Denver homebuilders are doing some wonderful things with regard to "green" construction - especially in the energy area.

One of the areas in which Denver new homes has gone green is by incorporating a 3-zone heating and cooling system in every single one of their new homes. Learn how it works and the benefits of having one in your home.

(Photo courtesy of roddh, Flickr.)

Currently, there are 5 conventional heating methods:

• "Electric - either Forced Air or Infrared (permanent or portable)
• Natural Gas - Blue-flame or Infrared (permanent installation)
• Kerosene - should be used in well-ventilated areas only, such as garages
• Wood-burning Stoves or Fireplaces (permanent)
• Propane (portable)" (www.jrwortman.com)

Obviously, none of them are able to offer you savings AND a greener solution.

(Photo courtesy of ppphotographs, Flickr.)

Your Denver new home builder should be able to explain to you the concept of zone heating which involves "the practice of warming the rooms in which you spend the most time, rather than trying to heat the whole house equally.Even with a duct system, this produces hot and cold spots due to differences in room size and placement in the house. Zoning segments the house into particular areas that can be individually controlled efficiently using a multi-zone heating [and cooling] controller." (www.jrwortman.com)

You benefit by using this system by being able to heat and cool separate zones throughout the house which will save anywhere from 30 to 40 percent on your energy bill, depending on how you use the system. Also, you will be doing your bit, ecologically, with regard to carbon emissions.

"Zoned heating and cooling systems allow you to control the temperature of each room individually. By using a series of motorized dampers and thermostats that work independently, zoning can eliminate hot or cold rooms found in almost every home, while cutting energy by up to 25 percent, according to Anne Drake, a spokeswoman for Honeywell's zone control systems." (www.uniteddesign.com) "Much like multiple light switches that independently control lighting in different rooms, with zoning, multiple zone thermostats or sensors control temperature in different areas of the home." (www.airservicesheatac.com)

Another plus for opting for this type of system, if your home is being built, is that your Denver home builder will install this system during the construction of your home.

Denver homebuilders will agree that other additional benefits of having zoning heating and cooling in your home are that there will no longer be any " Overcooled or over-heated areas, stretching the capacity of the HVAC system. and, Control, by dividing the house into multiple areas with adjustable comfort levels." (www.jrwortman.com)

Your Denver home builder will explain to you that, normally, all homes (with a basement or attic) are considered 3-zone residences - top, middle and lower levels.

"Two-deck multi-zone systems that can have simultaneous heating and cooling are very inefficient. Two-deck systems use a combination of of heated and cooled air to reach the temperature needed. Since such systems produce a constant volume of airflow, they use a lot of fan work, which also uses more energy than other systems. Traditional two-deck zone controls have the heating and cooling decks active at the same time, providing good zone temperature control and easy design and operation; however, this creates a situation where simultaneous heating and cooling occur." (www.jrwortman.com)

"By adding a third deck, where the 3rd deck puts out recycled air (also referred to as "bypass air." www.jrwortman.com), mixed with fresh ventilation air, the decks are arranged in a manner that when the zone is calling for heating, bypass air and hot deck air are mixed to meet the zone requirements." (www.jrwortman.com)

It is recommended that homes having over 2000 square have over 3 zones. If you are going to spend less time in certain areas of one particular zone there is no reason why you should be heating them.