WaterFurnace Products Recognized in The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration NEWS' Dealer Design Awards

FORT WAYNE, IN--(Marketwired - Sep 12, 2013) - WaterFurnace International, Inc., the leading manufacturer of geothermal and water source heat pumps, announces its 7 Series 700A11 geothermal heat pump has earned gold in the "HVAC High-Efficiency Residential Equipment" category of The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration News' (The NEWS) annual Dealer Design Awards. In addition, its Envision² Compact water source geothermal heat pump has earned silver in the "HVAC Light Commercial Equipment" category.

The NEWS' Dealer Design Awards program was established to honor excellence in HVACR product design. Now in its 10^th year, the awards program showcases the most innovative products that can be conveniently installed, maintained and serviced. This year, 122 product entries across 14 categories were judged by contractors from the HVACR industry. The 7 Series and the Envision² Compact were showcased in a recent edition of The NEWS.

"We're incredibly proud that both the 7 Series and Envision² Compact products were recognized with such an honor. It's especially meaningful because the awards were judged by contractors who actually install and maintain products from a range of HVAC manufacturers," said Tim Litton, WaterFurnace director of marketing communications. "In addition to industry-leading efficiency and comfort, the 7 Series represents the best in product design, making contractors' jobs easier. The Envision² Compact offers commercial HVACR contractors the efficiency of a full-size unit in an extremely small footprint -- and is a product that's easy to install and maintain."

The 7 Series is the first variable capacity geothermal unit available for homeowners and the only unit to surpass both 41 EER and 5.3 COP, efficiencies twice that of traditional air conditioners or heat pumps and 30 percent greater than current geothermal units. The unit utilizes a soft-start variable capacity compressor, in concert with a variable speed ECM blower and variable speed loop pump. This allows the unit to scale output to exactly the level needed rather than the "high" or "low" speeds found in normal systems. The 7 Series can ramp down to 20 percent of normal operation for ultra-efficient conditioning or up to 130 percent output using SuperBoost™, for periods when extra cooling is needed. The capacity range is the industry's widest and can even eliminate the need for auxiliary heat.

The 7 Series also utilizes Aurora, WaterFurnace's next-generation of controls, to continuously monitor and optimize operation, helping improve convenience for contractors. Aurora provides two-way communication between components, robust troubleshooting capabilities and advanced communication protocols, including integration to home automation networks and whole-home energy monitoring.

Introduced in July 2012, WaterFurnace's 7 Series achieved the ENERGY STAR® Most Efficient designation in 2012 and 2013. Through Dec. 31, 2016, homeowners who install an ENERGY STAR^® rated geothermal system in the U.S. are eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit.

Introduced in June 2012, the Envision² Compact offers best-in-class efficiencies and features in a cabinet that is among the industry's smallest, providing premium performance in a cabinet footprint of a less efficient product. This makes the unit ideal for boiler/tower applications and the replacement of aging water source heat pumps.

Available in 0.75- to 6-ton capacities, the Envision² Compact design incorporates a number of advanced features that improve convenience for contractors, including Aurora communicating controls. The Aurora Base Control microprocessor can communicate to a handheld diagnostic tool to help the installing contractor or service technician with equipment setup and service. By utilizing Modbus RTU communication protocol, Aurora Base Control can communicate with additional devices on the Aurora network.

WaterFurnace International, Inc.
WaterFurnace International, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional geothermal and water source heat pumps. Products from WaterFurnace include energy-efficient and environmentally friendly geothermal comfort systems, indoor air quality products and pool heaters. WaterFurnace (TSX: WFI) was founded in 1983, and the company is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Ind. For the latest news and updates from WaterFurnace, connect with us on your favorite social media sites -- follow us on Twitter (@WaterFurnace), like us on Facebook or view the WaterFurnace YouTube Channel.

Related links:

WaterFurnace International, Inc. - http://www.waterfurnace.com/

The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration News (The NEWS) - http://www.achrnews.com/

geothermal - http://www.waterfurnace.com/how-it-works.aspx

heat pumps - http://www.waterfurnace.com/geothermal-heat-pumps.aspx

7 Series 700A11 - http://www.waterfurnace.com/7Series

Envision² Compact - http://www.waterfurnace.com/products.aspx?pl=50&prd=Envision2

tax credits - http://www.waterfurnace.com/tax_credits.aspx