We have been planning on using a supplemental split-ductless or heat-pump HVAC system in the 120K House from day one. These units are very efficient, supply both heating and cooling, and eliminate ductwork that can further reduce efficiency and air quality in standard HVAC systems. The main complaint I have with these units is that they mount to the wall and come in non-design savy “white-box” configurations.

If only someone would solve this simple industrial design issue and make an attractive wall-mount unit. Well, along came LG and did just that with their ARTCOOL series of split-ductless units. First off, these LG units are typically slimmer with cleaner lines than the average unit on the market. Secondly, they come in a variety of finishes including Mirror (SS), Wood Grain and even picture frame units that can hold a picture of your own in it.

VS.

Above, you can see a comparison between a normal Fujitsu model that we originally spec’ed out and an example of the LG Mirrored unit that we are now looking to use. This is a slight upgrade that was not in the original budget, but I think it will be well worth it considering the typical client of ours will most likely be more design savvy than the average home buyer.

A version of the model pictured above will be going in the 120K House shortly and we will have more updates and actual photos once it is installed. On another note, it’s nice to see companies like LG placing importance on the field of Industrial Design. So many companies seem to pass this part of the company off as to artsy to be important to their brand or bottom line. This seems short-sighted and just plain outdated. More and more companies every day seem to be catching on and blessing us with more beautiful products at the same or similar cost. Thank you LG and everyone like you.