The system was designed to establish ONE system to provide both heating and cooling.  This system has the capability of both heating and cooling the home and workshop using the air handler and slabs in the main home, and the slab and fan convector in the workshop.

Sophisticated Design Provides Heating AND Cooling!

The system that Sundance designed and installed uses a Chiltrix ultra high efficiency Air to Water Heat Pump.  This is a reverse cycle chiller that produces both hot and chilled water for heating and cooling. Domestic hot water is produced using the heat pump with a stainless-steel indirect water heater.  There is a resistive electric backup heating element for meeting high domestic hot water demand. The heat pump system also utilizes a sophisticated electric back-up for the radiant floor system which produces the amount of energy required to supplement the heat pumps during severe cold weather situations to meet the demands of the home. A Chiltrix air handler provides additional cooling and dehumidification in the main house, while a single fan convector provides additional cooling and dehumidification in the workshop.

How Do Air to Water Heat Pumps Work?

Air-to-water heat pumps are similar to the more common air-to-air heat pumps and mini-splits. Instead of blowing conditioned air through ducts or indoor heads, these units heat or cool water, which then circulates through fan coil units, radiant floors, or other hydronic systems.

Key Advantages:

Ultra-High Efficiency

• Inverter-driven and uses advanced variable-speed technology, so they adjust output to match demand, reducing wasted energy.
• Can achieve COP (Coefficient of Performance) values of 4–6 in mild weather—meaning 400–600% efficiency for heat output per unit of electricity used.
• Uses low-temperature hydronic heating, which is more efficient than pushing hot air through ducts.

Heating, Cooling and Domestic Hot Water in One

• Works as both a heater and a chiller:
  • In winter it heats water to warm your home
  • In summer it chills water to cool your home
  • Produces domestic hot water year-round
• Can connect to fan coil units for forced-air delivery (ducted AC) or to radiant floor/wall/ceiling panels for silent, draft-free comfort.

Superior Comfort

• Hydronic heating avoids the dry air and hot/cold blasts that can happen with traditional forced-air systems.
• Radiant and fan coil distribution can provide more even room temperatures.
• Radiant cooling is more efficient, quieter and less “blowy” than ducted AC.

Flexible Zoning

• Because the system uses small water lines instead of bulky ducts, each zone (room or group of rooms) can have independent temperature control.
• Perfect for retrofits or additions where ductwork is impractical.

Integration with Renewable Energy

• Works well with solar PV—high efficiency means less electricity needed for heating/cooling, making it easier to run on solar.
• Can pair with thermal storage tanks, letting you store hot or cold water to use later, potentially shifting load to off-peak hours.

Long-Term Durability & Maintenance

• Water piping and fan coils are generally simpler to maintain than ducts and multiple refrigerant lines.
• No need for duct cleaning, and fan coil filters are easy to access.

The Bottom Line

• Air-to-Water Heat Pumps offer ultimate comfort and efficiency for radiant heating and cooling in one high-quality unit.
• Excellent long-term efficiency and flexibility offsets the potential higher upfront cost.
• Great for homes without ducts or for people sensitive to air movement/dust.

Sundance Power Systems has extensive experience with hydronic systems. For 30 years, we have designed, installed and serviced all types of these systems, from the old solar hot water to all kinds of radiant floor heat. Now, we have added these ultra efficient air to water heat pumps to our repertoire! The Chiltrix system has amazing capabilities and we are excited to offer these powerful and versatile systems to our customers. If you are designing a new home and want to incorporate an ultra efficient heating and cooling system, talk to us. We are the trailblazer in this field and can help you achieve fantastic results that will provide years of energy efficient comfort for your family!

This 10.9kilowatt grid-tied solar system was just commissioned in Asheville, NC. This beautiful new home was built by Ward Enterprises, an builder of fine homes based in Leicester, NC. This statement from their website tells a lot about their company:

We work hard every day, doing what we love. Designing, building and having fun while we do it. To us, work is fun. And we like to think that working with us is enjoyable.           (Ward Enterprises)

The system is comprised of twenty seven QCell 405 watt Q Peak Duo solar panels, paired with a SolArk 12K inverter. The all-black modules look fantastic on the roof of this stunning house!

Here are some pictures of this sweet new solar system:

GNT North America Goes Solar with Sundance!

GNT is a German company and the world leader in producing all-natural plant-based food coloring. They have added their new distribution warehouse in Dallas, North Carolina, just west of Charlotte. This is designed to handle distribution for the East Coast. This facility will eventually house a production area as well.

Natural Colors for the Food & Beverage Industry

The GNT website explains what they do:

“EXBERRY® is the leading brand of Coloring Foods for the food and beverage industry. Coloring Foods are made from fruits, vegetables, and edible plants using a physical manufacturing process processed with water. Founded over 45 years ago on the principle of coloring food with food, EXBERRY® has established itself as the leading brand of natural colors for the food and beverage industry.”

Components of This New Solar System

Sundance Vice President, Brian Hollister, worked on the design of this system. His final design utilized (574) Astronergy Astro 3 Twins Series 410-watt Bi-Facial Modules (aka solar panels), covering a good portion of the GNT facility’s roof. These modules are held down with a PanelClaw FR5 Ballasted Racking System. Two inverters are incorporated:

• (1) SolarEdge 120kW Synergy Inverter
• (1) SolarEdge 80kW Synergy Inverter

Sundance Designs & Installs Commercial Solar Systems

Sundance Power Systems has been ’empowering people with solar’ since 1995. Whether a system is designed for a homeowner, small business or larger facility such as GNT North America, Sundance has the expertise to handle the job. We love seeing these big warehouse buildings covered with solar panels. Oftentimes, these rooftops just bake in the sun as unused space. Adding solar is a win-win situation for the business and the planet!

Reuter Family YMCA adds solar power!

Sundance Power Systems recently completed a solar system at Reuter Family YMCA in Biltmore Park Town Square. The Reuter Y is “South Asheville’s fitness destination” and this system will generate 84 megawatt hours of electricity annually.

Here are the stats on the new system:

• (120) JA Solar Panels (or Modules), each rated at 535 watts
• (1) SolarEdge 100 kilowatt Inverter, oversized to leave plenty of room for system expansion
• Ballasted racking system
• Annual production rated at 84 kilowatt hours, or 84 megawatt hours

From the Reuter Y press release:

Reuter Family YMCA Flips the Switch to Solar Power Thanks to Generous Donor’s Contribution!

‘This installation allows the Y to take a significant step towards sustainability and demonstrates its commitment to environmental stewardship. By harnessing the power of the sun, the solar panels will provide clean and renewable energy to the facility, reducing its carbon footprint and contributing to a greener future.

Sundance Power Systems, known for its expertise in solar energy solutions, worked closely with the YMCA to ensure a seamless installation process. The long-term benefits will have an impact on the community for many years to come.

The YMCA of Western North Carolina‘s Reuter Family YMCA was able to put the sun to work for the facility through a generous donation from Pete and Pat Wallenborn. “As long-time YMCA members, we appreciate what the YMCA has done especially being all-inclusive. We hope to inspire others to invest in clean energy”, shared Wallenborn.’

Drone Footage of Solar System at Reuter YMCA:

Hanvey Engineering

Sundance Installs Second Solar System for Hanvey!

In April 2023, we installed a 81.85 kilowatt grid-tied PV (solar) system for the Hanvey Engineering company in Easley, SC. It is comprised of 153 JA solar panels, each rated at 535 watts and a SolarEdge 80kw inverter. This system will be cranking out clean electricity from the power of the sun for years to come!

Back in 2017, we installed a 37.95 kilowatt solar system comprised of 138 QCells solar panels paired with 3 inverters (2 SolarEdge and 1 Pika) for Hanvey. When Hanvey moved to their new location, also in Easley, they called Sundance to design a new solar electric system to meet their growing needs. Brian Hollister, our Director of Business Development, sold and designed both of these systems.

Here is some background on this innovative family business:

“Hanvey offers specialty tools and equipment built to streamline the pet grooming process alongside precision-engineered mobile grooming vans with the sleekest, most efficient designs and layouts in the industry. Curtis Hanvey, Jr expresses, “I have a way of finding what we call ‘The Hanvey Edge.’ Take outdated designs and make them do things that have not been done before within that technology. ‘The Edge’ always revolves around the theme of reducing some stress and strain or everyday hassle that causes a professional groomer to experience that well-known occasional burn-out cycle. The ‘Edge’ can put the fun back into the profession. Any groomer understands what I mean by burn-out. It was just too exciting to see my mom tell me, ‘I enjoy grooming!’ My designs made a dramatic improvement.”

Sundance Power Systems designs, installs and services solar electric systems for homes, businesses, churches, schools and more. We have been empowering people with solar since 1995 and love being part of the move towards renewable energy throughout the Carolinas! Give us a call for a free quote or to refer a friend!

Check out this Short Video of Our Crew in Action at Hanvey!

This customer lives in North Asheville and wanted to go solar for several reasons. He drives an electric car and loves clean energy technology. Going solar to power the house was the next logical step! The house itself has a fairly strong solar window with good ‘irradiance’, a way of estimating the power a solar system will produce. He chose Sundance Power Systems because of our deep experience, plus he knew several Sundance staff members.

This Asheville solar power system is 12.41 kilowatts and is powered by 34 Qcell 365 watt panels on the roof. (In 2019, Qcells opened the largest solar assembly facility of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. The 300,000 square foot factory located in Dalton, Georgia outputs approximately 1.7GW of solar modules each year, equivalent to the peak output of the Hoover Dam!) The solar panels are each paired with a SolarEdge optimizer and they are attached to the roof with Ironridge racking, our high-quality standard system for anchoring the system securely. A SolarEdge inverter takes the direct current (DC) power from the panels and converts it to alternating current (AC). This solar system is projected to offset about 86% of annual electric consumption.

The solar power system was installed over a couple of lovely autumn days in October 2022. Sundance Power Systems is proud to serve the Asheville metro area as well as upstate South Carolina. With powerful Federal tax credits that were increased and extended by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, there has never been a better time to go solar. Sundance is 100% locally-owned with over 27 years of experience in designing, installing and servicing the systems we build. Get in touch for a free quote and take control of your energy future!

This 3.9 kilowatt system in central Asheville was installed in September 2021. 12 REC 325 solar panels (or modules) work to generate direct current (DC) from the sun. A SolarEdge 3800 inverter then converts that DC to alternating current (AC), allowing the power generated to be used in the home.

“Sundance has provided me with punctual and friendly service repeatedly. Many thanks to Matthew, Connor, Gretchen, and especially Travis for their time and continuing dedication to Sundance’s product and solar power in general.” Laura McKeithen, homeowner

This grid-tied photovoltaic system is 10.08kW and features 28 REC 360AA black-on-black modules, or solar panels. The Solar Edge 10kw inverter has a 25-year warranty extension. 28 Solar Edge optimizers each work with the modules/panels to maintain optimal output. Optimizers keep a module/panel working even if a cell gets covered by something, keeping the overall system up to speed.  Sundance added a “self-consumption meter” as well. This device allows customers to apply for the Duke Energy rebate a second time if they are not chosen by Duke in their lottery the first time that they are eligible. The modules/panels also have a 25-year REC Pro Trust warranty. The racking is manufactured by Iron Ridge and is the highest rated system available for mounting a rooftop solar system.

Years of Organizing Culminates with the Installation of Community-Funded Solar Power System at ISAAC DICKSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The much-anticipated solar electric system placing solar panels at an Asheville public school has been installed on the roof of Asheville’s Isaac Dickson Elementary School. In January of 2015, Sundance Power Systems was awarded the contract for the project which lacked the funding from Buncombe County to be completed with the initial school construction project. Thanks to a community fundraising campaign led by Sundance and the Green Built Alliance’s Appalachian Offsets program, the system was successfully funded and the project was completed in 2021.

Sundance has worked for 26 years to establish and promote renewable energy in the WNC region. Sundance strives to empower our communities through the adoption of renewable energy systems. Appalachian Offsets funds renewable-energy projects and energy-efficiency upgrades in Western North Carolina schools, nonprofits and low-income housing by pooling money contributed by local businesses and individuals through its voluntary carbon-offset program to install solar panels at an Asheville public school . This partnership has wielded success in developing the first truly community solar project in the region funded exclusively by local parents, teachers, concerned citizens, local philanthropists and the school system.

Appalachian Offsets finished fundraising for the Isaac Dickson solar project — its largest undertaking to date — in late 2019.  (Check out this feature from them.) “It was critical to partner with Appalachian Offsets to fundraise for this project. Sam and the whole team at Green Built Alliance rallied to organize crucial community fundraising” says Dave Hollister, President of Sundance Power Systems. “Over two years, more than 100 donors contributed directly to make this project happen,” Green Built Alliance Executive Director Sam Ruark-Eastes said. “This was a collective effort and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our many donors who all reached deep into their pockets to fund this effort. We are so grateful to live in a place that values clean energy for schools.”

Isaac Dickson was designed as one of the state’s first Net Zero Energy schools and has been awaiting the solar system to help it move toward manifesting that vision since it was built in 2015. Following the recent approval of the long-awaited interconnection agreement from Duke Energy, the system was installed by Sundance Power Systems on the school’s roof. Work began in early March 2021 and completed in May 2021. The system has been producing beautiful clean power since June 2021!

The solar system at IDES is 300 kW photovoltaic array on several roofs with a total investment of $428,000. Appalachian Offsets and Sundance coordinated the fundraising efforts, collecting $305,000 through a variety of community contributions. The project is also being made possible through a $75,000 rebate from Duke Energy as well as Asheville City Schools’ allocation of $48,000 in energy-efficiency rebates it received for the energy-efficient construction of Isaac Dickson.

The solar array is a net-metered system, resulting in the school’s electric bill being lowered by more than $30,000 per year with a 30-year savings of more than $1.3 million, according to Sundance Power Systems. Through an agreement with Buncombe County, the money saved on Isaac Dickson’s electric bills is scheduled to go back into the school’s operating budget.

“The Isaac Dickson project is an expression of the dedication and commitment of this community for taking action against climate change and to leverage this technology to benefit our school system for years to come,” Sundance Power Systems President Dave Hollister said. “With the leadership of the Green Built Alliance and its Appalachian Offsets program, teachers and concerned citizens were able to raise the money for the project. This is community solar at its best.”

In addition to reducing the school’s energy bills, Isaac Dickson will leverage the asset as a teaching resource by weaving student involvement into the installation process and data from the on-site solar system into curriculum for students.

“Installing a rooftop solar system will fulfill the architects’ vision of using the school building itself as learning tool that can be used to facilitate discussions about our environment and conservation, as well as the impacts of fossil fuel consumption not just on our climate but also on our air and water quality,” said Isaac Dickson parent Matt Menne, who played an integral role in fundraising efforts during his time as co-president of the school’s PTO. “What better way to help than by reducing the carbon footprint of our schools, which provides the added benefit of saving money on energy costs for the district in the long run.”

Rooftop Array 

• System Size: 300Kw
• Estimated Annual Production: Over 400 MWh
• PV Modules: (750) Hanwha Q.PEAK DUO L-G7.2 400
• Racking: Iron Ridge XR-10 racking and S-5-H90 clamps
• Inverters: (2) SolarEdge SE100KUS, (1) SolarEdge SE33.3K
• Monitoring: SolarEdge
• CO2 Offset: Public Kiosk View: https://monitoringpublic.solaredge.com/solaredge-web/p/kiosk?guid=26a0577e-7a50-4c41-8494-bf42edd4e15e

As of 6/3/2025:

CO2 Emission Saved: 2,552,294.25 lbs

Equivalent Trees Planted: 19,284.89

Gigawatt Hours of Energy Produced: 1.65 GWh