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T 1.800.941.3867
F 1.877.848.4074
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PTCS Program Newsletter: July 2020
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Limited Time Promotional HVAC Incentives for Residential and Commercial Equipment
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the region's economy and hampered many regional utilities' ability to implement its energy-efficiency programs successfully. In response, in partnership with its customer utilities, BPA is offering a 15-month promotion beginning July 1, 2020, and ending September 30, 2021, that will allow increased HVAC incentives by participating utilities to help support their regional economies and area contractors.
Please contact your local utility for additional details as utility participation is voluntary and may vary by region. Interested in becoming a PTCS contractor? Click
here to learn more about becoming PTCS trained and certified. See below for summer training opportunities.
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Summer Training Opportunities
The PTCS program will deliver online certification
trainings this summer. If you or other HVAC professionals want to be certified to complete PTCS heat pump installations, contact us to register for one of the sessions below.
- August 3 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Pacific
- August 31 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Pacific
- September 14 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Pacific
- September 28 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Pacific
To become certified and access PTCS utility incentives, technicians must attend a 5 1/2-hour online class, have access to a
TrueFlow metering system
with a
digital pressure gauge
, and then schedule a time after the class for a 30-minute video call with our instructors to show proficiency with the air flow testing process.
New testing equipment from The Energy Conservatory can be purchased at a 12.5% discount through the PTCS program. Please contact us at 1.800.941.3867 or ResHVAC@bpa.gov for more information.
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New Heat Pump Sizing Calculators
BPA updated its heat pump sizing calculator to more accurately calculate balance points on variable speed inverter-driven air source heat pumps. The new calculator is now available at this link. It allows users to input specific manufacturer heat pump capacity information to generate a heat pump tonnage estimate from a graph of the balance point. Basic user inputs also estimate heat loss from the house and calculate if your selected heat pump meets the PTCS-required 30-degree balance point.
An alternative to the BPA calculator is the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance's (NEEA's) free HVAC online sizing calculator. The HVAC Sizing Tool uses the previous SpecPro platform with additional enhancements to determine heat loss and heat gain, and to calculate the appropriate system size. You can go to hvac.betterbuiltnw.com to create an account and start using the tool.
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Sizing and Lockout Guides
The Heat Pump Sizing Reference Guide covers the importance of sizing, heat loss/heat gain analysis, heating/cooling load inputs, duct multipliers, balance point, maximizing savings and more!
In the Lockouts and Balance Points Reference Guide you will find information on the importance of auxiliary heat and compressor lockouts, balance point, and PTCS resources.
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New Thermostat Support Sheets
We have new support sheets for the Mitsubishi MHK1, MRCH1, MCCH1, and MOS1, Daikin One+, and Ecobee 3 Lite, Ecobee 4, and Ecobee 5. These and other support sheets can be found
here
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Mitsubishi MRCH Series
Mitsubishi does not have any strip heat or compressor controls in this thermostat manufactured by Honeywell. To be compliant with the PTCS program when using their full static air handlers with auxiliary heat, they must be paired with a lockout control made by Ramco, the ETC-211000-MIT. This device is installed in or near the air handler and has a wired outdoor temperature sensor. Instructions for properly setting this lockout control are included in the support sheet for the MRCH1.
Daikin One+
Daikin's proprietary line of thermostats for their mini-splits lacked a lockout control but this was remedied by their new Daikin One+ thermostat. The Daikin One+ is a communicating thermostat compatible with their Fit lineup and has some unique air quality monitoring and built-in "smart" features.
Ecobee 3, 4, and 5
Ecobee 4 and 5 are "smart" thermostats with occupancy sensors, geofencing, optional room sensors, and Alexa voice control with an app for remote control. The Ecobee 3 Lite has all the same features except it does not have an integral occupancy sensor and Alexa.
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Now Available! Informational Heat Pump Stickers
New informational stickers are now available to help educate homeowners about their new PTCS certified heat pump installation. These stickers explain what homeowners can expect from their heat pump and discuss how to conserve energy with their set-point temperatures. These will be distributed at PTCS trainings and can be provided upon request by contacting
ResHVAC@bpa.gov
or 1.800.941.3867.
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PTCS Mobile Registry Benefits
The PTCS registry website is optimized for and available on any device with an internet connection including a smartphone, tablet or laptop. There is no need to download a separate application, just use your device's internet browser to visit
ptcs.bpa.gov
to get started. This allows technicians to enter PTCS testing data while on site and know the status of the entry before leaving the work site. This can translate to less paperwork back at the office.
Don't have all the data on site? You can enter as much as you can and save the entry progress to complete later on.
While PTCS does not require a separate form to be filled out for air source heat pump and duct sealing measures, utility requirements might be different so check with your utility to stay up to date on all documentation requirements.
Don't have all the data on site? You can enter as much as you can and save the entry progress to complete later on.
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