There are all kinds of ways to refer to energy-efficient homes. Energy plus, passive energy efficient, energy self-sufficient, high-performance, net-zero, or green are just a few of the options. All of these phrases have a slightly different focus, but their overall goal is the same — to create a comfortable living space that uses as little energy as possible.
High-performance homes, in particular, focus on efficient and sustainable designs and features. Net-zero homes are a type of high-performance homes that utilize renewable energy sources in an attempt to produce more energy than they need to operate. In other words, these homes strive to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint.
If you want a high-performance, net-zero, or any other type of energy-efficient home, you need highly efficient HVAC equipment. Mitsubishi ductless heat pumps are the perfect solution.
Features of High-Performance and Net-Zero Homes
High-performance and net-zero homes promote comfort, wellness, efficiency, and sustainability. This starts in the design process by selecting the walls, roofing, insulation, and windows that will create a tight thermal envelope. Even the position of the home on its lot affects its ability to use passive and active solar energy.
Once you’ve taken care of the outside, the home needs efficient appliances, HVAC equipment, and lighting as well as customizable controls to bring it all together. HVAC is a significant consideration because it alone accounts for about 40 percent of the average home’s energy usage.
How Heat Pumps Complement High-Performance Homes
When you’re designing high-performance or net-zero homes, you need appliances that use the same or less energy than they consume. Mitsubishi heat pumps fall into this category thanks to their inverter-driven compressors.
These systems only use the exact amount of energy required to maintain their set temperature points. In contrast, most HVAC solutions that rely on fossil fuels consume much more energy than they produce.
During the winter, the heat pump extracts hot air from the outside. Modern hyper heat technology makes this process efficient even in very cold climates. On hot summer days, the heat pump works in reverse and extracts hot air from your home.
With a traditional ducted system, the hot or cool air must travel from your HVAC equipment, through the ducts, and into your living spaces. As the air travels through the ducts, it ends up cooling or heating unused spaces around the ducts such as the area under your floor or above your ceiling. Additionally, leaky ducts can lead to even more energy loss. With a ductless system, you never have to worry about these threats to your efficiency.
Ductless systems are also ideal for high-performance and net-zero homes because they offer zoned controls. Ductless mini-splits consist of an outdoor unit coupled with one or more indoor air handling units. Each indoor unit creates its own zone that can be controlled separately from the other zones in your home. As a result, you don’t end up wasting energy heating or cooling rooms that aren’t in use. You also get to optimize comfort based on the unique needs and preferences of the people in different areas of your home.
Related Resources
Case Studies
Case Studies About Mitsubishi for Net-Zero Homes
When homeowners contact us about Mitsubishi ductless systems, they have a range of challenges or problems they want to solve. Some want a quieter solution, others want a convenient option, and others want a heating and cooling solution that doesn’t require them to add ductwork. Almost all of our clients, however, want an efficient option. Electric heat pumps tick all of these boxes. Check out how Mitsubishi ductless helped convert this Somerville home to net-zero.
Condo Renovation Gets a Net-Zero HVAC System (Somerville, MA)
To see more of our case studies, check out the residential or commercial case studies pages. We have chronicled dozens of experiences with HVAC clients all over Massachusetts.
Ductless Heating and Cooling
Learn More About Mitsubishi Ductless
Whether you’re building a new energy-efficient home or trying to improve performance on your existing home, we want you to be well informed. To help you decide if an electric heat pump is right for you’re home, we invite you to explore the following resources.
- Heat Pump Zoning and Whole Home Solutions (Video)
- Ductless Is Efficient (Web Resource)
- 5 Common Questions About Green Heat Pumps (Blog)
- Mitsubishi Ductless Heat Pumps in 2022 (Podcast)
- Your Complete Guide to Energy Efficient Heating with Ductless HVAC (Ebook)
- Your Complete Guide to Energy Efficient Cooling with Ductless HVAC (Ebook)
Have more questions? Then, contact us directly. We have spent hundreds of hours learning about this technology as we have earned Mitsubishi’s highest level of contractor certification. We love talking with customers about how heat pumps can improve their home’s efficiency.
Rebates
Rebates for Mitsubishi Ductless Systems
Because ductless systems are so efficient, groups like Mass Save want to encourage their adoption. By extension, this group and others offer rebates to incentivize homeowners to make their homes more energy-efficient. When you invest in an energy-efficient heat pump, we can even help you apply for rebates.