www.fueloilnews.com | FUEL OIL NEWS | SPRING LITERATURE SHOWCASE 3
the integration of next-generation,
high-performance heat pumps,
"especially these cold-climate
mini-splits, with oil-fired heating
systems," Butcher said. The proj-
ect is meant to determine under
what circumstances—what parts of
the heating season—does it make
sense to use a heat pump, and what
parts of the heating season is it bet-
ter to use a boiler, Butcher said.
For example, during summer, it is
probably better to use a heat pump
because they can cool, Butcher
said. "If you look at the spring and
fall, those swing seasons, when
the load is really light, heat pump
performance is better, certainly,
than it is under cold conditions."
During the colder part of the win-
ter, Butcher said, "the efficiency
of the oil-fired hydronic heat-
ing system—including domestic
hot water—gets to be really good
because the load is high, so it's
operating in a good mode." That
leads to considerations of the logic
that could be used for an animated
control that could switch from one
system to the other, Butcher said.
The reception to mark the
opening of the center was held on
April 13. "The fact that we'll be
able to do a lot of our research in-
house," and "having the lab fully
integrated with the education
programs there will help keep
the research focused on real-
world issues," Huber told Fuel
Oil News in an interview earlier
this year. "This will allow us to
do more and [make] quicker
responses to the industry's needs
for research," Huber said. "I
think it's going to be really good
for the industry."
l F O N
Equipment has been installed in the
NORA Research & Education Center for
use in education and training classes.
Photo at bottom left: Dr. Tom Butcher
and John Levey (in yellow shirt) chat
at the opening. Ribbon-cutting photo:
John Huber, president of NORA,
wielded ceremonial scissors, accom-
panied by (from left): Kevin Rooney,
CEO of OHILI; Butcher; and Rocco J.
Lacertosa Jr., CEO of NYOHA.
