If you move into a brand-new apartment building in Washington State, it’s likely that you’ll have a pretty different experience when it comes to heating and cooling your space. Your new home will probably be consistently the same temperature and have better airflow. It will also have fewer irritants in the air, making life easier if you have allergies.
Future residents of Nisqually Landing Apartments, a 60-unit, 55+ senior living facility in Yelm that’s currently under construction, will be so lucky. Capital Heating, Cooling and Plumbing is excited to be installing HVAC systems for the project, our first under the 2018 Washington State Energy Code, based on the 2018 International Energy Compliance Code (IECC).
Tyler Schmidtke, the project manager, says the team is excited to be part of a project that’s helping save energy and giving residents even better, more comfortable spaces to live.
Under the new code, most developers are choosing to install ductless mini-split heat pump systems to heat and cool apartments. We love ductless systems. They can heat or cool a space with super efficiency, without ductwork. And because they simply attach to a wall, they’re flexible for any space where you want to save energy. Plus, you control them with a push of a button via remote control.
We’re installing a Diakin ATMOSPHERA heat pump system in every apartment. These units are special because, according to the company, they’re the first in North America to use R32 refrigerant, the most efficient on the market. R32 is classified as a low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant and systems that use it can use up to 20% less refrigerant than systems common in the U.S. It also has zero ozone depletion potential. It’s widely used around the world, in more than 70 countries. Puget Sound Energy currently offers customers a $600 rebate on these systems units.
Under the new energy code, developers are also required to replace traditional exhaust fans in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other spaces with energy recovery ventilation (ERV). ERV systems bring in fresh air from outside the building and distribute it throughout the apartment. A flow of fresh air in the living space improves indoor air quality and the ERV tempers the incoming air with the air being exhausted, saving energy.
We’re looking forward to seeing this project come together and to providing yet another commercial client with excellent heating and cooling service.