Energy saving opportunities in residential air-handler efficiency

This paper demonstrates the technical considerations that are important to understanding the energy-saving potential of encouraging the use of brushless direct current (BDC) motors in residential air handlers. Energy savings estimates are provided, and the regulations that are already in place are explained. Some misperceptions about the testing and operation of residential furnaces and air conditioners are also covered. Using one set of parameters that assume typical cyclic
operation, the consumer payback of purchasing BDC circulating fan motors rather than standard permanent split capacitor motors is 26 years. This drops to just under 4 years if the fan is operated continuously.