[Greenbuilding] Question about Air Conditioning

[RONALD CASCIO]

Like Keith said, too little information to make any educated suggestions.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Keith Winston" <keith at earthsunenergy.com>
To: "Greenbuilder list" <greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 1:58 AM
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Question about Air Conditioning


> Hi Kathy: you say "Summers can easily get to be 110F". Where exactly in
> N. CA are you? Those are very unusually high temperatures for N. CA., I
> think. We can find what your actual design temps are when we know where
> you are located.
>
> Your questions are only about cooling. You are in a heating dominated
> climate I THINK. If you do little cooling, then a higher efficiency unit
> makes less sense. In any case, always attend to insulation and air
> tightness first and foremost, and possibly consider (if you've been
> successful at air tightness, especially) mechanical ventilation (an HRV
> or ERV).
>
> All that said, SEER is a linear measure of efficiency, so a 17 SEER unit
> will use 13/17's as much energy as a 13 SEER unit. If you can estimate
> your cooling bills, you can figure out the payback period of the higher
> efficiency unit.
>
> What is the house like? How big? How many rooms? Have you considered a
> mini-split system? Might not be appropriate, or might...
>
> Keith
>
>
> Kathy Cochran wrote:
>> Hello, I am putting an old house built in 1940 back together.  I moved it
>> from 20 miles down the road (in 4 pieces).  I am in Northern California,
>> where summers can easily get to be 110 degrees and winters down to 20
>> degrees.  I am getting bids for Central heat (propane) and air, and have
>> some questions about air conditioning.  I can get a 3 Ton high efficiency
>> furnace + installation, with digital programmable thermostat for $4500, 
>> plus
>> the A/C.
>>
>> I have been quoted $1515 more for a 13 seer condensing unit, $2600 for a 
>> 15
>> seer unit, and $3,086 for a 17 seer AC unit.  Is the 13 seer enough?   Is
>> the 17 seer overkill?  I would appreciate any comments any of you might
>> have.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Kathy Cochran
>> Kathys_old_house at goldrush.com
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
>> [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Racheli Gai
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:52 AM
>> To: Greenbuilder list
>> Subject: [Greenbuilding] Advice on heating
>> Tucson______________________________________________
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>
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