The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) has approved products from Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. Cooling & Heating Division (Mitsubishi Electric) to be installed as part of the energy-efficient air-source heat pump Clean Heating & Cooling program. As part of a five-year, $30 million plan, Alicia Barton, CEO, MassCEC, announced that Massachusetts households and businesses will be eligible to receive rebates on energy-efficient HVAC systems. Homeowners must select from a list of prequalified equipment by manufacturers such as Mitsubishi Electric.
The rebate plan, a collaboration between MassCEC and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), will assist consumers with the initial costs of installing a renewable-energy heating and cooling system. “People today, more than ever, want to be energy efficient,” says Tim Gochinski, owner of Pioneer Heating & Cooling, Florence, Massachusetts. Gochinski believes the rebates are the deciding factor for customers looking to improve their home comfort system and assist in their move toward energy-efficiency compliance. He has already seen the results of this program, attributing nearly 20 to 30 percent of his company’s sales to the program.
Consumers will see the most benefit in their wallets, according to Gochinski, by not only saving on equipment costs, but also lowering their heating and cooling bills with a Mitsubishi Electric system, which is up to 40 percent more efficient than a traditional system. The patented Hyper-Heating INVERTER™ technology allows heat pumps to operate at 100 percent heating capacity at +5 degrees Fahrenheit, giving them the highest performance capabilities in cold climates on the market. Additionally, in a side-by-side comparison with competitors, at 30.5 SEER, Mitsubishi Electric’s MSZ-FH09NA/MUZ-FH09NA system is one of the most energy-efficient ductless zoning systems in the U.S.
Many HVAC contractors participating in the rebate program have expressed similar sentiments. “Consumers using these units to offset electric baseboard heat will see significant savings and a greatly reduced carbon footprint,” says Joel Boucher, Boucher Energy Systems in Mendon, Massachusetts.
The Clean Heating and Cooling program is part of the Commonwealth’s long-term commitment to energy efficiency. The rebate program will not only help Massachusetts achieve its energy goals, but also, “greatly enhance consumer acceptance of new technology,” says Boucher. With the success of the program, MassCEC plans to expand later this year to more consumers, including low-to-moderate income customers and commercial property owners.