Take control of your energy usage and energy costs by getting a home energy audit.
What’s more, tax credits are available for professional audits. Go to the “Home Improvement” tab at energy.gov/save/homeowners.
Dual Fuel (Hybrid) Systems in Cold Climates
Can heat pumps work in cold climates? Check out these 4 different climate modes that demonstrate how a dual fuel (or hybrid) heating and cooling system takes the best qualities of a heat pump and gas furnace to provide a comfortable home climate.
OVERVIEW: While heat pumps provide both heating and cooling, they have to work overtime at extremely low temperatures, which isn’t always the most cost or energy efficient solution. A dual fuel system is a great solution for colder climates with four seasons. Dual fuel systems take the best qualities of a heat pump and gas furnace to provide you with energy-efficient home comfort no matter the temperature outside.
Heat pump as the primary source of heat
Indoor Furnace only runs when heat pump cannot meet the current heating demand (Usually 40 degrees or less)
Utilizes existing ductwork and refrigerant line sets
MORE ON HEAT PUMPS: What Is A Heat Pump?
In all climates, including those with very cold weather, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to running an air conditioner with a gas furnace. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house. During the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your house to the outdoors.
Pump Up Your Savings with Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are increasing in popularity; as of 2020, over 17 million housing units had them installed. Because they provide cooling in the summer as well as heating in winter, heat pumps are helpful year-round. Now, they already account for more than half
of all residential heating equipment sales across the United States. Today we’re going to break down how they work, why Americans are upgrading to them, and how they can help save you money — via tax credits and rebates!
How They Work
Heat pumps are an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space. During cold seasons, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm home. During warmer seasons, they move heat from your home into the outdoors. Because heat pumps transfer — rather than generate — heat, they are significantly more efficient than traditional heating systems.
There are two main types of heat pumps connected by ducts: air-source and geothermal, which differ in where they collect heat from (air, water, or the ground outside your home) and concentrate it for use inside.
Air Source
The most common type of heat pump is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your home and the outside air. Modern air-source heat pumps can reduce your electricity use by 50% compared to furnaces and baseboard heaters. Until recently, they haven’t been used in areas that experience subfreezing temperatures for extended periods of time; now, they're a legitimate option for colder regions due to advancements in air-source heat pump technology.
Air-source heat pumps are also now available for homes without ducts, using a ductless version called a mini-split heat pump. Another kind of air-source heat pump is called a “reverse cycle chiller,” generating hot and cold water instead of air and compatible with radiant floor heating systems in heating mode.
Geothermal heat Pumps
Geothermal (ground-source or water-source) heat pumps transfer heat between your house and the ground or a nearby water source. They cost more to install but have low operating costs because they take advantage of relatively constant ground or water temperatures.
Sturdy and reliable, geothermal heat pumps can reduce energy use by 30%-60%, control humidity, and fit in a wide variety of homes. Compared to other types of heat pumps, they can also be used in more extreme climates.
You can learn more about the different kinds of heat pump systems — and which one might be best for you — at our Energy Saver site.
Why should you upgrade to a heat pump?
Minimizing Environmental Impact
Heat pumps use electricity to transfer — rather than create — heat, making them much more efficient than traditional HVAC systems. Depending what heating equipment you’re upgrading from, you could save up to 7.6 tons of carbon emissions per year. With millions of households choosing a heat pump each year, those tons add up to a meaningful impact for our climate. Show your appreciation to our Earth by choosing the clean energy option!
Lower Energy Bills
Less energy usage = lower utility bills. Depending on the size of your home, local climate, and how energy efficient your home is, savings can average over $500 per year. Pairing weatherization measures such as insulation with a heat pump can help you save even more – you can learn about incentives for insulation and other technologies in our Energy Savings Hub. When you’re shopping around for a heat pump, make sure to reference EnergyStar.gov for government-certified products to maximize your energy savings.
Tax Credits & Rebates
Through President Biden’s Investing in America Plan, homeowners are now eligible for tax credits when they install an air-source or geothermal heat pump: up to 30% federal tax credit on the total cost of buying and installing a heat pump. Soon, states will be able to provide residents with additional rebates to save money off the cost of heat pumps — with low-income residents eligible for particularly high savings.
Where Do I Start?
Upgrading to clean technology without first ensuring that your home is properly weatherized, or protected against energy loss, can undercut your efforts and eat into your potential savings. A home energy audit will give you a personalized roadmap, tailored to your home and environment, that will help you get the most bang for your buck.
Through President Biden’s Investing in America plan, you may be eligible for a 30% tax credit (up to $150) on your professional home energy audit. To claim this credit, simply submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your 2023-2032 taxes.
Learn more ways to save money while also saving the planet at our Energy Savings Hub, and check out our blog post addressing misinformation on DOE appliance standards.
Benefits Of Communicating HVAC Systems
Communicating HVAC systems, like our Affinity™ systems paired with Hx™3, help speed up installation and set-up since the thermostat and system can communicate information rapidly. That means optimized comfort, constant reporting on issues and faster maintenance checkups for contractors. Learn more about our communicating-capably systems: https://on.jci.com/45Yo243
Faster Installation
Optimized comfort technology
Real-time error reporting for faster diagnosis and repair
Weatherization
Though your phone may insist on putting a red squiggly under the word when you type it, we promise it’s a real word with real benefits!
In fact, it can help stop energy waste and save you money. Get the basics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qv3Q6bn7hU&t=1s
Save Energy. Save Money.
Our Energy Savings Calculator is an easy way to see how your home's age, insulation, HVAC system efficiency and other factors affect your energy usage. Try it out here: http://ow.ly/ycrt30soVfH
Be Part of a Clean Energy Future
America has begun the transition to a clean energy future, as more of the electricity we use is being generated from clean, renewable energy sources. Taking action now can help you prepare for a clean energy future, while enjoying energy savings and a more comfortable home today. This is good for the planet and your wallet.
Learn More About a Clean Energy Future
What is Clean Energy?
Clean energy is generated from renewable sources without producing any pollution, which helps to improve the health of the environment and reduces the amounts of harmful emissions people are exposed to. On the other hand, energy that comes from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas results in greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming, as well as air pollution that impacts human health and the environment.
Shifting to clean energy is important to slow down global warming and protect the environment from harmful smog and toxic buildups in our air and water. Using renewable sources of energy also helps us conserve natural resources and reduces our dependence on foreign oil.
Electricity made from clean energy can power our appliances, heat and cool our homes, and fuel our transportation.
How Will the Shift to Clean Energy Happen?
States and communities around the U.S. have led the way in implementing policies that support the transition to clean energy. Forward-thinking electric utilities are increasing their investments in solar, wind and hydro power. Renewables are the fastest-growing electricity generation source in the United States. In just the last 12 years, the share of electricity produced from renewable sources has gone from 11% to 24%. At the same time, households around the country are beginning the process to switch from fossil fuels to efficient electric, for the equipment in their homes and the cars they drive.
Recent legislation (i.e., the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act) is expected to accelerate the transition with billions of dollars in financial incentives designed to make the needed purchases more affordable and other market support to make clean energy and efficient electric equipment more available. According to an analysis by Princeton University, the progress expected over the next eight years will drive down greenhouse gas emissions by about 42%, while also lowering U.S. energy expenditures by at least 4% by 2030.
Most experts predict that by as early as 2035, most of our energy demand can be supplied by clean energy. Energy efficiency will play a critical role in terms of reducing the amount of clean energy that is needed, thereby lowering costs and ensuring there is enough to power all our needs.
How Will a Clean Energy Future Impact Energy Use In My Home?
Over time, as equipment needs to be replaced, homeowners will switch out their gas products – things like furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers, stoves and yard equipment - for electric. The increase in electricity demand that results from this switch will be offset by innovations in efficiency that are now broadly available for the electric alternatives. This includes highly efficient electric heat pump technology for heating and cooling, water heating and clothes drying, as well as electric induction technology which is an attractive alternative for cook tops that uses dramatically less energy.
Ensuring that your home is well insulated, with high performing windows or storm windows, will mean even more electricity savings by reducing the amount of work your heating and cooling system needs to do. All-in-all, these upgrades will benefit your home by making it healthier and more comfortable, while lowering your energy bill.
What are the Side Benefits of a Clean Energy Future?
Transitioning to a clean energy economy offers potential advantages to communities throughout the country. It is expected that millions of jobs will be created, not only to support new ways of producing energy but also as domestic manufacturing of efficient electric products and vehicles expands in the U.S. Demand for home contractor services will increase, just as targeted new initiatives are providing enhanced training on installing efficient electric technologies. Billions of dollars have been earmarked specifically to help low-income households upgrade their homes and lower their energy bills. And quality of life will improve as power plant, gas-powered vehicle, and appliance emissions are eliminated and the noise associated with internal combustion engines subsides.
HEAT PUMP INSTALLATION GUIDANCE
Getting the best performance from your new heat pump requires more than just choosing the right equipment. Choose the right contractor to properly install your new equipment is key to its optimal performance and maximum efficiency. In fact, improper installation can reduce system efficiency by up to 30 percent - costing you more on utility bills and possibly shortening the equipment's life.
The right contractor should:
Perform an onsite inspection of the work you want done and then provide a detailed bid in a timely manner.
Evaluate and ensure that you have a well-sealed duct system (poorly sealed duct systems can result in up to 30% loss in efficiency) that is able to provide sufficient air flow throughout the living space.
Demonstrate to you that the company is licensed and insured to repair and install heating and cooling equipment (many states require this).
Have several years of experience as a business in your community.
Clearly explain the benefits of regular maintenance and help you set up a schedule to keep your system operating at its best.
Hold industry recognized HVAC system installation certification, from an organization such as North American Technician Excellence (NATE) or Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA).
Ready to find the right system for your home? The ENERGY STAR Product Finder can help!
