Still considered by many to be the ultimate in home cooling systems, central air conditioning uses ducts to distribute cooled and dehumidified air throughout your home or office. In a typical split system, the condenser and compressor are located in an outdoor unit, the evaporator is mounted on the furnace or in the air handling unit. With a package system, all components are located in a single outdoor unit that may be located on the ground or roof.

Central air conditioning does provide several added benefits: room air is drawn in from various parts of the building through return-air ducts. This air is filtered and airborne particles such as dust and lint are removed. The filtered and conditioned air is distributed through supply ductwork that carries it back to the rooms. Whenever the air conditioner is running, this cycle repeats continually. Because the central air conditioning unit is located outdoors, it offers a lower level of noise indoors than a free-standing air conditioning unit. These systems also distribute cool air evenly throughout your home for a very natural cooling effect.

Ductless air conditioners are also known as mini-split air conditioners since they work in similar fashion to ducted central air conditioners, but on smaller scale. Ductless air conditioning systems have gained popularity in recent years for their ease of installation when compared to central air conditioning, and their quiet and effective operation in both homes and offices.

Ductless air conditioning systems don’t use ductwork or ducted air distribution like a central system. They are comprised of two basic components: an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. An indoor unit contains an air handling unit, an evaporator and a blower. An outdoor unit contains a condenser and a compressor. Most ductless systems don't provide the air filtering properties of a central system, but they do have a number of advantages of their own; there is no heating or cooling loss via the ductwork, the footprint of most units is quite small, and most indoor units operate via a convenient remote control. Using these hand held remotes you can cool just certain areas of your home or office, making them more efficient than central systems in many instances.

Heat pumps continue to grow in popularity and use for two very basic reasons:

1. Heat pumps rely on underground temperatures which tend to remain quite constant regardless of the season
2. Heat pumps can help to heat your home in winter and cool it in the warmer months

Ground source heat pumps use geo thermal technology to tap into these constant temperatures deep underground and thereby provide the most efficient comfort conditioning available today. This can greatly reduce the cost of providing heating, cooling, and even hot water both residentially and commercially. Those interested in geo thermal HVAC systems in the Hudson Valley may be eligible for energy savings credits and rebates. Since heat pumps only require a small amount of electricity and don't rely on fossil fuels to heat or cool, they are also an environmentally friendly alternative to making your home green and more comfortable year round.