Electric Heat Pump
Electric heat pumps or geothermal systems are required for heating and cooling.

HVAC equipment is sized and installed per the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and ENERGY STAR standard.

Size is based upon energy rater load calculation, plus 15% or 6,000 Btuh's, whichever is less. (Northern Indiana HVAC equipment load calculation limits sizing to energy rater load calculations plus 25% or 6,000 Btuh's whichever is less.)

Air source heat pumps must be ARI rated (ASHP- HSPF 8.5) with a minimum 14 SEER.

Geothermal closed loop units are required to rate out at a minimum coefficient of performance (COP) 3.3 for heating and an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) 14.1 for cooling.

Open loop systems must rate out at COP 3.6 and EER 16.2 or better.

Programmable thermostats are put in place and have "adaptive recovery" technology to prevent the excessive use of electric back-up heating.

ENERGY STAR labeled thermostats are recommended.

For a complete listing and description of the Touchstone Energy Home Standards, click here.