A cooler chapter for Wally’s Ice Cream in Newton.

Ice cream belongs in a cold case. The heat given off by refrigeration equipment, however, was making Wally’s small space harder to keep comfortable. The owner told us the old air-conditioning system was no longer working well for the shop’s needs.

In Newton’s Auburndale village, this project was about the everyday experience of running a small business: a comfortable place for staff to work and customers to enjoy a treat.

Another business owner mentioned Mass Save®. Wally’s owner explored the program and contractor options with ChatGPT, found Advanced Ductless, and reached out. Our next step was to visit the shop and understand the space.

We came to the shop for an estimate, took measurements, calculated the heat load, and scanned the space. Those steps informed the design we presented to the owner in a 3D model.

Seeing the proposed installation made the conversation concrete. The owner could understand how the system would fit into the business before installation day.

“First time, Vinny came by and showed me how it would look. It ended up looking exactly like that.”

The owner’s comparison says it well: the finished work looked like the plan.

We submitted Wally’s pre-approval application and followed up with the Mass Save® rebate processing team. The project received pre-approval promptly, before installation.

For an owner managing inventory, payroll, and other business expenses, that means the rebate portion does not have to sit in the amount they fund upfront. It makes the remaining project cost easier to plan around.

The advance is an Advanced Ductless payment arrangement; program pre-approval is separate from the eventual rebate payment. Financing depends on lender approval and terms. We explain the rebate deduction and financing options in the proposal.

Explore our commercial rebate guide and financing options. Other projects have their own eligibility requirements and approval timelines.

With the design and rebate pre-approval in place, our team completed the installation in one day. The project photos show the indoor units, the outdoor equipment, and the work in between.

The owner described the new mini-splits as a relief for the small space and highlighted the clear explanations throughout the project.

“It’s such a relief.”

From the customer interview with Wally’s owner.

The owner was happy with the new system, the communication, and an installation that matched the design preview. For the people behind the counter and those stopping in for ice cream, a comfortable shop was the goal from the beginning.

Lower energy costs are another goal of the upgrade. We are not reporting measured bill savings yet. Winter costs depend on the previous heating system, weather, energy prices, and how the heat pumps are used; operating history will tell that part of the story.