Cool down with a ductless system
A ductless heat pump (at top of photo) offers super-efficient cooling as well as heating.
Rebate program aims to help homeowners with aging baseboard or wall heat
Chelan County PUD’s ductless heat pump pilot program is up and running.
A ductless heat pump offers efficient air conditioning as well as heating, making summer the perfect time to install a unit — and get a rebate from Chelan PUD.
The PUD is offering rebates of $750 per eligible household to help offset the cost of the units, which ranges from $2,000 to $6,000. Homeowners with electric baseboard or wall heaters are eligible.
A ductless heat pump is a highly efficient and easily installed primary heating and cooling system for electrically heated homes. Ductless systems are ideal for replacing or supplementing less efficient electric baseboard or wall heaters (and window air conditioners in the summer).
Ductless systems operate using 25 percent to 50 percent less energy than electric resistance zonal and forced air systems. Regionally, use of a ductless heating and cooling system in a single-family home with zonal electric heat is estimated to save 3,500 kWh annually. Using Chelan PUD’s average cost of $0.03 per kilowattt hour, upgrading to a ductless heating and cooling system as a primary heat source can save approximately $105 per year. Ductless heat pumps are safer, quieter, and heat and cool rooms more efficiently.
To get started, contact a local contractor participating in the program. Visit goingductless.com for information about how ductless heat pumps work, their costs and energy savings. More questions? Send an e-mail to conservation@chelanpud.org or call (509) 661-8008.
How long will the rebate program be available for?
I have base board heaters…But…I live in a small (1000 sq ft) home and am in a storage heating (50 degrees) mode most winters when I am in the sun belt and when I am home in the winter, the baseboards allow me to manage the temps in every room. As I live alone, I only heat (70) those living areas that I spend the bulk of my time in. I live at Forest Ridge (near Mission Ridge Ski Area) and do not have or need air conditioning as it never gets above 80 degrees in my house. In short, I suspect it would make no economic or energy sense for me to convert to duckless heating and cooling ??? If you find this analysis to be in error, let me know… ps…I don’t expect to be living here (or anywhere for that matter) for more than a dozen years….larry
The program is a pilot that will run through 2012 and possibly into 2013.
Larry, from your description, it sounds like your economic benefits would be neglible.