Heat pumps are the hope of the future. We need to heat and cool our homes without using fossil fuels. Heat pumps use electricity which can come from solar PV or the grid which is getting greener. When it’s hot they can put cold air in your house and when it is cold they can put heat in your house. Heat pumps have gotten much more efficient over the last five years. I have used mine as the only source of heat for years now. It is much more efficient than heating with traditional electric heating. The cost savings can be up to 50% depending on your north south location and your electric supplier. This is a win for the climate.

I bought my first mini split heat pump in 2013 when most of the people selling them also installed, repaired and supplied fossil fuel HVAC. I would not recommend this in the future. These installers will service the customers they are selling fossil fuels to but in some cases not the heat pumps that they have installed. I was very surprised to find this when I needed help in the winter and was refused. It is best to get your heat pump installed by someone who just does heat pumps. Aside from the issue of not fixing the heat pump later, it is best not to support fossil fuels in any way.

MORE INFORMATION

Heat Pumps (Air) – More – More – 101 – Mini Split  – More – NY – More – Hot Air – New Buildings 22 – Good in Cold 22 – Cost 22 – In Cold 22 – Cold temp. 22 – Heat Pump Water Heaters – More – 120 Volt 21 – More 22 –  Cold-climate 22 – DOE Cold-climate 22 –  Federal Tax Credits 22 – Planning with Abode – Green Energy Consumers Alliance 22 – MA Installers and Advice 22 – In MA 22  – Heat Pumps in Maine 22 – Portable Heat Pumps 22 –  Data IEA 22 – Heat Pumps for Cold Climates 22 –  Heat Pump 101 – 23 – Cold Climate 23 – Green Energy Consumers Excellent 23 – Cold Climate Heat Pump 23

HEAT PUMP INCENTIVES

MassSave Rebates 22 – Air Source & Air to Water Heat Pumps Incentives MA 22 – Heat pump Incentives IRA 22 – Mass Residential Energy-Efficiency Insulation Incentives 23 –  EnergyStar 30% up to $2,000 23 – Guide to Heat Pump Rebates from Energysage 23

HEAT PUMP WATER HEATERS

Heat pumps can also be used to heat hot water. Again, this is just moving heat from one place to another and it’s much more efficient than using gas or resistance heating. They cannot be put into a closet as they need a large space from which to take the heat. They do not cool, the basement more than a couple of degrees. These water heaters also dehumidify the basement. As with any hot water heater, if you drain it occasionally and exchange the sacrificial anode they last longer.

INFORMATION

Info. & Incentives 23 – Water Heater 101 – 23 – Plugs into 110 volts 23

INCENTIVES

Incentives 23 – EnergyStar 30% up to $2,000 23  – MassSave $750 – $1,500 23