May 27, 2017 4:54 PM

PONTIAC (WWJ) Investigators in Pontiac are working to the confirm the cause of a blaze that burned millions of dollars in construction materials intended for Pontiac Middle School.

The materials caught fire in the parking lot of the Pontiac High School early Saturday morning.Deputy Fire Chief for Waterford Matt Covey said there were no injuries reported.

Its foam-based that they use for roofing, so they had a difficult time getting the foam out, Covey said.

In a statement posted on the Pontiac School District Facebook page, officials say the fire was set at around 3:30 a.m. and that Oakland County authorities have a person of interest in custody.

Covey said investigators will be examining surveillance camera footage from the scene to help with the investigation.

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Longtime roofing company owner will hang his shingle in prison Kansas City Business Journal A former executive at Century Roofing, which goes by the corporate name Canadian West Inc., will hang his shingle at a federal prison for 12 months and 1 day. In a February plea agreement, Tommy Keaton pleaded guilty and admitted to "harboring up to 24 ...

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Longtime roofing company owner will hang his shingle in prison - Kansas City Business Journal

I recently referred to the Tesla solar roof as the Model S of photovoltaics, largely due to its price tag. A young company called Forward Labs has a solar roof design that rivals the Tesla version in energy production and appearance, at about half the price. Where Tesla's roof will set you back about $22 per square foot, a Forward Labs roof comes in at less than $12 per square foot for the sections that include PV and $8.50 per square foot of the non-PV areas.

Forward Labs' Product Architect Zach Taylor comes from a construction family and has experience in the roofing and building industries. This background provides him with insight on the composition and installation of roofing systems. He designed the roof panels to be inexpensive, made from standard construction materials, and easy to install and replace.

The Forward Labs roof consists of five layers:

A top layer of tempered glass protects the roof from weather damage, including hail.

Optical chromatic cloaking gives the roof its visible colorwhile absorbing very little "usable" light.

Monocrystalline solar cells are the industry standard.

Rollformed galvanized metal panels serve as the base.

The racking system is concealed.

Check out this video to get an introduction to the product, and then read on for more.

After watching the video and poring over the product web site, I still had questions, so I contacted Mr. Taylor for more technical information. Here's the Q&A:

TL: Your video shows that the cabling is in the attic. Are you using microinverters for each panel, or is there a central inverter for the entire array?

ZT: We want to work to develop an architecture that integrates with home batteries as effectively as possible. Although I can't give all the details, I can say a big part of this plan is running DC power to a 48V charge controller on a home battery unit. In the long term, I think DC electric will make sense for end use in most homes. As we transition to a world of the internet of things, home batteries, LED lights and electric cars, we'll start to see that, like it or not, most things are DC powered already. I believe 48V DC will be a really important standard. In my opinion, microinverters belong on home appliances like electric stoves and laundry dryers.

For the time being, we'll utilize a central inverter but I don't see AC power ruling the roost in residential applications for too many more decades.

TL: The video also mentions that the roof will shed snow in the winter, but it didn't explain how. I've seen traditional PV panels on fairly steep slopes that don't shed their snow very well. I'm wondering how you accomplish it.

ZT: Believe it or not, the snow on solar panels gets hung up on that tiny 1/8" lip of the aluminum frame. And if the snow makes it up over the bump up from the glass to atop the aluminum frame, it piles in the gaps between the panels.

Where you might not see snow shedding off a metal roof is in instances where the metal roof has exposed fasteners. This is a corrugated roof, it's a different style. The slightest hang up can prevent an avalanche. Also, in standing seam applications, about 10 years of UV degradation to the Kynar 500 coating can change the coefficient of friction quite a bit, also preventing snow from shedding.

With our solar roofing panels, they're covered in glass. And more importantly, the coefficient of friction doesn't change dramatically over the life of the panel. We're actually worried about the inverse problem in this scenario. Snow sliding off all at once. As it is now, with a home that has a roof with a pitch of 4:12 or greater, the snow will shed before accumulating beyond a 1/4". This prevents large amounts from falling all at once. Commercial applications such as pre-engineered steel buildings present unique challenges as the snow falls at a different rate with their typical low slope. Currently, the best solution is a green area buffer (ie: shrubs) but it's a challenge we have a few ideas for and we're confident we can solve the issue before expanding into colder climates. There is no snow where we are in California.

TL: Are you offering integrated storage? If not, is it compatible with behind-the-meter storage?

ZT: We're currently in talks with storage providers. I can't talk too much about that just yet. We're excited for the announcements we have to make on this front.

TL: In the past when I've written about the Tesla solar roof, I've had questions from firefighters who are concerned with an electrified roof that they can't visually identify. Is there anything that lets firefighters know where NOT to swing an ax?

ZT: So we've got are two different scenarios here: Daytime and nighttime. During the day, a firefighter will be able to discern between our glass covered, solar roofing panels. It will be obvious from a gloss perspective and also because they "change color" as you look at them from above. During the night, this won't be so obvious. We really like our optics around here. It's what gives our panels their color. In this case, it makes the most sense to work with the tools the firefighter has, be it a headlamp or a flashlight. We plan to have a reflective component much like what is used on traffic signs. When the firefighter shines their light to mark a position, they will see the optics reflect back. This makes sense, reflective tape is already used quite extensively to aid firefighters. As such, we'd like to stick to that best practice already in place. TL: Have you done any full-scale testing to verify installation times and energy production levels?

ZT: Yes, they're in New York. We're mum on the details as much of the technology is proprietary.

TL: I see that you're taking preorders. When do you expect to start the first installation?

ZT: I'm fairly certain we'll be getting first preorders installed this year. However, we're telling customers 2018. We'd like to underpromise and overdeliver.

So there you have it: the burgeoning solar roof industry has one Goliath and a few Davids, and I don't mean that in a "bad guy vs good guy sense" - it's just a comment about the relative sizes of the players. If you've read my stuff, you already know I'm a big fan of Tesla and Elon Musk. I'm also a fan of competition, so let the games begin!

Images and video courtesy of Forward Labs

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ENCINITAS A Superior Court judge has ruled against a residents group that challenged the citys approval of a second-story addition to a duplex on Rosebay Drive in 2016.

The group, which called itself Friends to Preserve Encinitas Beauty, sued Encinitas residents Gina Merchant and Derek Bradley in March 2016, challenging the addition of a 649-square-foot second story to their 863-square-foot duplex.

The group claimed the home remodel would block public and private views, would violate the citys parking requirements, that it didnt follow the citys Design Review Guidelines and that it should have been subject to extensive review under the California Environmental Quality Act.

The group also claimed approval would prompt others to build additions which would block the view of neighbors above.

Superior Court Judge Earl Maas on May 10 ruled against the group on all counts. Merchant expressed relief in the ruling.

My husband and I are so relieved to have put this to rest as the weight of the lawsuit has been bearing down on us for 12 long months, Merchant said. We were shocked and disheartened that these people took it this far given that we worked carefully with the city of Encinitas to design a second story that would be considerate of our neighbors and community, and their arguments were completely baseless.

They were just determined to try to bully us with their money. We hope our success will discourage similar NIMBY attacks elsewhere in our community, and empower people to fight for their right to improve their homes, Merchant said.

Everett Delano, the groups attorney, said the group hadnt decided if they would appeal the ruling.

Delano acknowledged that winning the lawsuit was not going to be easy, given they would have to prove the slippery slope the approval would create.

I think it was important to set a precedent that we simply cant sit back and allow this to happen, Delano said. Its not about Derek and Gina, its the concern that if you keep building up, everyone else will build up.

Marco Gonzalez, who represented Merchant and Bradley, called the suit frivolous. Suits like these only serve to fuel the perception that our environmental laws are ineffective and frequently abused, Gonzalez said. I really wish some attorneys would consider the negative consequences to the environmental movement when they bring these types of clearly bogus suits.

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Judge rules against citizens group in duplex suit - Coast News

(Editors note: This column is part of an ongoing series on the history of Upper Townships villages. The main sources for this piece was Jean Albrechts A History of Upper Township and Its Villages published in 1989 and H. Stanley Craigs The History of Petersburg, published by Herald Press in Tuckahoe in 1913.)

Joyce van Vorst wrote about the schools in Petersburg:

The first Petersburg school was deeded on Jan. 23, 1814. The money for the building was raised by subscription; each subscriber with a specific number of shares. It was known as The Franklin School and the first teacher was Elias Corson. He taught reading, writing, and arithmetic for a term of two months (48 days) for the sum of $30. He worked a seven-hour day and had to pay his own board. (Obviously no teachers unions existed in 1820.)

The subscribers promised one fourth a cord of wood for each scholar. School commenced on Dec. 28, 1820. The school survived the September 1821 Great Gale (mentioned in the Seaville column) but a new school was built in 1871 not far from the Franklin School, which is now gone. These two schools saw 64 teachers come and go. I wonder why?

In 1952, the modern post-war elementary school was built in Marmora with additions in 1959 and 1963 reflecting the growth of the township. A new middle school was built on Perry Road in 1973 for grades 5-8.

The solitary church in Littleworth was the Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church, later to become the Wesley United Methodist Church. It was first organized in 1831 from a prior congregation that was probably meeting in members homes.

Elias Corson and his wife, Abigail, along with nine other Corsons, the Mickels, Godfreys, and a Mr. Peterson formed the initial group. This incorporated group organized to build a meeting house to be called the Wesley Meeting House.

Preachers were scarce in those days so they preached in what was called a circuit much like judges did at the time, riding by horseback or wagon from church to church. In 1839, the existing circuit was divided and the portion including Tuckahoe, Head of the River, Marshallville, Littleworth, Beesleys Point, and later Seaville became known as The Atlantic Circuit. As van Vorst wrote, the congregation of the Wesley Meeting House increased and a larger building was felt necessary.

In 1853 the building on the site was sold and moved to the adjoining lot and converted to a dwelling. The new church building was built by Peter Corson for $3,200 more than $100,000 in 2017.

By 1867 the circuit was divided yet again, this time including the village of Petersburg (with its new name) Beesleys Point and Seaville known as The Petersburg Circuit. Why the Petersburg Circuit? Well, this time the pastor resided in the Petersburg parsonage, and the circuit was so titled.

Eventually, the Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant churches merged to become the Methodist Church and later they combined with the United Brethren to become the United Methodist Church as they are known today.

In 1967 a Sunday school addition was added with a kitchen and dining area in the basement and a stage and auditorium on the second floor. Today, the Petersburg Methodist Church is a healthy and vibrant church in the township.

According to The History of Petersburg (Craig, 1913), the original railroad in Upper Township ran from Middletown to Cedar Swamp Creek crossing the Dennisville Road about where the Killdeer Hill Road branches off. The route was changed at the insistence of the townspeople.

The Philadelphia and Seashore Railway Co. started construction and in 1891 tracks were laid as far south as Corsons Inlet. In 1892 it was completed to Sea Isle City. That same year, the railroad was sold to the West Jersey Railroad which operated it through 1893, when it was sold to the South Jersey Railroad Company, which later sold it to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company.

In 1894, the Ocean City branch was constructed by Henry D. Moore and by 1897 the Ocean City Railroad ran a branch from Cedar Springs through Palermo (that station is now located at Cold Spring Village) and on to Ocean City.

The Reading Company became the owner of the Ocean City Railroad and the Atlantic City Railroad combined with the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1933 to become the PA-Reading Seashore Line.

Thousands of tourists, who became known as Shoobies because they often carried their lunches in shoe boxes, came to the shore communities from Philadelphia and points north for very reasonable fares.

I conclude with a very interesting railroad story. A railroad spur was built in 1917 from Middletown into the Tuckahoe Game Preserve, now called the Lester G. MacNamara Wildlife Management Area. This area was used to store ordinance such as shells and bullets destined for Russia, which was fighting the Germans in World War I and losing badly on the eastern front.

The Russian Revolution broke out in November of 1917, so there was no way at that point that weapons or ammunition would be sent to aid Bolsheviks.

The United States entered the war April 6, 1917, after President Woodrow Wilson asked for a declaration of war following numerous instigations by the Germans.

The majority of the workforce in Upper Township was employed at that time by the Bethlehem Loading Company whose headquarters was in Belcoville, Atlantic County a few miles up Route 50. When off duty, workers frequently spent time in the building that now houses the Tuckahoe Bike Shop and, before that, Ann Porters Store. There was a piano and stage in the very back of the building which was used for showing silent movies. Pianos provided the sound track for many early silent films with music especially created to accompany each film. In addition, events were scheduled for music and dancing.

The Bethlehem Loading Company, a subsidiary of Bethlehem Steel Company, produced ammunition for the war effort. The munitions factories were set up in South Jersey ostensibly for secrecy. After the Armistice was declared on Nov. 11, 1918, the location was used for the unloading of shells. There is a dynamite shed still on the property, now used for storage, which dates from World War I.

The foundations of these factory buildings can still be seen today on the Route 50 side of Atlantic County Park. There is a sign which indicates the place and nature of the buildings.

Since were commemorating the 100th anniversary of Americas entry into World War I this year it is fitting to talk about the men from Upper Township who served during the war. Perhaps one or more are your ancestors are among that number.

The Aaron Wittkamp Colwell American Legion Post 239 was chartered after the war on Jan. 27, 1920. It was named for the three men from Upper Township who were killed in France in 1918: John D. Aaron, Frank Wittkamp and Theodore R. Colwell. The original charter members of Post 239 were Rolland van Gilder, Fred Hagelgans, William Wayner, Vince DAgostino, Robert Garrett, James Dailey, Riccardo Balzan, Anther Hess, William Tomlin, Earl Fraser, Charles MaCrea, Stanley Gandy, Dominik Detro, Charles Young, Theodore Young, John Young, and Herbert Hand.

One more for the roadHow many of you knew that the Tuckahoe Game Preserve was also used to house German prisoners of war during World War II? The men were trucked out to work on local farms just as they were in POW camps all over the United States. I once met a taxi cab driver in Berlin back in 1972, who was in a POW camp in Louisiana and picked vegetables until the war was over. He had been captured in North Africa and brought here in 1943. His English was excellent!

These POWs in the game preserve were put up in the roughly built wooden barracks that were probably once used by Civilian Conservation Corps workers back in the 1930s, surrounded by a barbed wire enclosure. Some of the buildings are still there in the game preserve now used by the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife.

The POWs were shipped back to Germany when the war was over. Lifelong township resident Jerry Bailey spoke to me about a German pfennig (penny) which is presently owned by a family member and was found back in the area where the German POWs were housed.

I wonder how many German POWs came back to the U.S. after the war? Many did, although we have no idea as to numbers.

When we reach the story of Strathmere, you will be surprised by a story about a German navy captain who watched the Strathmere shoreline from his U-boat during World War II.

Robert Holden taught at the Ocean City Intermediate School for 31 years, retiring in 2006. He is now a senior adjunct professor of history at Atlantic Cape Community College, where he has focused on Holocaust and Genocide Studies. He has traveled to Holocaust sites in Europe, and in China to study The Rape of Nanking and Japanese aggression in the Pacific. In 2009, he received the Axelrod Award for years of teaching and giving presentations about the Holocaust. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Historical Preservation Society of Upper Township and currently serves as the historian. He lives in Upper Township with his wife Janice Breckley Holden.

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History of the Ten Villages of Upper Township: Petersburg, Part 2 - Shore News Today

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Why Replacing Residential Windows Now Makes Sense Economics Wire One look at the windows is all it takes for you to see it's time to have them painted again. Some of the windows will also need a little repair work. Before you pick up the phone and have someone come out to do another round of work on those older ...

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Why Replacing Residential Windows Now Makes Sense - Economics Wire

The West Palm Beach population can have specific glass repair issues that other Florida cities dont normally deal with

West Palm Beach, Florida (PRWEB) May 29, 2017

Express Glass & Board Up, an expert sliding glass door service in West Palm Beach, is proud to announce a new posting schedule to better serve Floridas historic home community. The company is announcing ambitious new blog posts focused on West Palm Beach glass repair issues, just in time for the busy summer 'do it yourself' season.

The West Palm Beach population can have specific glass repair issues that other Florida cities dont normally deal with, commented Yaniet Santos, General Manager of Express Glass. For instance, many districts have historical homes that need special care and attention, including windows and sliding glass doors. We want to serve residents in the best possible way by getting out information to their specific glass problems quickly. Our new commitment to blogging for summer, 2017, makes an exciting bookmark for area residents hungry for up-to-date tips circa 2017.

To keep up with the new blog posts, area residents are urged to visit the West Palm Beach informational page at http://www.expressglassfl.com/west-palm-beach-glass-window-repair/. There, they can bookmark the location, and/or click up to the company's lively blog. Look for new posts in May, 2017, with a focus on tips and tricks for glass repair. Information about patio door repair, window glass replacement and upgrading windows to hurricane resistant glass can also be found. Another good way for area residents to browse posts in this series is to bookmark, http://www.expressglassfl.com/blog/tag/west-palm-beach/, which focuses on West Palm Beach issues.

Sliding Glass Door Repair in West Palm Beach has Made History

Florida may be known as a vacation destination to many, but it is also a place of historical monuments and special residences. People looking to view the best in Mediterranean revival-style homes can visit the El Cid neighborhood in West Palm Beach. The homes can be a great source of pride for homeowners in the West Palm Beach area. Special attention and great care may have to be used in order to maintain the beauty of a revival-style bungalow. Maintenance can include frequent care of window glass and patio doors. Outside sliding glass door repair services may not have the tools or skills to properly care for a broken window in a historical home. A unique home may require a glass technician sporting specialized skills to handle sliding glass door repair properly.

Express Glass & Board Up has recently announced an upgrade to the sites blog posting schedule. Extraordinary neighborhoods such as El Cid and Grandview Heights can require special information about sliding glass door repair. Revival-style homes may have to retain specific standards yet require modern glass repair technology. Types of glass such as high-impact glass, plate glass and wired glass may prove to help maintain the safety of a cherished historical home. Homeowners may also have questions about fixing, replacing and cleaning windows. A more robust blog posting schedule for sliding glass door repair in West Palm Beach can help get answers out quicker. Residents may be proud of living in an uncommon historical home. Locals can also be certain to find an exceptional glass repair service to match.

About Express Glass Repair and Board Up

Express Glass and Board Up Service Inc. is a family owned and operated glass repair business with more than 20 years of experience. Professional technicians and the large variety of inventory make Express Glass the top glass repair service. If customers are looking for West Palm Beach window glass repair as well as glass repair in Delray Beach or Miami glass repair, please reach out to the company for a free estimate. If customers need a 24/7 Sliding Glass Door repair service in West Palm Beach or Boca Raton or Miramar, technicians are standing by. The company specializes in sliding glass door repair and window glass repair; technicians will handle any glass replacement situation efficiently. Home or business glass repair is the company's main priority.

Express Glass Repair and Board up http://www.expressglassfl.com/

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Express Glass, the Leader in Sliding Glass Door Repair for West Palm Beach, Announces Upgraded Blogging Schedule - PR Web (press release)

Sturridge has once again struggled with injury and fitness concerns at Liverpool this season.

The England striker started just three Premier League games in 2017 but two of those were the final two matches of the campaign against West Ham and Middlesbrough, where he impressed including scoring a goal at the London Stadium.

But Parlour thinks Klopp needs a striker he can rely on for the majority of a campaign and Sturridge is not that player.

"I can't see him having a future at Liverpool," the Arsenal legend said on talkSPORT.

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

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Who is Jurgen Klopp tipped to sign this summer?

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I can't see Daniel Sturridge having a future at Liverpool

Ray Parlour on Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge

"That's the position that they really need to look at Liverpool in this transfer window, centre-forward.

"Get that real focal player who can hold the ball up, you've got excellent little players behind them, we know that.

"You have (Philippe) Coutinho, (Adam) Lallana, (Roberto) Firmino, excellent players, (Sadio) Mane as well, he's been out injured.

"I think forward is going to be the most important and I think Jurgen Klopp is going to need someone who will be reliable, play week in, week out.

GETTY

"A little bit like Harry Kane, I know he missed a few spells but that was just bad luck for Harry.

"Someone who's not going to get those niggly injuries and I think Daniel Sturridge will be on the move.

"A lot of clubs will be interested in him. West Ham for Daniel Sturridge?"

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Liverpool Transfer News: Jurgen Klopp told to replace Daniel ... - Express.co.uk

Ductless heat pumps have taken the U.S. by storm with sales increasing by double digits over the last few years. That momentum is expected to continue; however, not every homeowner wants to look at wall-mounted units in their living spaces.

Enter the ducted mini-split heat pump, which offers a more aesthetically pleasing option for homeowners who are hesitant about the look of wall-mounted, ceiling-recessed, or other ductless options, according to Michelle Robb, director of residential marketing, Mitsubishi Electric US Inc. Cooling & Heating Division.

And for the majority of homes in the U.S. that already have ductwork in place, the ducted mini split offers a viable alternative to central HVAC systems, as well.

Having a ducted mini-split option means homeowners interested in ducted systems can have the setup and aesthetic they want while still benefiting from the efficiency, quiet operation, and zoning capabilities that mini splits offer, said Robb.

In the U.S., most homeowners have central heating and cooling systems that utilize ductwork, and when it comes time to replace that equipment, they usually opt for another central system. However, according to manufacturers, ducted mini splits should be considered as they can increase energy efficiency while taking advantage of a homes infrastructure. And, depending on the design, ducted mini-split systems can potentially reduce concerns about duct leakage and/or IAQ problems that can occur with forced-air systems.

Traditional ducts collect dust and dirt over time, including pollen, pet dander, and volatile organic compounds, and these materials are recirculated throughout the home over time, said Victor Flynn, product manager, Panasonic Appliances Air-Conditioning North America. In addition, all traditional ducts leak conditioned air to some extent, which reduces energy efficiency and increases utility costs. With ducted mini-split systems, evaporators are generally located close to the distribution point, which leads to a reduced amount of air leakage and dirt build-up in ductwork related to mini-split systems.

In addition to using existing ductwork, ducted mini-split systems allow users to take advantage of high-efficiency inverter technology, said Terry Frisenda, national accounts manager, air conditioning technologies, LG Electronics USA Inc.

In some cases, our ducted units operate as high as 18.5 SEER, Frisenda said. These systems are also quiet, perform well in cold climates, and allow users to adjust each zone independently. With single-phase heat recovery, consumers even have simultaneous heating and cooling in different zones.

The amount of energy savings a homeowner may see with a ducted mini-split system can be significant on the order of 30-40 percent, said Robb.

Traditional central heat pump systems are also controlled by less sophisticated outdoor units, which shut off when target temperatures are met and then turn back on when the temperature has slipped far enough from the target, she said. Our ducted and ductless mini splits are powered by an inverter-driven compressor, which modulates to satisfy space temperature requirements and is significantly quieter in the process.

Traditional ducted systems use fan motors that draw excessive amperage to overcome the external static pressure of ductwork. Higher amperage draw results in higher energy usage, said Matthew Lacey, senior product manager of single and multi-zone systems, Daikin North America. Central systems that utilize long ductwork runs and flex ducts may have increased external static pressure and lower operation efficiency. While ducted single- and multi-zone systems experience similar challenges, the efficiencies remain higher as the indoor fan coil unit is located closer to the source and requires less ductwork.

Contractors can offer homeowners a lot of bang for their buck with ducted mini splits, because a single outdoor unit can connect to up to eight indoor units, and each indoor unit can service one or multiple rooms, explained Robb.

Contractors determine how many units to use by running load calculations. Mitsubishi Electric makes this easy by providing programs like the Residential System Builder, an app built for use on tablets that allows HVAC contractors to walk into customers homes and provide an accurate estimate of what size and type of system should be used for each home, she said.

A ducted single- or multi-zone system works similarly to a central heat pump system, except that it is applied as a zone solution with shorter duct runs, noted Lacey. For example, if a two-story home includes a large game room and three bedrooms upstairs, a load calculation for a traditional system may recommend a 4-ton system with the controlling thermostat in the game room. This traditional system would have one indoor fan coil or furnace with an evaporator coil and a considerable amount of ductwork from the single unit to each of the four rooms.

With a ducted single- or multi-zone system, it may be possible to reduce the size of the system to a 3-ton multi-zone system with one condensing unit outside connected via copper tubing to four individual fan coils that serve each of the four rooms, said Lacey.

Each room would have an independent thermostat control for heating and cooling as opposed to a traditional system that may be limited to heating or cooling all four rooms at once.

Contractors will like the flexibility of ducted mini-split systems, said Victor Perez, national director of sales, Samsung.

Contractors have the option of utilizing one indoor unit per room or utilizing one indoor unit for several rooms its dependent upon load, fan static pressure, sound generation, amount of ductwork, plenum height, and economics. In addition, the indoor unit can be installed either horizontally or vertically, depending on the application. Either way, the ductwork is attached to the indoor fan coil and then extended into the various locations, as needed.

Essentially, a ducted mini-split system is laid out very similarly to a unitary system complete with an air handler, said Frisenda; however, unlike a conventional system, the indoor air handler does not require its own power source as it draws power from the outdoor unit.

One unit can serve multiple rooms and, in some cases, that is preferred. By combining multiple rooms with a ducted mini-split unit, consumers can maximize efficiencies and reduce installation costs to build larger comfort zones, as desired. To ensure proper installation, contractors need to run a Manual J room-by-room load calculation, which will determine the number of indoor units required to appropriately condition the space.

Ducted mini-split systems can be installed in ceilings, attics, closets, or under the floor, but, as with any heating or cooling system, proper load sizing and installation is key.

Ducted mini-split systems are designed to be located close to air distribution points and are sometimes fitted with a multi-port flange that allows for two or more distribution points, but it should be noted, due to relatively low static pressure ratings, duct length should be minimized, said Flynn.

As with any system, ducted mini splits do have their limitations. In extreme climates, for example, supplemental heat may be required, but many manufacturers note that their ducted mini-split systems can offer substantial heating capacity down to minus 13F. To address IAQ concerns, many ducted mini splits offer advanced filtration options and dehumidification control; however, installing an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) is usually recommended.

Given the flexibility, energy efficiency, and comfort that ducted mini-split systems can offer homeowners, it is no wonder manufacturers are optimistic about their future.

The acceptance of ducted mini splits continues to grow, said Perez. Projections show that demand for ducted mini splits will soon be equal in size with ductless mini splits.

Publication date: 5/29/2017

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Ducted Mini Splits Offer Hidden Benefits - ACHR NEWS