Dual Fuel Heat Pump Installation Notifications

Posted On: August 21, 2024

In June, we released a new mobile app configuration for HVAC contractors to submit installation notifications for Centrally Ducted Heat Pump Dual Fuel Systems. The number of submissions so far has exceeded our expectations. This solution, available on the mobile apps DSMally and DSMally Canada, supports Energy Services Program providers seeking to ramp up the penetration of hybrid dual fuel heat pump systems.  

The push to heat pumps is widespread including efforts by ratepayer owned electric cooperatives, municipal electric utilities, state energy offices rolling out Home Energy Rebates, and certain investor-owned utilities. These programs offer rebates to reward homeowners for purchasing heat pumps along with spiffs to contractors for promoting heat pump retrofits.

Because the contractor’s administrative burden is shifting out into the field, DSMally incorporates features to improve the installer experience. Photo evidence is captured directly in the app. There is an address lookup that can replace thumbing in the full installation address. There is a QPL lookup such as using the heat pump AHRI number to capture all the model numbers and efficiency ratings. Users can apply Face ID / Face Recognition. And there is an option for populating a fillable pdf and delivering back to the contractor a digital installation file with all the start-up data and photos.

For quality assurance, photo evidence is geo-tagged and a survey engine enables capturing technical parameters including those identified by ACCA QI5, the Consortium for Energy Efficiency’s recently published guidelines on heat pump retrofits, and those parameters defined by program policy such as the heating equipment being replaced. There is also an option to capture the customer’s acknowledgement by digital signature on the app using their finger or a stylus.

For program administration and measurement & verification, a feed has been installed to the Incentit reporting tool for delivering program activity reports including all installation data, incentive amounts, and energy impact. That API is available for feeding to other reporting tools.

Many of these programs require enrollment and pre-approval. For contractors, we offer a web-based registration form where the firms sign up, set their password, accept terms & conditions, and attach their W9 when appropriate. For homeowners, we offer a web-based pre-application portal where the system delivered pre-approval code can be asked for on DSMally to match up the two records.

Finally, for instant discount and midstream program designs we can link the installation notification to the supplier’s shipment record. The supplier shipment data includes the purchasing contractor, model number, and serial number. The contractor’s installation notification will include serial number so they are linked, can be reported, and the supplier can be paid. A secondary report can be made available for orphaned shipments that suppliers and program administrators can use to chase down non-participating contractors.