Heat pump rebate offer
Published 6:59 pm Thursday, October 28, 2010
Snohomish County PUD is offering a rebate for customers who shift their home heating system from electric to a ductless heat pump. The program centers around a $1,200 rebate and an optional $3,500 2.9 percent low-interest loan for customers signing up for the program before Dec. 31, 2009. Additionally, home owners may qualify for a federal tax credit.
According to the utility, ductless systems heat and cool homes at a fraction of the cost of baseboards and wall heaters and don’t require invasive ductwork. The systems are safe, quiet and heat rooms more evenly than other heating sources. Ductless heat pumps are similar to traditional heat pumps in that they are far more efficient than standard electric heat, but different in that they don’t need a furnace or furnace ducts to carry the heat.
“Since these systems don’t require ductwork, they’re more affordable than regular heat pumps and easily installed,” said Kevin Watier, PUD’s Energy Efficiency Programs Manager. “For customers who want to close off some rooms, existing zonal systems can be used in combination with a ductless heat pump that’s installed in the main living area.”
The claim is that with a heat pump system consumers can save up to 50 percent on winter heating bills and cool homes in the summer without a window unit.
The PUD’s ductless heat pump program is part of a broader effort among regional utilities, sponsored by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. Utilities plan to install 2,500 ductless heat pumps in the region this year.
For more information on the ductless heat pump program, visit www.snopud.com/dhp or call the PUD Energy Hotline at 425-783-1700.
