Energy-efficient Ductless Heat Pumps (DHPs) have been used to heat and cool homes in Asia and Europe since the 1970s but they are virtually unknown in the United States. In 2008, NEEA partnered with Northwest utilities to confirm whether these heating and cooling systems could be a viable source of energy savings for the Northwest.
DHPs are typically mounted to the wall and deliver heated or cooled air directly into a room, avoiding efficiency losses associated with ductwork. But would this technology be embraced by Northwesterners?
Building on a successful BPA demonstration project, NEEA partnered with Northwest utilities, DHP manufacturers and HVAC contractors to launch the nation’s largest DHP pilot project for the residential market. The pilot targeted single-family homes currently using inefficient electric-resistance heat and sought to "displace" this heating source with DHPs.
To accomplish this goal, NEEA and the region's utilities had to overcome many barriers, including a general lack of awareness of DHPs as a viable heating and cooling solution among consumers, builders and HVAC installers. Other barriers included initial up-front cost of the units, consumer wariness of DHP aesthetics, lack of training for HVAC installers and minimal distribution channels throughout the Northwest.
 |
Out of this pilot, NEEA and the region's utilities sought to address these barriers and answer many questions surrounding this new technology, including: How much energy do they save? Are they affordable to install? Would HVAC contractors be interested in installing them? And would homeowners like them? |
The Discover Ductless campaign shows customers “You don’t have to live like it’s 1975” – comparing the heating, hairstyles and fashion of the 70s with the more efficient world of 2011. At goingductless.com, customers can place their photos in 70s era backgrounds and email 70s style postcards to friends who may still be living like it’s 1975. Residents of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington can enter for a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize for exploring the technology at www.goingductless.com. The winner will be randomly selected and the prize awarded on January 10, 2012.
NEEA and the region's utilities hit the pavement at the end of 2008. NEEA worked "upstream" with manufacturers and HVAC contractors to provide trainings and marketing kits, strengthen distribution channels and build the market's capacity to supply and install DHPs. Participating utilities addressed the market barrier of cost by providing incentives and worked with NEEA to get the word out about DHPs. The region also addressed the barrier of unit aesthetics by working to develop a new product standard and encouraging manufacturers to address aesthetics in their designs.
Over the course of the pilot, NEEA learned that DHPs indeed hold great promise—for individual consumers and for the greater region. DHPs have the potential to save the region 200 aMW of energy savings each year—the equivalent to powering over 150,000 homes. For consumers, energy savings weren’t the only benefit. A typical single-family electric resistance home can save 30-50 percent on its energy bills. Not only did homeowners think they were a good option, they absolutely loved them, with 90 percent of those surveyed extremely satisfied with their performance. They also liked that DHPs double as air conditioning units— cooling homes in the summer and potentially increasing resale values. During a down economy, DHPs have also provided much needed new business for HVAC contractors and have presented an opportunity for builders to differentiate their product within the market.
By the end of the pilot's first, year, the region exceeded the goal of 2,500 installations by 40 percent. And because of the significant energy savings, more than 80 utilities are now offering incentives to homeowners to install DHPs, increasing the demand for these cutting edge heating and cooling systems. Many systems also qualify for a federal tax credit, saving homeowners even more.
|
|
REGIONAL ADVANTAGE
Because NEEA represents 12 million energy consumers, we were able to garner the attention of leading manufacturers, distributors, and HVAC contractors to participate in the pilot.
|
ACCELERATING
MARKET ADOPTION
NEEA identified leading DHP manufacturers with units suitable to our climate and worked with the region's utilities to train HVAC contractors throughout the Northwest. Northwest utilities also provided direct incentives to their energy customers to increase demand. This combination of increased product supply, market capacity and incentives caused the pilot to exceed its goal by 40%.
|
FILLING THE PIPELINE
NEEA and our partners were able to demonstrate that DHPs represent a significant unexploited opportunity for energy efficiency in the residential sector.
|
|