Merino Energy is a new “climate hardware company” (I like that phrasing) based out of San Francisco that just came out of stealth mode this week. The company notes that it is “building a new category of professional-grade home heat pumps,” and it launched its first product, the Merino Mono, while unstealthing. The Merino Mono is a $3,800 heat pump solution, installation included in the price, that takes less than one hour to install. Merino Energy notes that this much cheaper, simpler system tackles core challenges to much more widespread heat pump adoption. Merino Mono “Heat pumps are widely recognized as the most consequential path to home electrification. California alone has set a goal of 6 million installations by 2030, yet at the current pace, the state is on track to fall 2 million units short. The bottleneck is not heat pump technology or policy; it is the path to purchase that remains out of reach for most. Traditional mini-split systems carry installed costs ranging from $8,000 to over $30,000, require 240-volt electrical service, and demand multi-day projects involving outdoor units and invasive retrofits. For the tens of millions of households in condos, older homes, apartments, and ADUs without outdoor space or electrical capacity for conventional systems, this has meant choosing between five-figure projects that are difficult to justify, and enduring temperatures that are only getting harder to ignore,” the company writes. “Designed with these barriers in mind, the Merino Mono’s room heat pump system houses all components in a single indoor unit, removing the need for an outdoor unit. Installation uses a simple through-wall ventilation connection rather than refrigerant lines, enabling a certified technician to complete the job in under one hour using standard tools, and with no electrical upgrade required. The result is a system that runs on a standard 120V outlet, installs in under one hour, and comes at a single published flat rate price of $3,800 — hardware and professional installation included.” Merino Mono install. Merino Mono install. Merino Mono install. Photo by Trung Hoang Photography |www.trunghoangphotography.com | San Francisco Bay Area Wedding Photographer Merino Energy will be displaying at our Electric Home Show in Honolulu, Hawaii, this month — for those in this market who want to learn more in person. Be sure to get tickets if you plan to attend. As with many great products, this one stems from a consumer experience that the founder found to be quite lacking, with a lot of room for improvement. “Last year during an unexpected heat wave, I learned firsthand why getting a cooling system in your home is such a massive undertaking. Traditional solutions can cost as much as a car, take a week to install, and require sacrificing precious outdoor space,” said Mary-Ann Rau, cofounder and CEO of Merino Energy. “These aren’t unsolvable problems — they just require a different approach, one that puts the customer and the installer at the center of every design decision.” These are challenges many people have faced when trying to get an efficient, money-saving (eventually), more climate friendly solution to home heating and cooling. Here are some more details on the launch product from the company: “The Merino Mono delivers 7,500 BTU of heating and cooling capacity for spaces up to approximately 350 square feet — performance that rivals conventional mini-splits, without the infrastructure they require. Because the design eliminates refrigerant lines and outdoor equipment, certified technicians can complete installation in under one hour with no electrical panel upgrade, and no disruption to the rest of the home. The system is operational the same day, transforming heating and cooling retrofits from a weeks-long project into an immediate solution for whatever the weather demands.” I mean, what is there not to love? This all sounds great. Then there’s the design side and the user management experience. “The unit is also designed to integrate into existing homes without visible disruption: paintable wall vents blend into exterior architecture, automated louvers manage airflow without manual adjustment, the air filter is dishwasher safe, and the unit operates quietly in both heating and cooling modes. The system is as technologically advanced or straightforward as the owner prefers, with control options ranging from a simple remote to the Merino app to natural language commands. Integration with Apple HomeKit and Google Home is built in, and a sleep optimization feature currently in development will connect the system to wearable devices including the Oura Ring.” Of course, this is essentially a new type of product, and it’s not something for self-installation, so a network of certified installers has been created. Naturally, that means the product isn’t being launched broadly across the USA yet, but it does promise high-quality, efficient, effective installation. Merino Energy got creative on this as well, in some brilliant ways. I love this: “For installer partners, Merino’s approach addresses one of the industry’s most persistent economic challenges. HVAC contractors report quote-to-close rates of just 30 percent on conventional mini-split installations, with upfront cost cited as the primary reason customers decline. The Merino Mono’s transparent flat-rate pricing eliminates the estimate and negotiation process, increasing proposal acceptance and reducing time spent on jobs that don’t close. Because installation takes under one hour with no refrigerant handling or panel work, a single technician can complete multiple Merino installations per day. The result is a solution that expands installer capacity, increases revenue per day, and opens access to a new segment of households that conventional systems have been unable to serve.” When our AC system broke a couple of years ago (a side effect of a hurricane, I believe), it was very hard to know who to trust and what a good deal on a system was. We ended up paying a lot, but for a 12-year warranty and a nice new heat pump system that would theoretically be very efficient and save us money in the long run. This is apparently the norm, the top thing AC installers are recommending here in Florida now. The system Merino Energy has developed is very appealing, especially after having gone through the shopping experience myself. Florida is an extreme market when it comes to heat and AC needs, but other markets face their own challenges, especially where houses were not built with modern HVAC systems in mind. “Not every home can take a full heat pump retrofit because of space, electrical, or budget constraints. Too often, those homeowners end up installing a brand-new gas appliance instead,” said Owen Krebs Grimsich, Founder and CEO of 1-888 Heat Pumps. “With the Merino Mono, my team can now keep them moving toward electrification. Installation is fast and simple, and we can complete 4 to 5 installs a day. That’s a huge win for all of us, and the planet!” “Heat pumps are proven technology, but the installation requires complicated steps like running long copper pipes and charging with refrigerant. We built Merino to remove these barriers to electrification. This new form factor makes heat pumps 8 times faster to install so the technician’s needs and the customer’s needs are aligned and everyone can win,” said Brad Hall, cofounder and Chief Product Officer of Merino Energy. Mary-Ann Rau and Brad Hall, Merino Energy cofounders. Here’s a bit more about the cofounders and the company’s mission: “Merino Energy was founded by Mary-Ann Rau and Brad Hall, engineers with experience bringing category-defining consumer hardware to scale at Apple and Square, and firsthand knowledge working in the heat pump industry. The company was built on a single conviction that has defined both founders’ careers: that the gap between a technology that works and one that works for everyone is an engineering problem waiting to be solved. For Merino, that meant rethinking not only the heat pump itself, but everything required to get one into a home.” Like I said above, what’s not to love? You can learn more and pre-order on the Merino Energy website. Also, as noted above, they will be at our Electric Home Show in Honolulu, Hawaii. The company will also be at SF Climate Week events April 18–26.