The dog days of summer aren’t far away and that means many Clark County residents believe they have two options — sweat it out or huddle around the noisy and energy-hungry portable air conditioner.
But there’s a better way to stay comfortable and save energy — no matter how high the mercury rises or low it drops.
Start your summer by ditching the portable air conditioner and switching to year-round climate comfort and home energy savings by investing in a heat pump or ductless heat pump.
Don’t let the name fool you. Both systems can switch between heating and air conditioning with just the push of a button. Plus, they’ll make your home more comfortable quicker, quieter and with less energy than electric heaters or a portable air conditioner ever could.
Ductless heat pumps use an outdoor compressor-condenser that extracts heat from one area and moves it into another with the help of a wall-mounted indoor air handling unit or “head” unit. Heat pumps function the same way, minus the head unit. Instead they utilize the home’s air duct system to move conditioned air indoors.
Either system will cool the home quicker and more quietly than a standalone or window-mounted AC unit, which by design are temporary solutions. Heat pumps and ductless heat pumps are long-term sources of year-round comfort. Although they have to be installed by a professional, manufacturers eagerly boast that their products are much more energy efficient than the average portable AC unit.
In the Pacific Northwest, they really prove their value during the heating season.
Clark Public Utilities estimates customers can save about 30 percent on their electric heating costs when they switch from electric resistance heating systems to a ductless heat pump or heat pump.
“Upfront, they are more expensive than a portable air conditioner, but they offer year-round comfort and significant savings,” said Clark Public Utilities Energy Services Supervisor DuWayne Dunham.
Estimating your personal savings is easy. Visit clarkpublicutilities.com and search “heating comparison calculator.” The tool will ask for a few details about your home, then give you an estimated annual home heating cost comparison of a heat pump, gas furnace, electric furnace/baseboard and propane furnace.
Clark Public Utilities customers with electrically heated homes may qualify for significant savings when they choose to upgrade to a heat pump or ductless heat pump.
Clark Public Utilities provides a $1,000 rebate for the installation of a qualified ductless heat pump in electrically heated homes. Homeowners who choose to install or replace an existing air source heat pump may qualify for between $500 and $2,000.
Among other qualifying conditions, the system must be installed by a contractor participating in Clark Public Utilities’ Heat Pump Contractor Network. You can see the list on our website: www.clarkpublicutilities.com/services/heat-pump/. The list is not a warranty or recommendation of any contractor, but rather a list of companies that have agreed to participate, are familiar with our rebates and customer service standards and meet our bonding and insurance guidelines.
Realizing that a new indoor climate system is an expensive investment — one that many simply can’t afford out of pocket — the utility also offers low-interest loans with five- or seven-year terms.
“The heat pump program continues to be one of our most popular rebate programs and for good reason,” Dunham said. “Compared to other energy-efficiency measures they’re quick to install, super-efficient to use and they work wonders compared to the heating and cooling methods they replace.”
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98688.
