Information Center — The Home

A whole house fan benefits building occupants by cooling a structure and exhausting stale air. It can be used in conjunction with A/C to reduce cooling costs, or alone in less humid regions of the country to create a more natural way to beat the heat. At just a fraction of the cost of A/C ($150 to $350 vs. $2,000 to $4,000), whole house fans can run at .01 to .05 cents per hour. Compare that to the .20 to .25 cents per hour it takes to cool with A/C. Whole house fans work best when used at night, when...

In today’s economy, evaporative cooling systems can offer savings for both residential and commercial ventilation needs. Evaporative cooling works by drawing warm air through a special filter that absorbs moisture from the air. Warm air is replaced by fresh outdoor air and recirculated through a home or building. Evaporative coolers work best in environments where temperatures are high but humidity is low. An evaporative cooling system can reduce the temperature in a home, office, or industrial facility by as much as 30 degrees, offering a level of comfort comparable to air conditioning. It can operate on half to three-quarters the...

The array of options on the market for residential, commercial, and industrial evaporative air coolers can be overwhelming. Homeowners, business owners, and contractors should ask a few questions before choosing an evaporative cooling system: How much space needs to be cooled to maintain comfort and productivity? What type of system best meets the needs of the building? Are there large, expansive spaces or several smaller rooms? Is there existing ductwork or will ductwork be installed? There are units designed specifically for use with existing ductwork. What is the layout of the existing ductwork? Certain units may operate efficiently with current...

Evaporative air coolers and evaporative humidifiers offer both energy efficiency and energy savings to homeowners, business owners, and industrial operators. Here are some facts about evaporative cooling: Evaporative air coolers work by adding humidity to the air. The moisture and air movement provided by evaporative cooling helps to remove heat, smoke, odors, and air pollution caused by dangerous chemicals and gases. Evaporative air coolers require only 25 percent of the energy required by a central air conditioning system. Evaporative coolers work to maintain air temperatures below 80 degrees F—a safe level for industrial or commercial workers. Evaporative cooling can be routed through an existing...

We always hear about how important it is to have good ventilation inside our homes, but do you really know how important it is? Fact: Some 40 million homes have been built in North America dating back to the 1970s, many of which have been constructed well-insulated. However, did you also know that airtight homes can experience problems with indoor air quality? Yes, there are health benefits to having a good ventilation system in the home. Here are a few others: Heat Relief: Good whole house fans remove excess heat and usher in lower, more comfortable temperatures. It’s a huge...