Homeowners seeking to decarbonize their homes will be pleased to know electrification is about to become more attainable.
Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS) recently introduced a new integration for its all-climate heat pumps through collaboration with SPAN.Io, Inc. (SPAN), maker of the leading smart electrical panel.
All homes have a service panel to control their electrical systems, but the design of these panels has not changed significantly since resettable circuit breakers replaced fuses in the mid-20th century. As millions of homeowners add solar, buy electric vehicles, and electrify their heating and cooling systems, the traditional electrical panel isn’t capable of handling their needs. SPAN reinvented the electrical panel to enable electrification for all. This drop-in replacement for the conventional panel enables customers to add new electrified appliances like Mitsubishi Electric heat pumps and can help avoid expensive utility service upgrades.
Beyond decarbonization benefits, the joint METUS and SPAN solution unlocks energy efficiency benefits and long-term cost savings that go with eliminating fossil-fuel-reliant heating and cooling systems.
Rising utility bills on homeowners’ minds
Many homeowners are concerned about rising utility bills. METUS conducted a survey of approximately 1,000 U.S. homeowners in 2023 and found almost 83% of respondents are either “somewhat,” “very,” or “extremely concerned” about the impact that energy bills have on their household budget. Mitsubishi Electric’s all-electric heating and cooling systems are designed to reduce energy use compared to conventional HVAC systems, resulting in reduced utility bills.
Converting from gas-fired furnace systems to heat pumps can help homeowners save money and emissions. However, high-efficiency HVAC installations may require more electrical capacity than the service wires coming from the grid to customers’ homes were designed to support. A 2021 analysis conducted by Pecan Street revealed approximately 48 million single-family homes may need to upgrade their electric service panel before being able to fully electrify. This means that steps like installing an all-electric heating and cooling solution can trigger a service upgrade, which can cost up to $20,000 and take as long as 9 months to complete. The SPAN Panel provides a way for U.S. homeowners to add an all-climate heat pump within their existing electrical service − helping them clear a potential hurdle for making their homes more environmentally friendly.
Lowering short-term hassle and long-term cost
Using the SPAN Panel may allow you to avoid the cost and inconvenience of an electrical service upgrade from your utility provider. SPAN Panels allow homeowners to install new electrical appliances while maintaining your home’s existing electrical service.
The SPAN Panel is designed to intelligently distribute power across circuits where needed most. If the home’s electrical load is nearing the service limit, the SPAN Panel can send a command to Mitsubishi Electric’s heat pump through the kumo cloud® app to temporarily divert some power from the heat pump to other circuits. High-efficiency all-electric heat pumps can operate at partial-load using inverter-compressor technology, which allows the load to be modulated as needed. Once other loads in the home subside, the SPAN Panel can then increase power back to the Mitsubishi Electric heat pump, ensuring you maintain comfort in your home. Advanced variable energy orchestration between the SPAN Panel and the Mitsubishi Electric heat pump will provide homeowners with greater overall flexibility of their home’s energy use.
Getting back for moving forward with decarbonization
Each year, hundreds of thousands of homeowners are choosing to install Mitsubishi Electric's all-climate heating and air-conditioning systems. The SPAN relationship is meaningful because it provides a viable option for 40 million-plus U.S. homeowners who could face electrical service obstacles when upgrading their HVAC systems.
METUS and SPAN products are eligible for a variety of local, state, and federal tax credit and rebate incentives for U.S. homeowners purchasing and installing those products in their homes. The Inflation Reduction Act (Ira) makes heat pumps and panels more affordable for many households by providing tax credits up to $2,000 for qualified heat pumps and up to $600 for qualified panel purchases. As part of an upcoming Ira rebate program, low- and middle-income households may be eligible for rebates of qualified products up to $8,000 for heat pump HVAC, $4,000 for panels, and $2,500 for electric wiring of their home electrification projects.
The METUS and SPAN integration will help to enable savings, electrification, and decarbonization for homeowners across the U.S. Learn more about the METUS-SPAN collaboration. Get more details about incentives and rebates through the Ira.
