Ductless Heat Pumps Demystified
Climate change has the odd effect of making many of us inordinately excited about appliances we never used to care about. Suddenly, all the background machines, which have up to now been unconsciously powering our lives, have taken on outsized importance. Some of them have the potential to provide the essential services we depend on while, at the same time, not destroying our planet like the fossil fuel powered machines of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Ductless heat pumps are a prime example. In the past, many of us used gas furnaces and boilers to heat our homes and burned fuels that emitted copious amounts of CO2 in the process. Now, with the magical heat pump, we have access to efficient electric technologies for heating and cooling that can be powered entirely by renewable energy, and thus be carbon neutral.
Photo courtesy of The Heat Pump Store
Brief History and Growth of Ductless Heat Pumps
Ductless heat pumps (DHPs) were developed in Japan after World War 2. They were invented and perfected on an island that doesn’t have easy access to fossil fuels, and so they are the ideal heating/cooling system for our modern world given they don’t rely on combustion and are also incredibly efficient.
They condition 90% of Japanese homes, and worldwide their usage is growing like crazy, with an expected doubling of heat pump sales in the next five years. In the UK, sales are projected to increase 20 fold, and in the US, some areas are seeing sales growth north of 40% every year.
My family has used ductless heat pumps for our heating and cooling since 2012 when we bought our house. The gas furnace that came with our house was old, and we made the decision to replace it with new ductless heat pumps. (A major perk is that mounting the units on the wall saved valuable floor space in the garage, formerly dedicated to the gas furnace, which we converted into an apartment). We had seen them used in Europe and figured, even 9 years ago when the electrification movement was in its infancy, that heating with efficient electricity would allow us to reduce our carbon emissions with the solar panels we planned to install on our roof.
Photo from Joe Wachunas
What is Ductless?
But what is a Ductless Heat Pump (a.k.a. mini-split)? Basically, it is a heating/cooling system that is different from a traditional furnace in several ways:
1. DHPs don’t have air ducts. Rather than forcing hot air through potentially leaky ducts, ductless systems place an indoor device on a wall and an outdoor unit (similar to a typical AC unit) which provides heating and cooling. This means no air escapes through leaky ducts, creating more efficient conditioning.
Indoor unit. Photo Courtesy of The Heat Pump Store.
2. DHPs don’t burn things. Ductless heat pumps use electricity to provide heating and cooling. Electricity is rapidly moving towards being fully renewable and thus will soon produce zero emissions (the Biden administration set a goal of 2035 for example).
3. DHPs are like refrigerators in reverse. Instead of burning fuel, ductless heat pumps create heating and cooling through refrigeration. This means they capture heat from outside (even when it’s cold) and move it into your house, and vice versa for cooling. It’s pretty magical. The refrigerants used by DHPs can be potent greenhouse gases themselves, but luckily the world is moving quickly to using better, more environmentally friendly refrigerants (check out this website for a new type of refrigerant called R32).
Refrigerant lines from ductless heat pumps. Photo courtesy of The Heat Pump Store.
4. DHPs are incredibly efficient. This is because a) no air leaks through ducts b) they heat the room they are in (rather than the whole house), c) moving heat is vastly more efficient than creating it, and d) they use inverter systems (see below). As a result, they typically use three times less energy than old electric resistance heaters and six times less than gas.
Demystifying a couple DHP terms
Speaking of efficiency, let’s demystify a couple of terms associated with ductless heat pumps.
SEER — SEER is a number that measures how well a technology provides cooling. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit. Most new air conditioners have a SEER between 13 and 21, but ductless can often see a SEER over 30, which gives you an idea of how efficient they are. If you’re in a warm climate, SEER is especially important.
HSPF — HSPF stands for Heating Season Performance Factor and complements the SEER rating in that it measures how efficiently a heat pump heats a space. The minimum required HSPF rating in the US is 7.7. An 8.5 score is considered good, and over 10 is excellent. If you’re in a cooler climate, where the predominant energy use is for heating, HSPF is most important.
Example of SEER and HSPF ratings
I interviewed Tim Sharp, from the Heat Pump Store here in Oregon, which has installed thousands of ductless heat pumps over the last decade. He said that you’ll want your DHP to be most efficient in heating if you’re in a cold climate, and cooling if you’re in a warm climate. People in the northern US should probably focus on HSPF, while in the southern US, people should focus on SEER. Tim also said that investing in a DHP with higher scores will be more expensive up front, but the additional cost usually pays for itself over time through energy savings.
Ductless Heat Pumps in Cold weather
I also learned from Tim that DHPs were originally developed to provide only cooling (like a refrigerator), yet they have “constantly gotten better for heating purposes in almost every environment.” If you’re in a cold climate, you probably want to think about the “extended capacity” models, which are able to provide more heating. According to Tim, they don’t cost significantly more and offer more BTUs per hour output. Read more on how to use heat pumps in cold climates here.
Ductless vs. Ducted
If you have existing ductwork in a space, you may consider a different approach when transitioning to heat pumps. Not all heat pumps are ductless. You can get central heat pumps that work with a typical central AC system, and provide heating that blows that hot air through ducts. These central heat pumps are not much more expensive than central air conditioning, and many people think that swapping out every central AC system for a ducted heat pump is an important strategy to quickly get us off natural gas and reduce carbon emissions.
Ductless, on the other hand, is a no-brainer when you’re adding heating or cooling to a room without any ductwork. And DHPs also offer greater efficiency as well as economic and environmental advantages over a central ducted heating system. In addition to the efficiencies mentioned above, ductless heat pumps use inverter technology, which means they run at variable speeds. Tim from the Heat Pump Store compares this to starting your car at a red light. Inverters slowly rev the engine when starting and stopping, while typical central AC systems gun it and brake hard, meaning they are much less efficient. All DHPs use inverter technology, while virtually all conventional (ducted) heat pumps don’t, meaning DHPs are much more efficient.
My family chose ductless heat pumps in our house, rather than a whole house heat pump, even though we had existing ductwork from our old gas furnace because of the increased efficiency.
Photo courtesy of The Heat Pump Store
Humidity and air quality
Though ductless heat pumps help to dehumidify a room, it is not their primary purpose. In places with humidity problems, a separate dehumidifier may still be necessary. Similarly, DHPs have built in air filters, but can’t generally filter air to the extent that ducted systems do with high rated MERV filters. Tim from The Heat Pump Store said that air filtering is considered a separate system, from heating/cooling, in places where heat pumps are most prevalent, and people typically buy another device for air filtration.
Brands
There are four leading brands of ductless heat pumps: Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, LG, and Daikin. Most of the top brands are Japanese, given they first developed the technology. This NY Times article has some solid reviews on each of these four brands.
Choosing a contractor
Finding a good installer is important. Many contractors may try to talk you out of electric heating and cooling (and into gas). Plus, you’ll want someone to help you correctly size a system for your needs. That means someone with lots of experience in ductless heat pump systems as well as a good reputation and reviews. Getting three bids is always a solid strategy. One pro tip is to look on a manufacturer’s page for contractors in your area that are certified to install their product.
Photo Courtesy of The Heat Pump Store
Cost and Aesthetics
As Tim told me in our interview, ductless heat pumps aren’t a panacea. Any technology has its downsides. As my wife points out, the indoor equipment that sits high on your wall takes up space and isn’t the most beautiful thing in the world. Ductless Heat Pumps can also be expensive. A system with a single indoor unit can run $3,000–$5,000, but if you’re putting multiple “heads” throughout your house, costs can quickly go over $10,000.
Yet, for me, after 9 years of heating and cooling our house with ductless heat pumps, and with the climate emergency we find ourselves in, any drawbacks to ductless heat pumps are vastly outweighed by their immense benefits. Heat pumps are the heating and cooling technology for this era of climate change, and ductless heat pumps are the most efficient versions of this technology. They allow us to get off fossil fuels and efficiently heat and cool, in any climate, with clean electricity.
Learn more and do a deep dive into Ductless Heat Pumps with Tim from the Heat Pump Store in a recent webinar I hosted with Electrify Now, and let us know about your thoughts and experiences with ductless heat pumps in the comments below!
Photo courtesy of The Heat Pump Store
The Honda Prologue continues to surprise, ranking among the top ten most leased vehicles (gas-powered or EV) in the US in the first quarter. It was the only EV, outside of Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3, that made the list.
Honda Prologue EV is one of the most leased vehicles
After launching the Prologue in the US last March, Honda’s electric SUV took off. In the second half of the year, it was the second-best-selling electric SUV, trailing only the Tesla Model Y.
The Prologue remains a top-selling EV in the US this year, with over 13,500 units sold through May. That’s not too bad, considering it only sold 705 through May of last year.
According to a new Experian report (via Automotive News), Honda’s success is being driven by ultra-affordable lease rates. In the first quarter, nearly 60% of new EV buyers in the US chose to lease, up from just 36% a year ago.
Three EVs ranked in the top ten most leased vehicles in Q1, including the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, and Honda Prologue.
Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3 took the top two spots, while the Honda Prologue ranked number seven. Those who leased Tesla’s Model 3 paid $402 per month, Honda Prologue lessees paid $486 a month.
Given the average loan rate was $708 a month for those who bought it, it’s no wonder nearly 90% chose to lease. Under 9% chose to buy, while less than 2% paid cash.
The discounts are piling up, but for how long?
To give you a better idea, the average monthly payment for a new vehicle lease in the US in the first quarter was $595.
With over $20,000 in discounts, Honda’s luxury Acura brand is selling a surprising number of EVs in the US. The nearly $65,000 Acura ZDX is sold for under $40,000 on average in May, according to Cox Automotive’s EV Market Monitor report for May.
The trend is primarily thanks to the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, which is being passed on to customers through leasing.
With the Trump administration and Senate Republicans aiming to kill off federal subsidies, the savings could soon disappear. If the Senate’s recently proposed bill is passed, the $7,500 credit would expire within 180 days. It would not only make electric vehicles more expensive, but it would also put the US further behind China and others leading the shift to electrification.
Some automakers, including GM, are expected to continue offering the incentives. “GM has been very competitive on the incentives on their end, and that is not scheduled to end.”
After outselling Ford, GM’s Chevy is now the fastest-growing EV brand in the US through May. Chevy is starting to chip away at Tesla’s lead, largely thanks to the new Equinox EV, or “America’s most affordable +315 range EV,” as GM calls it.
According to Xperian, those who leased a new Chevy Equinox EV in Q1 paid $243 less than those who financed it. The electric Equinox stood out in Cox Automotive’s EV Market Monitor report with an average selling price under $40,000, even without incentives.
The Chevy Equinox EV remains one of the most affordable EVs on the market. Starting at just $34,995, the base LT FWD model offers an EPA-estimated range of 319 miles.
After Hyundai cut lease prices earlier this month, the 2025 IONIQ 5 might just take the cake. You can now lease the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 (now with a built-in NACS port) for as low as $179 per month.
Looking to test out some of the most popular EVs for yourself? With Honda Prologue leases as low as $259 per month and Chevy Equinox EV leases starting at just $289 per month, the deals are hard to pass up right now while the incentives are still here. You can use our links below to find models in your area.
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The US energy storage market just posted its strongest Q1 ever, adding more than 2 gigawatts (GW) of capacity across all segments, according to the latest US Energy Storage Monitor from Wood Mackenzie and the American Clean Power Association (ACP).
That makes Q1 2025 the biggest first quarter for energy storage in US history.
The surge was led by utility-scale projects, which accounted for over 1.5 GW of the new capacity, a 57% jump compared to Q1 2024.
Surging energy demand is putting the electric grid under strain,” said John Hensley, SVP of markets and policy analysis at ACP. “The energy storage market is responding to help keep the lights on and support this unprecedented growth in an affordable and reliable way.”
But that momentum is now bumping up against policy uncertainty that could derail growth in the near future.
Indiana shows what’s possible
Energy storage is no longer limited to early-adopter states like California and Texas. In Q1, Indiana added 256 megawatts (MW) of new energy storage, quadrupling its total installed capacity. It now has more than 10 GW of new storage in its interconnection queue, the fifth-largest in the country.
Indiana’s growth is being driven by available land and clear permitting processes, two major barriers in other states.
“We’re now seeing significant deployment in emerging markets like Indiana, while states across the Southwest like Nevada and Arizona continue to expand their energy storage portfolio,” said Noah Roberts, VP of Energy Storage at ACP.
Home battery boom
Residential storage also set a new record, with 458 MW installed in Q1, the most ever in a single quarter. California and Puerto Rico led the way, accounting for 74% of that growth, while Illinois and other emerging markets began to pick up pace.
Trouble on the horizon
Despite a strong near-term outlook, the long-term picture is cloudier. The five-year forecast for utility-scale storage remains solid, but looming changes to federal policy could slash future growth.
If proposed changes to the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) in the House’s reconciliation bill become law, the total storage buildout over five years could fall 27% below the current base case.
- Distributed storage would take the biggest hit, with a projected 46% drop.
- Utility-scale storage could shrink by 16 GW.
The CCI (community, commercial, and industrial) segment has already seen a 42% cut in its five-year outlook, weighed down by tariff risks and slow adoption of California’s NEM 3.0 rules.
The Q1 2025 results demonstrate the demand for energy storage in the US to serve a grid with both growing renewables and growing load,” said Allison Weis, global head of energy storage at Wood Mackenzie. “However, the industry stands at a crossroads, with potential policy changes threatening to disrupt this momentum.”
In the near term, the report expects 15 GW/49 GWh of new storage capacity to be installed across all segments in 2025, with utility-scale installations projected to grow 22% year-over-year. However, the utility-scale segment is at risk for a potential 29% contraction in 2026 due to policy uncertainty.
Bottom line: the energy storage boom isn’t slowing down – yet. But all eyes are on Congress.
Read more: This new San Diego battery can power 200,000 homes during peak hours
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Environment
Cadillac just delivered the first Celestiq, a hand-built ultra-luxury EV that costs $350,000
The Celestiq is more than an ultra-luxury electric sedan. Cadillac is saying it “marks a new milestone in American luxury and innovation.” The ultra-luxury EV is hand-built at Cadillac House at Vanderbilt, but it’s not cheap. Cadillac’s flagship electric sedan starts at around $350,000.
Cadillac delivers the first ultra-luxury Celestiq EV models
Cadillac is back and better than ever. After delivering the first Celestiq models to customers on Tuesday, Cadillac said it’s out to re-establish the brand as the “Standard of the World.”
The ultra-luxury electric sedan was delivered during a private event at GM’s Global Tech Center in Warren, Michigan.
Each Celestiq model is hand-built at Cadillac House at Vanderbilt, where you can customize the vehicle through a “highly personalized experience.” Cadillac designers and engineers wanted to create the most technologically advanced vehicle possible.
Although the Celestiq was first unveiled in 2022 and was expected to go into production in 2023, the ultra-luxury EV arrives with a slight increase in power.
The electric sedan features a dual-motor AWD powertrain, packing 655 horsepower and 646 lb-ft of torque (with Velocity Max), good for a 0 to 60 mph sprint in 3.7 seconds. Powered by a massive 111 kWh battery, Cadillac says its flagship EV has a range of 303 miles.
Inside, you’ll find ample screen space with a 55″ advanced interactive display that spans the entire dashboard. It’s Cadillac’s first vehicle to feature five standard HD interactive displays, including two 12.6″ entertainment screens for rear passengers.
Other interior features include a panoramic Smart Glass Roof with four independently controlled sections, a 38-speaker AKG audio system, and Climatesense, a “world first” four-zone microclimate system.
Each Celestiq is built to order and assembled at GM’s new Artisan Center on its campus in Warren, Michigan. Prices start in the “mid-$300,000 range.” You can inquire for more information on Cadillac’s website.
Electrek’s Take
Cadillac is coming off one of its best sales quarters since 2008. With a full lineup of electric SUVs, Cadillac is aiming to be the bestselling luxury EV brand in the US this year.
With the entry-level Optiq, midsize Lyriq, three-row Vistiq, and massive Escalade IQ, Cadillac offers an EV in nearly every segment.
Earlier this week, GM announced that the 2026 Cadillac Optiq will be its first vehicle to launch with a built-in NACS port, allowing it to access Tesla’s Supercharger network.
Although Cadillac said the Celestiq would help re-establish the brand as the “Standard of the World,” it will likely play only a minor role. The Optiq, Lyriq, Vistiq, and Escalade IQ will be the growth drivers over the next few years in a competitive luxury EV market.
GM said over 75% of Optiq buyers were new to Cadillac last month. After delivering the first models in late 2024, Cadillac sold over 1,700 Optiqs in the first quarter, outpacing Mercedes-Benz, Genesis, and other luxury rivals in the US.
Looking to test out Cadillac’s new electric SUVs for yourself? We can help you get started. Check out our links below to find Cadillac Optiq, Lyriq, Vistiq, and Escalade IQ models available in your area.
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