Quote:
Originally Posted by elevatorman
The sales people tell you will save 30% on your heating and cooling costs with a variable speed compressor. My 16 year old system cost is high in the summer for 3 months maybe $100 per month. According to SECO over the last 12 months I spent $583 running cooling and heating. 30% of that is $174.90 / year. Multiply that by 16 years I have lived here I could have saved $2798.00.
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I can't validate your data but in my home my electric bill is about $180-$225 in the hot months. So far for the first month having the system, I'm saving about $50/month. So, that's about $500/year x 16 would be about $8,000. I have a 2600 sqft home but if you have a smaller home then your savings will be less. Also, depending on what you set the thermostat to, etc., will also affect how much you pay for your HVAC system. Lot's of variables.
Regardless, the point of getting a variable speed inverter system vs a single stage unit is not primarily for the energy savings but for the comfort, quietness and longevity of the system. Since we don't know where energy costs are going in the next 10 years, it's probably best to get the most efficient system you can afford. With the tax credits and rebates, currently a variable speed system will not be that much more than a basic single stage system and that's the point. Once the tax credits go away at the end of the year and more of the tarriffs kick-in then I think the more expensive systems may be out of reach for many.