Heat Pumps: Heating, Cooling, and Greening

Air-source heat pumps are rapidly becoming a popular option for home heating and cooling. They’re beneficial for the climate because they are powered by electricity, which can come from renewable sources such as solar and wind. They also add air conditioning, which is increasingly needed as the climate warms, resulting in longer and hotter summers.

If you have visited the Reuse Center at BBR since its 2021 renovation, you’ve experienced heat pumps in action. Two large rooftop units heat and cool the building, powered by a 114-panel solar array.

How they work

Air-source heat pumps use electricity to power a compressor that transfers heat using the refrigeration cycle. In winter, it transfers heat indoors; in summer, it transfers heat outdoors—like an air conditioner that also works in reverse. Heated or cooled air can be distributed through your home’s existing ductwork (if you have a forced hot air system), or you can opt for a ductless system.

It’s not exactly intuitive that a heat pump would be able to glean enough heat from the outdoor air when temperatures are in the single digits. But as long as the refrigerant is colder than the air, heat will always move from warmer to colder material. Compressing and decompressing the refrigerant raises and lowers its temperature so it will absorb heat from the warmer space and release it into the colder environment. Refrigerant in a heat pump can be cooled as low as 30 below zero—well below even the coldest temperatures in New England—so it can move heat even on winter days.

Who is a good candidate?

Homes that make the strongest candidates for heat pumps are those that have any one of these factors: currently heat with oil, propane, or electric resistance; want to add air conditioning; have hot or cold spots; need more control over temperatures in individual rooms; furnace or AC system is more than 12 years old; or have rooftop solar panels, according to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

Rebates and incentives

Another good reason to consider heat pumps? Rebates and incentives are substantial right now. Mass Save offers rebates of up to $10,000 per home, and up to $16,000 for income-qualified households. The interest-free HEAT loan can be tapped to finance the project, up to $50,000. Federal incentives include tax credits of 30% of project cost (up to $2,000 per year) and rebates of up to $8,000. A Mass Save energy assessment is a prerequisite for qualifying for these incentives.

As a general estimate, before rebates, you might expect to pay between $3,500 and $5,200 for every indoor unit installed with a ductless system, and somewhere between $12,000 and $22,000 for a ducted system, according to online marketplace EnergySage.

Installation process

A heat pump system includes indoor and outdoor components, which are connected by lines carrying the refrigerant. The system will be connected to the home’s main electrical service panel. If you have an older electrical system or have no room to add breakers, upgrades will be needed prior to heat pump installation.

How to get started

To qualify for rebates and incentives, schedule an energy assessment with Mass Save (www.MassSave.com). For quotes from qualified installers, you can access the EnergySage heat pump marketplace online. EnergySage is an unbiased marketplace where you can compare proposals without sales pressure, and with the assistance of an energy advisor.