Southwest Electric offers Comfort Advantage, a guide to energy efficiency investments in your home. You can enjoy home comfort and save dollars, too. Comfort Advantage homes include energy-efficient features that work together as a system to ensure quality living. For more information, see our brochure.
The Comfort Advantage program is designed for new home construction and retrofitting an existing HVAC system. Certain incentives are available for qualifying residential Members. Incentives up to $500 are available on new home construction. To qualify, call prior to construction to evaluate your house plan, review program requirements and schedule on-site inspections.
Incentives are also available for existing homes if you are considering upgrading your HVAC system from an all-electric or gas unit to an energy-efficient heat pump, Members will qualify for a $400 incentive with $150 for each additional heat pump installed.
If you are interested in the Comfort Advantage program, contact our Member Services Department.
Call: 800-287-8564
Email: info@swepa.coop
Recommendations:
Heating and Cooling:
- Electric air-to-air heat pump or ground source heat pump, properly sized
- Adequate cooling efficiency ratings and heating efficiency ratings
- Indoor and outdoor units should be listed as a matching system by ARI (Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute)
Insulation:
- Attic ceiling R-30 or higher
- Walls R-13 between studs plus insulated sheathing
- Floors over unconditioned space R-19 or greater
Windows and Doors:
- Glass area is not to exceed 20 percent of the floor area
- Double pane windows and foam core or solid wood doors leading to unconditioned space or outside
Water Heater:
- Heat traps and heat recovery device
- Heat pump or geothermal water heater
Attic Ventilation:
- Adequate combination of continuous ridge and soffit ventilation
Air Leaks:
- Wiring and plumbing access on exterior walls, floors and attics
- Exterior windows and doors
- Sole and top plate
- Fireplace damper
Duct System:
- Properly designed, installed and insulated duct system
- Mastic sealed joints
- Limited use of flex duct
- Duct insulation R-6 or higher
Right Questions to Ask:
- How does my air-to-air heat pump rate on efficiency?
Higher efficiency ratings for air-to-air heat pumps indicate lower cost of operation. Approximate ranges are: SEER – Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (cooling efficiency) from 11 to 17; HSPF – Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (heating efficiency) from 6.8 to 9.1.
- What is the efficiency of my ground source heat pump?
Higher efficiency ratings for ground source heat pumps indicate lower cost of operation. Approximate ranges are: EER – Energy Efficiency Ratio (cooling efficiency) from 11 to 17; COP – Coefficient of Performance (heating efficiency) from 2.9 to 4.9. EER and SEER are not comparable.
- How will the size of my heat pump be determined?
Heat gain/loss calculation should be performed by the dealer according to Manual J standards.
- How many bags of blown insulation should be in my attic?
The chart on each bag will indicate the number of bags for the square footage of your attic floor according to R value. See manufacturer’s specification sheet and compare to bag chart during installation.
- What is the energy factor of my water heater?
An energy factor of .90 or higher is recommended on a standard storage water heater. Heat pump water heaters are more efficient, and geothermal water heaters are most efficient.