| Heat pump HVAC system |
Heat pumps are very economical heating and cooling systems, and more efficient than furnaces and air conditioner compressors. For every watt put into the heat pump, 4 watts of power are available to heat or cool the Idea Home. |
LG HVAC |
| Multiple forced air units |
By having a forced air unit and smart thermostat for each floor of the Idea Home, there is better control of heating and cooling through the home to help make it comfortable in all areas throughout the year |
LG HVAC |
| Forced air unit filters |
All forced air units have MERV 13 filters, that are best residential filtration in that it captures household dust and pollen, pet dander, outdoor pollution, mold spores, microscopic allergens, bacteria, most tobacco smoke, bacteria, and virus carriers. |
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| Supplemental heat when outdoor temperatures are very cold (<13° F) |
Each of the forced air units have supplemental electrical resistive heating bands of about 10,000 watts each that automatically activate when the temperature gets too cold |
LG HVAC |
| Supplemental area heat and ambiance |
Fireplace is included not only for ambiance but also to help heat up the Great Room area. Can be used during a power failure to create additional heat for the home as the unit has a circulating fan the pulls heat from the unit. |
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| Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV) |
To help create a healthy home environment by utilizing Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) to periodically replace indoor air with outdoor air using a heat exchange unit for the basement and first floor |
Panasonic HVAC |
| ERV filters |
Each ERV has their own filter to trap incoming air particles from being circulated through the home. |
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| Sensing High Bathroom Moisture Levels |
Bathroom fans that are activated by Swidget humidity sensors as high levels of humidity can allow mold to grow in these areas |
Swidget |
| Sensing Poor Indoor Air Quality |
Devices that can sense when particulate and carbon dioxide levels in the home are at a poor level to activate the ERVs. Interior air quality can deteriorate quickly, especially in Colorado where we are prone to forest and wildfires, along with cooking smoke and particles, along with thermal inversions. |
Swidget |
| Heat Pump Electrical Protection |
Unit protects single phase equipment from electrical surges and voltage disturbances by utilizing safety thermal fusing and gas discharge tube surge protection technology, combined with the ability to monitor the line protecting equipment against over and under voltage conditions that can cause damage to circuit boards and motors. |
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| Steam humidification |
Colorado is a semi-arid area and can typically have very low humidity levels inside the home. Steam humidification is the best alternative to adding moisture to the Idea Home. |
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| Hood Vent |
To make the home environment safer, a good kitchen vent is required that can remove 1400 cubic feet per minute air. |
Zephyr |
| Wide overhead cooktop vent fan |
Cooktop is 36 inches (~91 cm) wide, but the vent is 42 inches (~107 cm) wide to capture as much as possible |
Zephyr |
| Makeup air system |
To ensure hood fan can operate properly and not be starved due to the home being very tight |
Zephyr |
| All bathrooms and laundry room vent fans |
Bath vent and laundry room fans, either turned on when there is an elevated level of moisture, or by motion, and turned off when the moisture sensed is below a predetermined humidity level or by time by utilizing Swidget occupancy and humidity sensors. This is done to minimize damage that moisture can cause, or to remove various odors from the areas |
Panasonic HVAC |
| Cooling Wine Cellar |
Instead of the hot water heat pump’s cool air being exhausted outside the home, it is directed into the wine cellar to keep the bottles cool between 50° and 56° F. Hence, there is no additional cooling necessary. |
LG HVAC |
