger conventional tank by setting a higher tank temperature and using a thermostatic mixing valve to deliver lower-temperature water.

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lighting

daylighting

daylighting uses natural light to light buildings during the daylight hours. This offers significant energy savings in two key areas:

lighting

by harnessing daylight, you can replace artificial light during the day, reducing your energy usage by up to 75%.

heating

natural sunlight can warm your home during cooler seasons and reduce heat loss when paired with the right natural light products.

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energy efficient light bulbs

LED (light-emitting diode) lighting offers significant advantages over traditional incandescent and fluorescent lighting in energy efficiency and lifespan, using 75-90% less energy and lasting up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. This reduces energy consumption and decreases the number of bulbs sent to the landfill. 

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how do LEDs work?

an electrical current passes through a microchip and illuminates the tiny light sources we call LEDs. The heat LEDs produce is absorbed into a heat sink to prevent performance issues.

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why LEDs?

replacing a 60-watt incandescent bulb with a 10-watt LED can save approximately $4.80 per bulb per year, assuming an average of 3 hours of usage per day and an electricity rate of $0.13 per kilowatt-hour. This translates to about $135 in savings per bulb over the bulb’s lifespan. Installing LEDs substantially reduces energy costs, making them a cost-effective and environmentally friendly lighting solution.

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energy-saving technologies

smart home systems

smart home systems connect devices that allow you to remotely track and automate functions to operate at peak efficiency. Devices like thermostats, exterior security lighting, and appliances can be timed to shut down to utilize less electricity. Many appliances actively use energy while idling, so this is a good mechanism to cut down on overall energy use by 10% or more.

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• smart thermostats: Smart thermostats will automatically adjust home temperatures to optimize energy use based on your schedule and preferences. 
• smart lighting: Automate lighting and set a schedule to control brightness.  
• smart plugs: Remotely turn off devices to control energy consumption.‍
• home automation systems: Integrate your devices into one cohesive system to control all devices from one place.

backup power

Home Batteries

a home battery stores energy for later use, similar to any other battery does. Home batteries are often paired with solar panels, which produce excess energy during the day that can be utilized at night.

careful sizing of battery storage systems and selection of critical loads is essential for providing meaningful backup power duration. Electric vehicles with bidirectional charging capabilities can also serve as home backup power sources, reducing the need for standalone generators or battery systems. However, oversizing batteries for whole-home backup may not be cost-effective. 

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access to these elements will help you determine if battery storage is right for you.

• utility upgrade is likely to require a 400 AMP service
• the working life of the battery and subsequent cost of replacement
• distance from the existing utility power source

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to learn more about whole home batteries, check out Evergreen Solar, the National Council for Solar Growth.

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