Our customers in both states – especially those who depend on window air conditioning for summer cooling – have a great opportunity to save money as well as energy with the double rebate now being offered for a ductless or air source heat pump.
Heat pumps combine heating and cooling equipment into a single, high-efficiency unit that can be a less-expensive option than conventional furnace-and-air conditioner setup. The most common type of heat pump is the air source heat pump, which transfers heat between your home and the outside air. For homes without ducts, a mini-split or ductless heat pump is available.
“Ductless heat pumps have become very popular and are probably the fastest-growing HVAC system in the market today,” said Bruce Griffey, Energy Efficiency & Consumer Program Coordinator. “They are very efficient, and customers can save 30% to 60% percent on their heating and cooling costs.”
We have offered rebates on heat pumps often in the past, but with the pandemic affecting customers and reducing demand, our EE group decided to double the rebate to help more customers save.
“We offered the double rebate promotion this year mainly due to these uncertain times in order to help customers make the decision to purchase a higher efficiency system when the money might be tight,” Griffey said.
Some manufacturers are also running special promotions, which, combined with the double rebate, makes it a good time for customers facing a need to replace their current system.
“The ductless heat pumps are great for homes that have electric baseboard heat or ceiling cable heat,” Griffey added. “These types of homes also generally use window air conditioning units due to the home not having ductwork. The ductless heat pump is also a great system for a sunroom or garage that may have baseboard heat and no cooling. Install a ductless system there, and it will dramatically reduce the heating costs plus provide air conditioning.”
Costs range widely. Rebates on an air source heat pump rebate is $600 to $1,000. Rebates for a 2-ton ductless heat pump system range from $200 to $600 and, for a 3-ton, up to $1,710.
Details and information on how customers can get the rebate are on I&M’s Electric Ideas Website, on the Smart at Home/HVAC page.