Heat RecoveryBy: Steven Youchnik

CAP 480

Introduction

Heat recovery is the process of using wasted heat from the air conditioning process. Instead of wasting all of that energy into the atmosphere, there have been advances toward using it towards other processes such as heating domestic water, heating a pool or washing clothes. This has a direct affect on the cost of operation for your home air conditioner as well as the cost to produce hot water.

• The SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) of an air conditioner is its efficiency rating. It is compared to miles per gallon for a car (What’s a SEER?, 2012).

• From 1990-2000 appliance efficiency standards reduced energy bills by $50 billion (Fact Sheet: Air Conditioner Efficiency Standards: SEER 13 vs. SEER 12, 2002).

SEER RATINGS

• In 1987 Congress mandated that all air conditioning units be at least 10 SEER. But in 1994 the Clinton

administration changed it to 13 SEER where it is currently at now (Fact Sheet: Air

Conditioner Efficiency Standards: SEER 13 vs. SEER 12, 2002).

SEER RATINGS CONTINUED

What does this mean to heat recovery?

• Depending on the SEER of your current unit, adding heat

recovery will dramatically increase the overall efficiency of your unit. Not to mention you are also getting free hot

water as a result!

• Heat recovery uses hot refrigerant that is in the condenser (outside unit) to heat domestic water (Get Free Hot Water...From Your Air Conditioner, n.d.).

• This heat exchanger hooks directly to the hottest part of the condenser coil which reduces the pressure of the refrigerant and also heats the water in the coil.

How Does Heat Recovery Work?

Saves Money By:

1. Lower refrigerant pressure = better

efficiency.

2. Heating water = free hot water.

Won’t This Cost A Lot To Install?• Initial installation costs will

be higher, but the overall savings will make up for it

shortly after the installation.

• As you can see, as the SEER rating increases, the operating cost decreases (What’s a SEER?, 2012).

• As mentioned before, when heat recovery is added to

an air conditioner, the SEER rating increases.

Affect On Natural Gas prices

• The demand for natural gas has been steadily increasing over the years as the

reserves have decreased.

• Heat recovery will limit the use homeowners use for heating water for

domestic use.

• This will lower the demand for natural gas which in turn will lower the cost.

Why Isn’t Everyone Using Heat Recovery?

• Heat recovery is not widely used yet as it should be.

• As efficiency standards increase, so will the awareness of heat recovery.

• Soon it will be an EPA requirement to have heat recovery on all residential

and commercial buildings.

ConclusionHeat recovery is a thing of the very near future.

Most people are not aware of the concept

but as soon as the word spreads, these units will take off. My suggestion

to all of the homeowners out there,

GO AND PURCHASE ONE! Also it would not be a bad idea to buy

some stock in a company that

specializes in heat recovery systems.

References Get Free Hot Water...From Your Air Conditioner. (n.d.). Retrieved from Hot

Spot Energy: http://www.hotspotenergy.com/residential-heat-recovery-water-heaters/

King, H. (2014). Understanding Natural Gas Prices. Retrieved from Geology.com: http://geology.com/articles/natural-gas-prices/

Werner, C. (2002, March 6). Fact Sheet: Air Conditioner Efficiency Standards: SEER 13 vs. SEER 12. Retrieved from EESI Environmental and Energy Study Institute: http://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-air-conditioner-efficiency-standards-seer-13-vs.-seer-12

What's A SEER? (2012). Retrieved from AC Doctor: http://www.acdoctor.com/get-educated/be-efficient/whats-a-seer/