Contractor of the year

 PORTLAND, Ore., May 9, 2013 – The NW Ductless Heat Pump Project, an initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) in collaboration with Energy Trust of Oregon, Consumers Power Inc., Pacific Power, PGE, Salem Electric, Springfield Utility and Central Lincoln PUD, today named Hendrix Heating and Air Conditioning as Contractor of the Year for the state of Oregon. The Corvallis-based company was selected for its commitment to customer service and the technical expertise of its installers.

The NW Ductless Heat Pump Project selects one heating and cooling system Contractor of the Year from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana annually. Contractors earning the award are qualified as Master Installers, and have demonstrated exemplary performance in quality installations, excellent customer service and effective consumer marketing and education surrounding ductless heating and cooling systems.

Hendrix Heating and Air Conditioning is known for its quality installations and stands by its work with a 100 percent customer satisfaction guarantee. Hendrix’s reputation is such that it was chosen to install the heating system for a net-zero energy show home at this year’s International Builder’s Show in Las Vegas. Since the launch of the Project, the company has installed 150 ductless heating and cooling systems – more than half of which were purchased with no utility incentives.

“We’re very proud to be a part of the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project here in Oregon,” said Carla Kaminga, owner of Hendrix Heating and Air Conditioning. “Our customers are very appreciative of the ductless heating and cooling system option and the overall comfort the systems provide. In some cases, customers report saving as much as 50 percent on their electric heating bill. The response has actually been so positive that we’re using those customer testimonials in our marketing and advertising activities.”

Ductless technology is a highly efficient and easily installed primary heating and cooling system for electrically heated homes. These systems are safe, quiet and heat rooms evenly at a fraction of the cost of baseboards or wall heaters. Since 2008, the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project, in partnership with Northwest utilities, the Bonneville Power Administration and Energy Trust of Oregon, has worked with local businesses like Hendrix Heating and Air Conditioning to install more than 18,000 ductless heating and cooling systems in the region at a savings of more than 63,000,000 kWh per year. That is enough electricity to power 5,700 average homes for an entire year.

“For Consumers Power, Inc. members with less efficient electric heating, ductless heating and cooling systems are a cost-effective solution,” said Mary Zimmerman, CPI spokesperson. “Contractors like Hendrix Heating and Air Conditioning play an important role in promoting the benefits of these systems. They help our customers enjoy more comfortable homes while also saving on their electric bills.”

“Hendrix Heating and Air Conditioning truly is a leader in providing exemplary service to their customers through high-quality installations, as they deliver comfort and value to homeowners by introducing them to this efficient technology,” said Ty Stober, initiative manager for NEEA.

“The professionals at Hendrix are a model for helping transform the heating and cooling system marketplace.” More than 90 utility partners in the four-state region are currently offering customer rebates of up to $1,500 on energy-efficient ductless systems, often covering 25 to 50 percent of the cost of an installed ductless system.

Visit GoingDuctless.com to learn about available incentives, purchasing this technology and to discover more about ductless heating and cooling.

About the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
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.