Customer story: One LA resident’s successful home upgrade to beat the heat and smoke
When my dad and I first moved to California, he used to say that California is expensive because you’re paying for the weather. Twenty years later, the statement still rings mostly true— the weather’s gorgeous. But heat waves and hot days are more frequent, and many Californians are now having to adapt if they want to stay in the home they love.
Meet Josie: an LA resident who worked in the film industry for over 30 years, helping create Dreamgirls, superhero movies, and other big hits. To keep her home livable, she needed new space cooling. Picture a house built in 1942, made with minimal insulation and no AC. In Josie’s words, “it's not an easy house to keep cool or warm.”
Eco-friendliness, budget-friendliness, visual appeal, safety and reliability— Josie had clear criteria when imagining her home upgrade. But despite receiving bids and consultations from several different companies, nothing sufficed.
"I wanted a company that was just doing mini splits… I figured that is a company I will be able to trust because that's all they do, and they will know those systems really well."
"This is over five, six years that I was getting bids and interviewing [HVAC installers], and there was nothing that made me feel like this is the time," Josie confided. "I was going to make sure that the company I found… made me feel like I was making the right choice.”
So, she endured the heat for years. Then she found our local team at Elephant Energy.
Below, we break down the decisions Elephant made to design a cooling system specific to Josie's goals.
Reducing carbon emissions and saving the planet
One of the biggest considerations for Josie was Mother Nature; with worsening climate crises and heat waves, Josie wanted an AC that wouldn’t harm our planet.
With this in mind, Josie came to our team asking about heat pumps, which are electric appliances that deliver both heating and cooling. Unlike conventional heaters, heat pumps don’t rely on fossil fuels, and they don’t emit greenhouse gases into your home.
Additionally, heat pumps are 3-4x more energy efficient than conventional home heaters. While other heating systems use gas combustion to create heat, heat pumps merely move heat from one place to another. As a result, it requires less energy to operate, making robust cooling less resource intensive.
Picking a cooling option that matches your design style
When planning to spruce up a home’s look, let’s face it: ACs aren’t the first thing we think of.
Initially, Josie was unsure about heat pumps because she wasn’t sure they would fit her space. What she didn’t know was that she could install different kinds of heat pumps in different rooms; she could design a system specifically meant for her home.
To help Josie weigh her options, our project manager brought an example mini split and held it against the wall for her to see. That way, she could visualize how it would look in her space. In the end, Josie selected a system combining “ceiling cassette” and “wall-mounted” heat pumps.
A ceiling cassette is a heat pump that is installed directly into the ceiling, freeing up wall space for furniture and decor. In Josie’s home, a ceiling cassette now sits in her living room, where it blends seamlessly into the room’s layout.
Meanwhile, a wall mount (often referred to as a mini split) is a heat pump that sits on the wall, and it is typically more physically accessible and cost-friendly. Two mini splits were placed in Josie’s bedrooms, above the windows. Josie decorated these with colorful banners made by her grandmother.
Ensuring the best cooling and efficiency
One common misconception about heat pumps is that they don’t work well in certain climates. When sized correctly, heat pumps can deliver strong cooling during intense heat waves, as well as cozy heating during cold nights.
To properly size Josie’s cooling system, our team used LiDar scanning technology and generated a 3D model of her home. Then, using thermal data we collected from throughout her home, we studied the airflow, air sealing, and healing and cooling loads for each room. With this information, we could select the optimal size and placement for her AC units.
Based on the data we collected, we decided to place three mini splits (aka a ductless heat pump system) throughout her home, which spans 1,008 square feet. Additionally, Josie would be able to control the temperature of each unit individually, making all three “zones” easily adaptable to her needs.
“I got the units so that I didn’t have to suffer through these August, humidity-filled days.”
Finding rebates to stay within budget
For Josie, one of the biggest pain points was the cost of installing a new AC and heater. Luckily, because of their eco-friendliness, cities and utilities are offering lucrative discounts to residents who purchase heat pumps.
With Elephant’s help, Josie applied for a $4,500 rebate from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Our team stays on top of local, state, and federal rebate programs, so we can factor in the best discounts for your home from Day One. Elephant prepared the paperwork for her; all she needed to do was submit the application package, and now she’s awaiting her rebate check.
Since installing her heat pump a few months ago, Josie has seen staggering improvements in her home livability. “The weather changed in the last ten years here in California. It’s muggier,” she stated. But with her new cooling system, she’s able to beat the heat and stay cozy.
What’s more, Josie expressed gratitude for improvements in her air quality, as well. “In Boyle Heights, there was that industrial fire, and we got the smoke,” she continued. “That was chemical-laden smoke… I put on my systems [because] it was gonna filter the air for me.”
Ready to make the heat pump switch? Connect with Elephant Energy’s Home Comfort Advisor team to get the process started today.