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Your Partner for HVAC Energy Efficiency

Make smart HVAC investments that save
you money and add to your home's value.

You deserve to stay comfortable in your home without breaking the bank. That starts with having a truly energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system on your side. Our team at Ultimate Heating & Cooling is on a mission to provide energy-efficient HVAC service and support you can count on. We serve homeowners across the greater Denver Metro Area, proudly keeping homes comfortable, well-ventilated, and operating at peak efficiency for over 20 years.

Ultimate Services

PROUDLY SERVING THE DENVER METRO AREA SINCE 1999

Repair

Repair

Any Make Or Model

No matter the make or model, we can fix it. Call now if you need help with repairs!

Install

Installation

Only Quality Systems

We only install the best systems, guaranteed to be cost-effective and energy efficient.

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Service

Lengthen Your System's Life

We provide thorough equipment checks and maintenance to make your system last longer.

We’re here to help you start your home improvement journey with this in-depth guide on everything you need to know about HVAC energy efficiency. That way, you’ll have the info you need to make excellent HVAC upgrade decisions now and in the future.

Why Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling Matters

Old, outdated, and worn HVAC equipment wastes energy, impacting your comfort and bottom line. By upgrading to an energy-efficient heating and cooling system, you can enjoy all the following benefits.

Save on Your Energy Bills

If you’re like the average homeowner, you spend about $2,000 on your energy bills each year, but it doesn’t have to be that way. By upgrading to energy-efficiency HVAC equipment, it’s possible to decrease your heating and cooling bills by up to $400 per year.  

Keep Your Home Comfortable

Energy-efficient HVAC systems evenly heat and cool your home without making a racket. Plus, they’re great at improving your home’s air quality when equipped with the right filter and kept well-maintained. You can stay much more comfortable as a result, leaving you wondering why you didn’t prioritize energy efficiency sooner.

Long-Lasting Performance

Modern furnaces, heat pumps, and air conditioning units last longer than ever before, thanks to their energy-efficient designs. So, in addition to saving money, using the most efficient HVAC equipment available helps you get the most out of your investment in your home.  

Investing in energy-efficient heating and cooling goes beyond simply buying new equipment. You need to partner with our team to get the highest-rated furnaces, heat pumps, and air conditioning units installed in your home.

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How to Tell if Your HVAC Is Energy Efficient

HVAC manufacturers cannot simply claim that their equipment meets or exceeds current energy efficiency standards. They must prove it by properly testing their equipment using SEER ratings and other standardized scoring systems. Here’s a look at the different ratings you may find while comparing the energy efficiency of HVAC systems.

SEER Rating

SEER is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. This rating gets measured by dividing the total cooling output of the AC unit or heat pump in a typical season by its energy usage in watt-hours.

The standard changed to SEER2 in January 2023 to better reflect its efficiency in an average home. Ideally, you want equipment that scores higher than 13.4 on the SEER2 scale. Want the most efficient AC system available? Go for a SEER2 rating of 21.5.

EER Rating

Also known as the Energy Efficient Rating, EER goes beyond a seasonal glimpse to look at the overall efficiency of the cooling device. The score comes from measuring the unit’s efficiency when it’s 80°F and 50% humidity indoors and 95°F outside.

Like SEER, this rating changed to EER2 in January 2023. The new, harsher testing conditions help accurately rate the equipment for real-world scenarios. This new scoring system goes up to 20, but there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for cooling.

HSPF Rating

Assessing heat pump efficiency is as easy as looking at the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, or HSPF, rating. This rating compares the heating output to its energy usage, showing how much you can save while staying comfortable in your home all winter.

At the very least, you’ll want a heat pump with a rating between 8 and 10. Don’t forget to check the SEER rating of the unit to verify that it has the cooling efficiency you want as well. For the best of both worlds, look for the ENERGY STAR logo, which indicates the unit has an 8.2 HSPF rating and SEER score of 12 or higher.

ENERGY STAR Rating

The US Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency runs the ENERGY STAR program to help consumers find the most efficient HVAC equipment and other products. HVAC devices earn an ENERGY STAR rating when they operate at a higher standard of efficiency than other models. The benchmarks used to award this certification change depending on unit type and region.

In the northern states, like Colorado, furnaces get the ENERGY STAR logo when they’re 15% or more efficient than base models, for example. Central air conditioning units earn their certification if they’re 8% more efficient than other models.  

AFUE Rating

The AFUE rating measures the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of a furnace. This rating compares how much heat your furnace creates compared to its overall energy usage.

The AFUE scale goes from 0% to 100%. The minimum rating is 80, which means that 80% of the fuel turns into heat for your home. For a high-efficiency furnace, you’ll want a rating of 94 or above.

If you’re not sure just what rating to go for, that’s okay! We’re ready to help you find the best HVAC system setup and then professionally install all your equipment.

Signs Your HVAC Isn't Running Efficiently

These are some common signs you may notice if your HVAC system doesn’t run efficiently:

  • Increase in humidity in your home
  • Clanking, squealing, and other odd noises
  • Air conditioner or heating unit runs constantly
  • Uneven heating and cooling in each room
  • Unusually high energy bills every month

The age of your HVAC equipment can also point to the need for an upgrade. On average, you can expect a quality furnace or AC unit to last between 15 and 20 years. Heat pumps have an average lifespan of 16 years.

Even with new equipment, you need to set up a smart thermostat, use the right settings, and perform regular maintenance to run your furnace efficiently. The same goes for your AC, heat pump, and any other HVAC equipment you have in your home.

How to Make Your HVAC System More Energy Efficient

Are you spending way too much on energy bills? Or do you simply feel unsatisfied with your system’s heating and cooling output? Here’s a look at what you can do to make your HVAC system more energy efficient.

Duct Repair and Insulation

As your HVAC system operates, all the heated and cooled air flows through the ducts before reaching your living space. So, significant energy losses could occur if the ductwork is in a state of disrepair or just not well insulated. If that’s your reality, sealing and insulating your ducts is a top priority if you want to boost efficiency quickly.

HVAC technician repairing ducts

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats are a quick and easy way to help improve the energy efficiency of your HVAC system. The thermostat uses your personal data to know when you’re away from home or asleep. Then, it changes the temperature in your home, resulting in up to 3% energy savings for every degree difference.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are an energy-efficient alternative to a standard furnace and central air conditioning-based system. These high-tech devices use minimal electricity to heat and cool your home using thermal energy from outside. They work equally well in hot and cold climates, making them an excellent choice for homes in the Denver Metro Area.

Retrofit Your HVAC

If you’re not ready to fully replace your aging HVAC equipment, retrofitting might be the best answer. This process involves installing modern, higher-efficiency components in older furnaces and AC units. You can then enjoy more life from your existing equipment while reducing your energy bills by a small amount.

System Replacement

Nothing beats replacing your entire HVAC system with modern equipment if you want the highest energy efficiency bump. Outdated AC systems typically use up to 40% more energy to cool the home, while old furnaces may have an AFUE rating as low as 56%.

For the best results, have our team assess your home and help you find the most energy-efficient AC and heating upgrades. Unsure if you’re ready to upgrade? Take our quiz to help you decide whether to repair or replace your HVAC equipment.

Consider Solar Power

Solar panels can improve your HVAC’s energy efficiency by providing all the electricity needed to run the equipment. With that extra help, you can save big if your home mainly uses equipment that runs on electricity, like an electric heater and AC unit combo. Want to reduce your carbon footprint as much as possible? Consider getting a solar-assisted heat pump instead.

Home solar panels

Thermostat Setting to Save Money

How you set your thermostat can also help you save money on your energy bills. Your ideal settings differ each season, so use these tips to boost energy efficiency year-round.

Winter Thermostat Settings to Save on Your Energy Bill

With the proper thermostat settings, you can stay warm while reducing your heating bill all winter. Start by setting your temp at 68°F whenever you’re going to be home and awake. Plan to lower the temp by about three degrees while sleeping or whenever you’re away.

If you have a smart thermostat, you can leave the thinking to that device and simply enjoy the savings that will come your way. Programmable thermostats are another great option if you tend to stick to the same schedule each day.

For even more savings, put all the winter energy efficiency best practices to use, like closing up the chimney and unblocking your vents. Each little thing you do will help reduce your energy usage without compromising your comfort.

Summer Thermostat Temperatures to Save Energy

In the summertime, set your thermostat no lower than 78°F as temperatures outside start to climb. Then, when you’re not going to be home, consider increasing the indoor temps up to 88°F.

Raising the temperature while you’re sleeping is a good idea, too. Just make sure that the higher temp doesn’t interfere with your ability to get a good night’s rest.

If you want to keep your home even cooler, summer energy savings best practices can help, such as putting low-E film on your windows. Also, remember to keep your interior doors open to let the cool air circulate evenly through your house.

Use what you learn in the summer and winter to control your energy usage throughout the rest of the year. Over time, you’ll find the perfect ways to keep your home comfortable year-round while minimizing your energy bills.

Homeowner changing thermostat setting

How UHC Can Help Your Energy Efficiency

As your leading HVAC installer in the greater Denver Metro Area, we’re happy to help you improve your home’s energy efficiency. From selecting the right equipment to performing regular maintenance, our team at UHC can do it all. We’re happy to help you learn how to use all your equipment to the fullest, including high-tech devices like smart thermostats.

When you come to us for heating and cooling services, you’ll always get help with:

HVAC System Sizing

Every home has its own unique HVAC system needs—and our in-house engineers are here to help you get it right. Whether you live in a modest condo or a triple-floor Colonial Revival home, our team has what it takes to assess your space and accurately design your HVAC system.  

At UHC, we only use the proven Manual JSD process to correctly calculate your heating and cooling requirements. During that process, we’ll personally measure your home and take the characteristics of each room into account as opposed to using general size estimates like many other HVAC companies. By using a manual approach, you’ll avoid oversized systems that aren’t efficient and cost more to run.

Upon completing our calculations, we’ll review the results with you and provide our HVAC equipment recommendations. We may also need to address your home’s ductwork design to ensure you get the most out of your investment.

Quality Heating and Cooling Installation

Our quality heating and cooling installation services are key in setting up an energy-efficient HVAC system in your home. Knowing just the right equipment to buy is simply not enough. You need to have it installed properly as well, or you won’t see the desired efficiency improvements and could even run into major issues down the road.  

In the end, vendor installation can make or break your HVAC system. For example, a proper refrigerant charge is a must when getting a new AC unit. Otherwise, running the system dry could result in catastrophic damage to its internal parts.

You can get a highly efficient HVAC system and avoid future problems by simply having your equipment installed by our team. We’ll walk you through every step as we go so you can stay well-informed and feel confident about your home improvement decisions.

Heating and Cooling System Maintenance

Regular maintenance keeps all your heating and cooling equipment running smoothly and working at peak efficiency. But it’s not always easy to remember to work your service appointments into your schedule.

To help you out, we offer many different maintenance program levels for your consideration. Each level ensures your furnace, AC unit, or other equipment get all the upkeep services needed to stay operational and in good condition.

We welcome you to explore our maintenance plans and let us know if you’d like service-level recommendations for your HVAC system. Ask about our duct cleaning and sealing services, which go a long way in boosting energy efficiency and improving the comfort of your home.

Latest HVAC Technology Options

Whether you want help with HVAC sizing, maintaining your system, or any other HVAC services, you can trust that our team has the skills and training needed to do the job. We stay up to date on all the latest technology by completing industry certifications in addition to our decades of experience.

All of our HVAC techs have their North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certifications and keep current with retraining and testing every two years. This program prepares our techs to recommend, install, and maintain all the leading HVAC equipment models.

Plus, we’re Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified. Participation in this program supports our mission of improving residential energy efficiency across the Denver Metro Area.

Beyond that, we’re a Carrier President’s Award Winner, an honor given only to the top 1% of HVAC companies. So, when you come to us, you’ll always get the highest quality of service and support.

Home Solar Partner

At UHC, we want you to improve your home’s energy efficiency in every way possible. That’s why we’ve decided to bring in a trusted solar partner to help you achieve your goals. We’re the only HVAC company in the greater Denver Metro Area to do so, too. Want more information on your ideal solar energy solutions? Just let us know that you’re interested and we’ll answer all your questions.

Installing home solar panels

Energy Efficiency Rebate Guidance

You can often get energy efficiency rebates when purchasing certain types of HVAC equipment. The rebate offers have complex eligibility rules and strict deadlines, making it a challenge to figure out what you might qualify for. It’s easier to figure out with our help!

Our team can use our in-depth knowledge of what rebates are available at any given time to help you select the right equipment for your budget. With our support, you never have to worry about buying equipment that ends up not qualifying for the rebate you had in mind. We’ll provide the info you need to make great home care decisions, whether you want to upgrade, retrofit, or maintain your equipment.

Ready to Improve Your Energy Efficiency?

Are you ready to boost the energy efficiency of your home? If so, send our team a message or call (720) 647-5099. During your call, we’ll take the time to learn about your service needs and share our current HVAC promotions. We look forward to helping you lower your energy bills while keeping your home comfortable always. Reach out at your convenience to get started!

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