According to a 2013 National Association of Home Builders survey, “What Homebuyers Really Want,” more than half of U.S. homeowners say that the quality of their home’s HVAC system is essential. A quality HVAC system ranked third among individual home components that homeowners value most, behind only windows and roofing. In the same survey, 94 percent of homeowners say that ENERGY STAR® rated appliances are either essential or desirable in their homes. Ductless cooling and heating technology represents the crossroads of these two requirements for quality HVAC and energy efficiency. 

Mitsubishi Electric US Cooling & Heating Division (Mitsubishi Electric), America’s No. 1 selling brand of ductless cooling and heating systems, offers a complete line of energy-efficient comfort solutions. These systems satisfy homeowners who are building from the ground up, retrofitting existing structures or simply adding on a new room. Regardless of application, ductless cooling and heating technology provides individual temperature control, installation flexibility, energy efficiency and quiet operation that traditional central systems or window units cannot match. The fastest growing segment of the HVAC industry, ductless technology is convenient, efficient and environmentally friendly.

• Complete comfort control. With ductless technology, homeowners have complete, personalized control over each zone (or room) in their home. Zones can be cooled or heated to a specific temperature request and turned off when unoccupied. 

“Zoning technology allows homeowners to cool or heat the rooms they use the most (such as the living room), while saving energy in less used areas of the house (such as a guest bedroom),” says Mark Kuntz, vice president, marketing & engineered solutions, Mitsubishi Electric US Cooling & Heating Division. “We’ve been trained from childhood to turn off the lights when we leave a room to save energy; ductless zoning systems allow us to do this with the HVAC as well.”

• Energy efficiency. Mitsubishi Electric systems are up to 40 percent more energy-efficient than conventional central air systems and window A/C units, saving consumers an average of $440 per year. At the core of Mitsubishi Electric’s ductless zoning systems is a highly responsive component – the INVERTER-driven compressor – that ensures that system adjusts to temperature fluctuations. Where conventional HVAC models maintain temperature by switching the compressor on and off (see graph above), INVERTER-driven compressors are maintained by finely tuned control of compressor speed. The MSZ-FH line is the most energy-efficient ductless zoning system on the market at 30.5 SEER (MSZ-FH09NA).
• Sustainability. Mitsubishi Electric systems meet or exceed all relevant codes and standards. Mitsubishi Electric is currently the leader in ductless HVAC products that qualify for the ENERGY STAR® Most Efficient products designation. These systems can help homes attain vital points to earn LEED® certification for homes and to meet the aggressive US Passive House Standards. Many ductless systems also qualify for local, state and federal tax credits or state utility rebates. Systems operate with environmentally friendly refrigerant, and 89 percent of the system components are recyclable.

“For evidence that ductless technology is the future of HVAC, look no further than the sustainable qualities of these systems,” says Kuntz. “As builders and homeowners become increasingly environmentally conscious, ductless cooling and heating will be a natural fit in any residential application due to their compact size, energy efficiency and non-fossil fuel source.”

• Hyper-Heating INVERTER (H2i®) technology. The MSZ-FH line operates at 100 percent capacity at 5 degrees Fahrenheit, giving it the highest low ambient capabilities on the market. 

“Hyper-Heating INVERTER technology eliminates, in many cases, the need for a separate heating product such as a boiler,” says Kuntz, “addressing significant industry demand to provide heat pump operation in extreme conditions without relying on fossil fuels.”

• Easy installation and design flexibility. Although the technology is advanced, the ductless system is simple to design and install. Many models can be installed in less than a day by a qualified HVAC contractor. Not only does installation require less labor and fewer materials, but ductless zoning systems also provide greater design flexibility and help maximize space. Because ductless systems are connected through small piping and wires instead of ductwork like traditional cooling and heating systems, the systems can be installed in homes in which a ducted system would be impractical. In retrofits, the systems prevent homeowners from having to lower ceiling heights or dramatically alter the structure of their homes.
• Quiet operation. The systems are designed to provide the quietest possible operation for both indoor and outdoor environments. Compact and discreet indoor and outdoor units ensure that your home's aesthetics aren't compromised.Indoor units operate between 19 and 34 decibels – quieter than a human whisper.
• Indoor Air Quality. No ductwork and the three-part filtration system included in indoor units reduce allergens, viruses and bacteria in the air.
• Aesthetics. Mitsubishi Electric ductless systems offer a selection of several indoor units to suit a variety of homeowner preferences and building types. The designs include wall-mounted, floor-mounted, ceiling-recessed and horizontal-ducted units.

To learn more about Mitsubishi Electric and ductless technology, click here.