4 Benefits of Variable Speed Technology
There was a time when HVAC was simple. A furnace heated your home. An air conditioner cooled it. And just about everybody had one of those round, dial-a-temperature thermostats that were so easy to use.
Technological innovations in heating and cooling have changed the game quite a bit. Today there are more options than ever before:
Standard, medium and high efficiency models
- All electric, dual-fuel, ductless or geothermal comfort systems
- Smart, programmable thermostats that “learn” how to control your comfort
- Communicating systems that “talk” to you or your dealer via the internet
- Remote setup, control and monitoring from virtually anywhere using Wi-Fi® and a connected smart phone, tablet or computer
Variable Speeds, Multiple Benefits
One of the innovations that plays a major role across all of the above is variable-speed technology. More and more systems today are available with variable-speed technology, and there are a number of reasons why they are so appealing:
- Energy Savings
- Consistent Comfort
- Enhanced Humidity Control
- Improved Air Quality
1. Energy Savings
Most of the higher efficiency heating and cooling systems today achieve their ratings with variable-speed technology. These systems can save money on your utility bills, and some may even qualify for local utility company rebates. Here’s how:
- Variable speed systems are able to run their heating or cooling cycles nearly continuously on lower speeds, thus using less electricity
- Single-speed systems actually waste energy turning on and off more often, and running at full speed when they are on
2. Consistent Comfort
Going back to how variable-speed technology works, the longer heating or cooling cycles help keep the air in your home consistently closer to the temperature set on your thermostat. This results in more even, consistent comfort, with fewer hot spots and cold spots in the house.
In comparison, single-speed systems turn on at full blast to reach the right temperature, then shut off when the temperature is met. When the temperature drops, the system turns on again and the cycle continues with up and down temperature swings.
3. Enhanced Humidity Control
In the summertime, humid, sticky air can sometimes make you more uncomfortable than hot temperatures. While all central air conditioners remove a little humidity from indoor air during the cooling process, some do a better job than others.
Variable-speed systems are much better at humidity control than standard, single-speed systems. Because they are operating for longer periods of time, they can remove more moisture from the air, so you FEEL more comfortable.
Carrier takes it even further with Ideal Humidity SystemTM technology, a function that manipulates speed settings and cycle times to squeeze even more of the uncomfortable moisture from indoor air.
4. Improved Air Quality
All indoor comfort systems have some sort of air filter, typically in or near the indoor air handler unit. Because systems with variable-speed technology run nearly continuously, the air inside your home is being filtered nearly continuously. The result: cleaner indoor air.
Greenspeed® Intelligence
Carrier offers a variety of heating and cooling systems with energy-saving, comfort-enhancing, variable-speed technology included. At the top of the list, our variable-speed air conditioners and heat pumps with Greenspeed Intelligence are our most efficient and innovative product line.
Greenspeed Intelligence smartly and continuously manipulates variable-speed operation so heating and cooling output more precisely matches your home’s needs as conditions change.
For more information about our products featuring variable-speed technology and Greenspeed Intelligence, contact your local Carrier HVAC contractor today!
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