The 11 Ton ETL/UL Certified Sierra GHP offers many advantages
- Enables LEED points for green-building certification
- All-in-one, space-saving unit that both heats and cools
- Cost-efficient to operate and easy to maintain
- Frees up square footage with no cooling towers or mechanical rooms when compared to chiller-boiler systems
- Multi-zone temperature control for greater occupant comfort
- Ultra-low noise level
- Innovative building design and construction potential with ductless and ducted capabilities
- Lifecycle cost advantages over traditional electric HVAC systems
- Reduces buildings’ HVAC systems’ electrical demand by 80%
- Helps businesses avoid high time-of-use charges by reducing peak electric demand
- Smaller carbon footprint when compared to generating electricity to power traditional electric HVAC systems
- One unit saves a small swimming pool of water per year
Environmentally Cool By Design
If you are looking for LEED points, start with the GHP system. The Sierra Multi-zone GHP was specifically engineered to be easy on the earth while providing a new benchmark of excellence in heating and cooling. Its primary fuel source is clean, plentiful natural gas and uses only a minimal amount of electricity. Energy efficiency is boosted when the unit captures and uses waste heat from the engine to supplement space heating, making Sierra more efficient than traditional electric HVAC systems. When it’s time for cooling, the intelligent system modulates engine speed to provide exactly the right amount of refrigerant to perfectly condition the space, reducing energy consumption. Multiple air handlers allow for setting varying temperatures in different rooms to conserve additional energy.
Using natural gas at the GHP is the logical, energy-efficient and carbon conscious choice. Only 3% of energy is lost when transporting natural gas from the wellhead to your home. To generate electricity and bring it to your home, over 70% of the original source energy is lost. At the same time, large amounts of carbon, are also released into the atmosphere at the power plants. Since the Sierra Multi-zone GHPs use 80% less electricity than traditional electric HVAC systems, they greatly reduce buildings’ demand for electricity and improve buildings’ carbon footprint.
You might already know that generating electricity at the power plant consumes large amounts of water. In fact, one-half gallon of water is used for every kilowatt produced in a power plant on average. Since Sierra uses so little electricity, it saves approximately 8,000 gallons of water a year compared to a similar-sized electric HVAC system. This is equivalent to the amount of water in a small swimming pool.
Noise pollution is reduced, too. Raindrops are measured at 40 decibels and normal conversation at 60. Sierra registers at less than 57 decibels. Typical electrical HVAC condensers measure over 75 decibels.
Talk to us to find out how GHPs can help you attain LEED certification for your building projects.