House A has a heat pump....and House B? An air conditioner and furnace.If House A was on one side of a "heating and cooling Tug-Of-War" and House B was on the other side.....who would win?This is a classic battle of Heat Pump vs Air Conditioner.What makes this question ever more difficult to answer....Below we find two pictures; one of a Trane heat pump and the other is a Trane air conditioner.Can you tell the difference between the two? One is a heat pump and the other is an air conditioner.  But to tell them apart by looking at them is very difficult, if not impossible.In order to answer the Heat Pump vs Air Conditioner debate we must first discuss the differences between the two. When the heat pump is in cooling mode (summer), there is no functional difference between a heat pump and an air conditioner.However.....go outside during the summer and feel the air that is blowing from the outside unit.  Is it warmer or colder than the outside air?The air conditioner is taking heat from inside the house (by means of the refrigerant in the piping) and rejecting it outside....thereby cooling the air in the house.

So now here is what we have been waiting for......What makes a heat pump different from an air conditioner is that a heat pump can be reversed.By means of a device known as a reversing valve, the heat pump is able to reverse the flow of refrigerant.Essentially, it exchanges the outside unit with the inside unit and vice versa.So now....while in heating mode.....the inside unit is now blowing warm air while the outside unit is blowing cold air. We must get one thing straight....During the summer, the heat pump and the air conditioner are virtually the same thing.No difference in money savings.So when we compare the heat pump vs air conditioner....we're merely speaking about winter (heating) operation.Now that this is straight.....below is a "pros" table of each device in comparison to the other: When homeowners consider the heat pump vs air conditioner debate, it's usually because their entire heating and cooling system need to be redone. Using a heat pump means having one major appliance which

does double the work. Heat pumps can work throughout the year to keep a home comfortable, which can help reign in some energy use. Heat pumps are not as robust as traditional heating systems, however, and so you will still need to use your furnace from time to time. Since models typically work more effectively in climates which don't see freezing temperatures on a regular basis, this limits their use in some climates. commercial wall ac unitAir conditioners are morecentral ac unit motor versatile and, for now, offer better cooling in extreme climates, but heatcheap split ac units pumps are gaining popularity and, in time, newer models may be able to compete more effectively even in extreme climates. Return to Heat Pump Types

A ductless heat pump, also known as a mini-split heat pump, is a highly efficient heating and cooling system that can operate at a fraction of the cost of baseboards and wall heaters. Their superior air distribution helps make living spaces more comfortable, and they are great for homes with open floor plans.Ductless heat pumps are very effective for electrically heated homes or areas where ductwork does not exist or cannot be installed. They are easy to install as a new primary heat source, making them a good choice for home remodel projects, additions and new construction.Studies have shown that ductless heat pumps can reduce heating and cooling costs 25 to 50 percent. Systems are competitively priced and available from many well-known manufacturers. Because they are easy to install, installation costs are low compared to other heating and cooling methods.How We HelpWe make it affordable to install a ductless heat pump with rebates for qualifying units of up to $300 per home, provided by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund. 

Systems must be installed by a DPUC Approved Installer to qualify for the rebate. See a list of DPUC Approved Installers.During heating season, ductless heat pumps draw heat from outside air and move it inside. Because they tap into existing heat in the air, they use less electricity to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. In the summer, they extract heat from the air inside your home and move it outside to provide cooling.Ductless heat pumps have three main parts:An indoor unit that mounts on the wall or ceilingAn outdoor unit that typically sits on the groundA remote control that operates the inside unitThe indoor and outdoor units are connected by small refrigerant lines, which are installed through a very small hole in the wall. The indoor unit circulates the heated or cooled air into the room. The units are smaller than conventional air conditioning equipment and less intrusive. Because expensive and invasive ductwork isn’t necessary, installation is easy, inexpensive and less disruptive.

A cool way to stay warm!Step 1 - Find a DPUC Approved InstallerTo be eligible for a rebate, you must have a DPUC Approved Installer install your system. See a list of DPUC Approved Installers.Step 2 - Select your systemSelect the system you want to install. Your contractor will help you select the right manufacturer and model for your needs. Before purchasing a system, read the program application (found on this page) and requirements carefully. The application form is also available from your utility's website:Eversource     UIStep 3 - Have your system installed, and submit a rebate application.After your unit is installed, submit your completed application to receive your rebate.All Eversource and UI residential electric service customers are eligible for rebates.Equipment must be installed by a licensed contractor that is certified by the manufacturer of the product being installed AND has attended our training seminar in the service territory of the participating electric utility.

See a list of DPUC Approved Installers.Minimum Efficiency Levels / Rebate SchedulesEligible Equipment TypeMinimum Efficiency for RebateRebate Per Home*AHRI1 Rated Ductless Heating and Cooling System of Matched Assembly Single Indoor Unit20 SEER2/10 HSPF3$300/HomeAHRI Rated Ductless Heating and Cooling System of Matched Assembly Multi-Indoor Unit18 SEER / 9 HSPF$300/Home1 AHRI – Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute. .2 SEER – Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 3 HSPF – Heating and Seasonal Performance Factor* A $1,000 rebate is available for homes with existing electric resistance heating WITH a Home Energy Assessment prior to installation. HES Technician will provide the $1,000 rebate form. Qualifying SystemsTo qualify for rebates, ductless heat pump systems must be ENERGY STAR®_certified with matched assemblies in which both the condenser unit and the evaporator coil are installed simultaneously. A matched assembly is a model combination that is listed in the AHRI Directory of Certified Equipment.

A matched assembly shall also include the air handler, furnace, or other component that is used to determine the rating according to ANSI/AHRI STANDARD 210/240-2008. To see a list of qualifying units, visit the Consortium for Energy Efficiency HVAC Directory.To learn more, click on your utility’s website below or call 877-WISE-USE:Eversource     UIIf you are a Connecticut resident and are not served by one of the utilities listed above, please visit your utility’s website to see what energy efficiency programs are available to you. Please click here for information on how to contact your municipal utility.Frequently Asked QuestionsDuctless heat pumps are reversible, two-way heat pumps that use electricity to transfer heat between outdoor and indoor air by compressing and expanding a refrigerant. Using a refrigerant vapor compression cycle, like a common household refrigerator, ductless heat pumps collect heat from outside the house and deliver it inside on the heating cycle, and vice versa on the cooling cycle.

Ductless heat pumps use variable speed compressors with “inverter technology” (AC to DC) to continuously match the heating/cooling load. This prevents the on/off cycling of conventional electric resistance and central heating systems, which are often associated with uncomfortable temperature variations and high energy consumption.Ductless systems consist of three main parts:An outdoor unit that contains a condensing coil, an inverter-driven variable speed compressor, an expansion valve and a fan to cool the condenser coilAn indoor unit that contains an evaporator and a quiet oscillating fan to distribute air into the spaceA refrigerant line set made of insulated copper tubing, which is housed in a conduit alongside a power cable, and a condensation drain Systems also include a remote control to set the desired temperature and program nighttime settings.Replacing an existing zonal heating system Room additions New constructionYes! Ductless heat pumps can operate using 25 to 50 percent less energy than electric resistance and forced air systems.

Three key factors account for their high efficiency:Ductless heat pumps allow the user to control each heating/cooling zone independently, eliminating the costly over-heating and cooling common to central air systems. Why pay to heat or cool rooms that are not currently occupied? While central air systems lose as much as 30 percent efficiency through air leaks and conduction in the ductwork, ductless heat pumps distributing air directly into each zone. Inverter-driven variable speed compressors allow ductless heat pump systems to maintain constant indoor temperatures by running continuously at higher or lower speeds. The system can ramp up or down without great losses in operating efficiency, avoiding the energy-intensive on/off cycling common in electric resistance and forced-air systems. Modern ductless heat pumps have ultra-high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratios (SEER) between 16 and 26 and Heating Seasonal Performance Factors (HSPF) between 8.5 and 12.Did you know you might be able to take advantage of federal income tax incentives for energy-efficient and renewable energy home improvements?