The independent solar-VRF resource
Heat and cool for 30–50% less.
Power it with the sun.
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems move heat instead of making it — and their all-electric load is a near-perfect match for on-site solar. We give contractors, engineers, and building owners the numbers, guides, and vetted installer connections to get it right.
Free · No login · A defensible estimate in about 3 minutes
How solar + VRF fits together
0%
potential HVAC energy reduction
0%
commercial solar ITC still live*
0
to a modeled estimate
*Section 48E, for qualifying projects placed in service by Dec 31, 2027. See incentives.
Modeling grounded in public data from
U.S. DOE
EIA
DSIRE / NC CETC
ENERGY STAR
PJM SREC markets
Why VRF
One compact system. Every zone on its own terms.
VRF modulates refrigerant flow to dozens of indoor units from a single outdoor unit — so it delivers exactly the heating or cooling each space needs, and nothing more.
Up to 40% less HVAC energy
Inverter compressors run at part load most of the year instead of cycling on and off — where conventional rooftop units waste the most energy.
Zone-by-zone comfort
Each indoor unit gets its own setpoint. Conference rooms, corner offices, and server closets stop fighting over one thermostat.
Heat + cool at the same time
Heat-recovery VRF moves warmth from zones that have too much into zones that need it — effectively free heating during shoulder seasons.
Built for solar's schedule
Peak cooling demand lands in the same hours as peak solar output. An all-electric VRF load is the cleanest match for a rooftop array.
Small footprint, quiet operation
Refrigerant lines replace bulky ductwork — ideal for retrofits, historic buildings, and floor-by-floor tenant fit-outs. Indoor units run library-quiet.
Incentive-ready electrification
Utility programs in MD, DC, and VA pay real money for high-efficiency heat pumps — up to $500/ton for commercial VRF in Pepco territory.
The solar multiplier
VRF cuts the load. Solar erases what's left.
Electrifying HVAC with VRF typically shrinks total heating-and-cooling energy 30–50%. That smaller, all-electric load is exactly what a right-sized solar array can offset — often 60–100% of it. The combination compounds: fewer kilowatt-hours needed, and cheaper kilowatt-hours supplied.
- Daytime cooling peaks align with solar production hours
- One electric load, one meter — simpler net metering & SREC value
- Commercial projects can still stack the 30% solar ITC with utility VRF rebates
Modeled annual HVAC energy cost
Example: 20,000 ft² office, Maryland · gas RTUs vs. VRF vs. VRF + solar
Modeled with the GetVRF engine: 2026 MD commercial rate (16.4¢/kWh), Mid-Atlantic weather hours, IEER-22 VRF, net-metered 60 kW array — which also earns ≈$4,300/yr in Maryland SRECs on top. Model your building →
Your path
From "curious" to "under contract" in three steps
Model your building
Enter location, size, and your current system. Our calculator returns savings, payback, solar sizing, and every incentive you qualify for — with the math shown.
Open the calculatorGet your report
Download a shareable PDF of your estimate — assumptions, incentive line items, and sizing — ready for your CFO, board, or spouse.
Free with your emailMatch with vetted pros
We connect you with VRF-certified installers and solar EPCs in your area — screened for licensing, manufacturer certification, and references.
Request a matchThe 2026 incentive clock is real
Residential federal credits (25C/25D) ended Dec 31, 2025. The 30% commercial solar ITC now requires placement in service by Dec 31, 2027 for most new starts — and utility rebates are first-come, first-served each program year. Timing is now part of the engineering.
From the knowledge base
Start with the guides readers send their bosses
Solar-VRF 101: How the Pairing Actually Works
The plain-English engineering of VRF, why its load curve fits solar, and the numbers that decide whether it pencils.
12 min read · Updated July 2026
The 2026 Incentives Guide: What Survived, What Pays
Post-OBBBA reality check — the deadlines, the still-live 30% commercial ITC, and the MD/DC/VA programs writing checks right now.
14 min read · Updated July 2026
VRF vs. Traditional HVAC — With and Without Solar
Efficiency, installed cost, space, and 15-year TCO — plus the honest cases where a rooftop unit still wins.
11 min read · Updated July 2026
Who we help
Built for the people who sign off on HVAC
Contractors & installers
Close more VRF bids with third-party numbers your customers trust — and join our referral network.
Engineers & facility managers
Screen electrification options in minutes before commissioning a full energy audit.
Owners, builders & developers
Understand cost, payback, and incentives before the design is locked — when choices are still cheap.
Every number shows its work
The calculator publishes each assumption and source behind it — electricity rates, seasonal COP, incentive amounts, load factors — so you can check the math instead of trusting a black box.
Run the numbers yourself →Independent by design
We may earn a referral fee when we match you with an installer — but it never changes what you pay, and it never changes our numbers. The estimate is the same whether or not you ever hire anyone.
How we stay independent →What would solar + VRF save your building?
Three minutes. Real 2026 rates and incentives. A number you can defend in a budget meeting.
No account required · Estimates in ~3 minutes · Built for MD · DC · VA and beyond