Deep Energy Retrofit: HVAC Overhaul

When the HVAC system in Jeff Wilson's 70-year-old Cape Cod home broke five years ago, well before his Deep Energy Retrofit (DER) efforts, he used the opportunity to upgrade the old unit to a system that is 97 percent efficient. With other efficiency measures, including insulation and new windows, his energy bills will eventually be two-thirds less.

Jeff shopped around before settling on this Bryant air conditioner with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of 16. (The higher the number, the more efficient the system.) This unit works in concert with the 97-percent-efficient furnace with the variable-speed blower that allows Jeff to set the humidity level on his thermostat. This feature reduces air conditioning usage.