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Performance Tested Comfort SystemTM


As much as 50% of a homes' energy goes to heating and cooling. So making good decisions about heating and air conditioning systems can have a big impact - both in savings and in comfort. It's also worth addressing the duct system and other big air leaks in the house.

Even the most experienced installer can't judge HVAC refrigerant charge or air flow without testing. For comfort, best performance and longest life, new equipment should be properly sized, installed and charged using the Performance Tested Comfort System (PTCS) test procedures.

A PTCS certified technician will:
  • Recommend energy efficient equipment that is right for your home and comfort.
  • Test to ensure proper sizing using a heat gain/loss calculation.
  • Install your system properly to ensure best performance and longest life.
  • Test system for the right amount of refrigerant, and adjust if necessary.
  • Test air flow and make any adjustments for optimal performance and comfort.
  • Set up the thermostat and controls to prevent the backup heat from coming on prematurely and increasing your heating costs.
  • Seal leaky ducts to ensure that the system delivers the conditioned air where it's needed and not outdoors.

Many utilities offer energy efficiency incentives for HVAC systems installed by a PTCS Certified technician. The Oregon Residential Tax Credit program uses the PTCS program as verification for qualifying heat pump commissioning projects for a tax credit.

Performance Tested Comfort Systems Northwest:
(Ecos Consulting is BPA's program partner for the PTCS. Please visit their website here)
Process for Claiming a PTCS Measure:
  • PTCS certified technician completes all required PTCS forms.
  • PTCS certified technician sends the required PTCS forms via fax, e-mail, or regular mail to Ecos Consulting (Ecos) and to the serving electric utility.
  • Ecos performs a review of the PTCS forms submitted, determines if forms are complete and if job meets PTCS specifications.
  • Ecos enters the job into the PTCS site registry, within two weeks of receiving forms, as Accepted, Pending, or Rejected.
      • Accepted = forms are complete and job is a qualified PTCS job.
      • Pending = forms are incomplete (most cases) or has a questionable calculation. Utility contacts the technician to request correction.
      • Rejected = job does not meet PTCS specifications, however, correction may be possible.

        [Note: Most Pending or Rejected jobs have issues which may be corrected. Once correction is submitted to Ecos, job may be re-classified as Accepted.]

    Ecos notifies all participating utilities with a monthly report of activity.
    Utilities wishing to know a job's status more frequently may log-on to the site registry at www.ptcsnw.com/forms to verify status.



    • In order to strengthen the communication between utilities and their PTCS - certified technicians, BPA recommends that utilities make technicians aware of the above process. Utilities should contact BPA PTCS Program Manager Mark Johnson , 503-230-7669 if they would prefer that BPA notify PTSC-certified technicians of THE claims process through ECOs Consulting.

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     Page last modified on Thursday June 18, 2009.