The new SunSource Home Energy System harnesses solar energy from the sun to reduce the electricity consumed by a residential heat pump or air conditioner, and it is also able to use that solar power to operate other devices in the home that consume electricity, such as lighting and appliances, when the heating and cooling system is not running.
In addition, if the SunSource system generates more power than is used by the home, that power will be sent back to the utility company, which may entitle the homeowner to a credit on their utility bill.
According to the US Department of Energy, the typical US household pays $2,200 a year on utility bills, and the bulk of those energy costs – between 50% and 60% – comes from heating and cooling the home.
The SunSource Home Energy System is composed of: a solar-ready Lennox air conditioner or heat pump that has been specially enhanced to serve as the platform for this new home energy system, a Lennox solar subpanel that provides the connection between utility-interactive solar power system and the HVAC unit, one to 15 roof-mounted solar modules that harness clean energy from the sun and use it to run the home’s central heating and cooling system and other appliances, a communications system that allows homeowners to monitor each solar module’s operation and energy production online, as well as other environmental benefits such as the amount of carbon offset.
The new Lennox SunSource Home Energy System will be available with several products from the Dave Lennox Signature Collection, which is the company’s line of premium heating and cooling products. The Lennox SunSource Home Energy System may be paired with Dave Lennox Signature Collection air conditioners and heat pumps beginning in May 2010.
Summary of key features of the Lennox SunSource Home Energy System include: uses renewable energy to reduce a home’s ongoing utility costs, helps protect the environment by generating and using renewable energy, allows homeowners to monitor information online related to the power generated by the solar modules in real time and on a historical basis, as well as ongoing environmental benefits like the amount of carbon offset by the solar energy production, solar modules.
In addition, it can be installed when outdoor heating and cooling system is installed or at a later date, and solar modules are expandable, based on the homeowners desires, with one to 15 modules per outdoor unit being installed on the home’s roof at once or over time.
