PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Step aside, 1970s heating systems! The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) today announced a campaign to encourage homeowners to modernize by trying a more energy-efficient heating and cooling technology. Ductless heating and cooling systems heat and cool homes at a fraction of the cost of baseboard and wall heaters, and typically save homeowners 25 – 50 percent on heating bills.

The Discover Ductless campaign shows customers “You don’t have to live like it’s 1975” – comparing the heating, hairstyles and fashion of the 70s with the more efficient world of 2011. At goingductless.com, customers can place their photos in 70s era backgrounds and email 70s style postcards to friends who may still be living like it’s 1975. Residents of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington can enter for a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize for exploring the technology at www.goingductless.com. The winner will be randomly selected and the prize awarded on January 10, 2012.

“Ductless heating and cooling systems are a prime example of how NEEA is working with utility partners to bring new energy saving technologies to market,” said Alexis Allan, Residential Operations Manager, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. “Baseboards from the 1970s need to go the way of the polyester leisure suit in favor of more efficient technologies that protect our region’s environment, save energy, and save homeowners money on their heating bills.”

Ductless systems are relatively unknown in the U.S. residential market, but have been widely used in Asia and Europe since the 1970s and in U.S. commercial buildings since the 1980s. Ductless systems don’t require the use of air ducts; instead they typically have a wall-mounted component that delivers heated or cooled air directly into the home, avoiding efficiency losses associated with ductwork. In the last three years, NEEA’s utility partners have championed the technology, installing 11,846 ductless systems in the Northwest at a savings of 41,461,000 kWh per year. That’s enough electricity to power more than 3,600 homes each year. Customer feedback has been extremely positive.

“For our customers with outdated or less efficient electric heating, ductless systems are the perfect solution for increasing comfort while saving energy and money,” said DuWayne Dunham, Customer Accounts Representative Team Leader, Clark Public Utilities. “Since our program started, we’ve installed more than 1,800 ductless heat pumps in our service area and the feedback we’ve received has been extremely positive.”

Ninety one utility partners in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington offer customer rebates on energy-efficient ductless systems – up to $1,500, or up to 40 percent of the cost of an installed ductless system. Several Northwest states offer state income tax credits – some up to 25 percent of the purchase price – and federal tax credits are available as well.

Ductless systems have the potential to save the Northwest region 200 aMW of energy savings each year—the equivalent to powering more than 150,000 homes each year. NEEA and its partners piloted ductless systems in the Northwest climate in October 2008, and trained installers unfamiliar with the technology. In the 14-month pilot program, more than 59 participating Northwest utilities installed 3,899 ductless systems. The Discover Ductless campaign is an extension of that pilot.

For more information: www.goingductless.com.

About the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is a non-profit organization working to maximize energy efficiency to meet our future energy needs. NEEA is supported by and works in partnership with the Bonneville Power Administration, Energy Trust of Oregon and more than 100 Northwest utilities for the benefit of more than 12 million energy consumers. NEEA uses the market power of the region to accelerate the innovation and adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices. Since 1997, NEEA and its partners have saved enough energy to power more than 568,400 homes each year. Energy efficiency can satisfy more than half of our new demand for energy, saving money, and keeping the Northwest a healthy and vibrant place to live. For more information, visit neea.org.

SOURCE Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance