All systems are 'go' as home goes green
Homeowners add Acadia system and solar panels
BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer
Phyllis and Seymour Garr have decided to lead a green lifestyle and in the process are saving a lot of another type of green. The Marlboro couple said they have saved $7,276 in the past year with an Acadia heating and cooling system and the installation of solar panels at their home.

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Phyllis Garr shows the Acadia heating and cooling system (above) and the solar panels (left) that she and her husband have installed at their Marlboro home. The Garrs say they are seeing a savings on their energy bills.

Phyllis Garr, a Marlboro resident for 40 years, said that over the past 15 years, she has been reading about ways to go green.

Green is a term used to describe having positive environmental attributes or objectives. In April 2007, the Garrs' oil furnace was on its way out, sparking the need for a new system.

Having already purchased a Toyota Prius (which partially runs on electricity) and installed solar tunnels (a lighting system) in their home, the Garrs were in the process of installing solar panels and took the opportunity to further their green ambitions.

Garr said she combed the phone book for options other than traditional oil or gas heating. Initially intrigued by a geothermal option, she got a suggestion to investigate the Acadia, a combination heating and cooling system from Hallowell International.

The Acadia is an electric-powered single system for heating and cooling that reduces monthly energy bills and, by reducing the use of fossil fuels, eases a household's impact on the environment.

The big difference with the Acadia compared to other systems is that the system is an air source heat pump, which traditionally is used in areas with warmer climates, according to Scott Pinyard, inside sales manager with Hallowell International. Using a new technology called boosted compression, the Acadia is able to comfortably and efficiently heat and cool homes no matter what the temperature is outside, he said.

At the moment, the Acadia works with forced-air duct systems, but later this year Hallowell International anticipates unveiling a radiant system. The system has been designed to industry standards so that heating, ventilation and air conditioning dealers can install them. The cost for an Acadia system depends on the dealer and what other work may be needed, Pinyard said.

Savings that the system generates depend upon the area and local utility rates. Pinyard said that in Bangor, Maine, where Hallowell International is located, Acadia users who previously used oil see 65 percent savings, and those who used natural gas see anywhere from 40 to 45 percent savings.

McGuire Air Force Base and Fort Dix, both in Burlington County, are finishing the first stage of a four-year project during which more than 2,000 Acadia units will be added to base housing, Pinyard said.

The bonus with the Acadia is that it can be adapted to solar panels and wind turbines, making it as green as its grid power, Pinyard said.

After hearing about the benefits of the Acadia from owners around the country who had already installed the system, Garr said the decision was made. In June 2007, solar panels and an Acadia system were installed at the Garrs' home.

The installation of the Acadia cost about $14,000, Garr said, noting that the price was higher than it might otherwise have been due to the need to install an electric water heater.

From May 2006 to May 2007, Garr said, the couple spent $5,092 in heating and cooling, including the cost of oil and their Jersey Central Power & Light bill. From July 2007 to May 3, 2008, the cost has been $1,416.

In addition to the savings they are seeing from the Acadia, the Garrs have also sold the 11 Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC) they have received from their solar panels for $3,600.

"The initial cost is pricey, but you eventually get back what you invest," Garr said.

With the lack of oil heating, Garr said the humidifier and air purifier filters that once had to be replaced seasonally were found to be clean this year.

During the winter, the system kept the home toasty with so little noise that a person would not know it was running, Garr said. When faced with the scorching temperatures that settled over the area a few weeks ago, she said the system kept the house comfortably cool.

For more information, visit www.gotohallowell. com or call 1-877-3ACADIA.