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Renewable Heating and Cooling: A Healthy Comfortable Home

Renewable Heating & Cooling

Everything you need to know about cleaner alternatives for heating and cooling

Air Source Heat Pumps

Heat Pump Water Heater

Induction 

FAQs 

Did you know the appliances and the design of your home can affect its overall health and comfort? The key components to a healthy and comfortable home are: airtight, well-insulated buildings with limited thermal bridges, solar orientation and shading, high-performance windows, heat recovery ventilation, electric heating, and materials choice. Each of these contributes to the overall performance of your home. Owning a high-performance home has many benefits including:

  • Healthier indoor air quality; no natural gas combustion by-products to breathe
  • A more comfortable and quieter home
  • Increased resistance to future wildfires and smoke damage
  • Fewer maintenance concerns
  • Energy costs reduced by 10% or more
  • Reduced contribution to the climate crisis
Click for FAQs and to learn more about Air Source Heat Pumps and call your EnergySmart advisor today at 303.544.1000!

Ready to start connecting with contractors? Click here to access HVAC or Electrification Only contractor lists!

Air Source Heat Pumps

Air source heat pumps transfer heat in and out of buildings to provide heating and cooling in one system. They’re not unlike air conditioners that can run in reverse, providing you with heat from the ambient air—even when it’s below -10°F outside!

As a renewable heating and cooling technology, heat pumps are high-efficiency all-in-one cooling and heating systems that can help improve the comfort of your home while also reducing your greenhouse gas emissions!

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Pricing & Costs

Pricing will vary depending on your home and your needs. Operational costs can compare to or be cheaper than using a gas furnace and air conditioner to heat and cool your home! Check out the table below to see how the operational costs compare! 
 
Rebates are available for both technologies from Boulder County’s EnergySmart Program for all county residents, in addition to special rebates from the City of Boulder for city residents. These rebates are available for a limited time only on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition to EnergySmart rebates, incentives may be available from your utility. Special financing options are also available.
Learn more about the rebate and financing options from EnergySmart. 

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Heat Pump Water Heater

Heat pump technologies can do more than cool and heat your home: heat pump water heaters use draw heat from the ambient air to heat your home’s hot water at efficiencies 2 to 3 times greater than standard electric water heaters. High-efficiency heat pump water heaters are also supported by EnergySmart rebates.

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Ground Source Heat Pumps

Ground source heat pumps, also known as geothermal heat pumps, operate similarly to an air source heat pump but utilize the relatively constant temperature of the ground rather than the outside air. A ground source heat pump relies on piping buried in the ground either vertically, horizontally, or through an existing groundwater source. These systems can be installed with ductwork or with hydronic distribution systems in a home. The video to the right can provide more information on how a ground source heat pump works. Many ground source heat pumps can often be used to provide domestic hot water when operating through a desuperheater. Desuperheaters transfer excess heat from the heat pump’s compressor to a hot water tank.

For more information visit EnergySage.

Induction Cooking

Induction cooking works by creating a magnetic field between the cooking pan/pot and the magnetic coils beneath the cooking surface. The magnetic field then heats the content of the cooking pot.

In order for cookware to perform on induction cooktops, it must contain iron (cast iron or some types of stainless steel) or have a layer of material with magnetic properties. Some stainless steel cookware does not work with induction – for example, if it is a blend of aluminum and stainless steel, or if the nickel content of the stainless steel is too high. However, some manufacturers of cookware are now putting a layer of magnetic material on the bottom of the pan/pot.

To tell if a pot or pan is compatible with your induction stove, hold a magnet to the bottom. If the magnet clings to the underside, the cookware will work on an induction cooktop. If the magnet grabs the pan softly, you may not have good success with it.

For more information, visit: https://loveelectric.org/cooking/

Portable Induction Cooktop Lending Program

Are you interested in trying induction before your make a decision on a cooktop?

EnergySmart is offering a free, two-week loan of portable induction cooktops for residents to try cooking with induction technology. Please complete this sign-up form to request a cooktop.

EnergySage Heat Pump Marketplace and Solar Marketplace

Boulder County has launched a new program that simplifies the process of adopting clean energy products such as heat pumps and solar panels. Built-in partnership with EnergySage, the program provides residents with the tools and support they need to make informed decisions regarding their energy needs. The Heat Pump Marketplace and Solar Marketplace from EnergySage allow homeowners to easily explore heat pump solutions and solar panel systems, respectively, and get custom quotes from local contractors; all at no cost and with objective, expert guidance provided along the way. Learn more about this exciting announcement here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

About Air Source Heat Pumps

Air source heat pumps (ASHP) are electric appliances that provide heating and cooling by moving heat into a building (for heating) or out of a building (for cooling). Heat pumps do not create heat like electric resistance heating or fossil fuel-fired heating systems; instead, they transfer heat from one place to another. ASHPs use the outdoor air as a source of heat.

They accomplish this by using a refrigerant that absorbs heat from colder air in order to move that heat into a space with warmer air—much the same way that a refrigerator or air conditioner works except that it can move heat in both directions to provide both heating and cooling.

Since it takes far less energy to move heat than it does to create heat, ASHPs are one of the most efficient home heating systems available.

Ductless air source heat pumps are exactly as they sound: heat pumps that don’t require that you have ductwork in your home to provide heating and air conditioning. Each ductless system includes one outdoor condenser unit connected to one (single-zone) or more (multi-zone) indoor wall, floor, or ceiling air distribution units. Ductless ASHPs are often referred to as ductless mini-splits.

Ductless air-source heat pumps are the most efficient air-source systems and can be installed as a primary source of heating and cooling or installed to supplement existing systems. These supplemental applications could include, for example, installing ductless units in the most frequently used rooms like family rooms or master bedrooms to displace heating or cooling from your existing system or placing ductless units in rooms or new additions that never seem to be warm or cool enough.

These systems often come with remote controls that allow you to use them for heating, cooling, dehumidification, or as a ceiling fan. Because each indoor unit can be controlled individually, you can reduce your energy use even more by lowering the temperature in rooms that are not being used.

Ducted air source heat pumps have an outdoor condenser unit that is connected to a building’s ductwork, which is used to distribute heating or air conditioning throughout the building. Ducted (also known as central or unitary) ASHPs are not much different from central air conditioners or furnaces, except that they provide both heating and cooling in a single system. Ducted ASHPs can work with your home’s existing ductwork, though some modifications may be necessary to adapt it from being suited for a furnace to a heat pump.

Regardless of whether a system is ductless or ducted, all ASHPs will have an outdoor condenser unit (pictured below), which will be mounted on a ground platform or on the side or roof of your building (to avoid snow buildup). This outdoor condenser unit will be connected to one or more indoor air distribution units. If you’re installing a ducted ASHP, this will be a central air handler similar to one used by a furnace or central AC system. If you’re installing a ductless ASHP, this will typically be a wall-mounted unit

High-efficiency heat pumps not only cool and heat, but also purify indoor air and improve the comfort of your home. There are many reasons why an air source heat pump could be a good fit for your home and needs:

  • High-efficiency heating and cooling. Heat pumps provide both your heating and cooling capabilities in one unit. Modern high-efficiency heat pumps are as efficient as top-tier central air conditioners and are 2-4 times more efficient than traditional electric heat.
  • Enhanced home comfort. Heat pumps give you more control over the comfort levels in your home. Ductless heat pumps can be installed in individual rooms or zones of your home so you can adjust the temperature throughout your home based on your personal needs.
  • Health. Burning natural gas (methane) inside our homes can create indoor air pollution. High-efficiency electric heat pumps not only eliminate the risks of these pollutants but also provide air filtration and humidity control to purify the air in your home.
  • Flexibility. Heat pumps are a flexible technology that can provide heating and cooling to buildings of all shapes and sizes—regardless of whether you have ductwork or not. Heat pumps are a great option whether you want to replace your entire existing system or just want to add heating or cooling to a one or more room(s).
  • Lower your carbon footprint. Heat pumps can be powered by renewable electricity like wind or solar. Even with the current mix of coal, gas, and renewable energy powering our electricity grid, heat pumps are a more environmentally-friendly way to cool and heat your home or water. Pair your heat pump with solar and go entirely green!
  • Smart. Room-based units can sense and respond to cold or hot spots. Many are also controllable from your phone—in the house or remotely. Warm or cool your house before you even get home!
  • Quiet. Are you tired of loud air conditioners or noisy furnace blowers? Heat pumps are often much quieter than traditional heating and cooling systems. Many high-efficiency models will run continuously rather than blasting on and off, reducing disruption to your home.
  • Increased resiliency. Efficiently cooling even one room in a home may be a lifesaver for people vulnerable to excessively high temperatures during heat waves due to a warming climate.

Air source heat pumps are considered to be “renewable” heating and cooling systems because they do not create heat, but rather they move heat existing in the ambient air into your home. This process is powered by electricity, which can also be generated by sourced from renewable sources like solar, wind, or hydro.

Even though Boulder’s energy grid is only about 30% renewable today (and getting greener every year!), a heat pump system powered by grid electricity will still reduce your greenhouse gas emissions from heating by 20-60%! These emissions will continue to decrease from year to year as the utility’s grid becomes greener, whereas the emissions from fossil fuels will always stay the same.

  • Performance in extreme cold. Since air source heat pumps rely on extracting heat from outdoor air, the heating output and efficiency of a heat pump decline as outdoor air temperature decline. While high-efficiency heat pumps produce heat down to -13F, you may consider keeping a backup heating system for the coldest days of the year. This could include keeping your existing system in place or adding a supplementary system like portable heaters or electric baseboards. Some centrally ducted heat pumps also have electric resistance backups built into the unit. It is worth noting that it is unlikely your heat pump will stop providing heat entirely: in the last 20 years, Boulder has only had 9 days where the temperature dipped below -10F and only for a few hours at a time.
  • Aesthetic considerations. Heat pumps require outdoor (e.g. condenser and piping) equipment similar to a central air conditioner. Ductless heat pumps can also require additional indoor equipment typically mounted high on the wall. EnergySmart contractors and advisors can discuss a variety of options available to you to minimize aesthetic impacts from a heat pump installation.
  • Higher installed costs. Heat pumps can cost more upfront than individual fossil fuel or central AC systems, but if your systems are nearing the end of life, “early retirement” and switching to a heat pump could save you more in the long run.

There are few homes where some heat pump solutions might not work. However, if you answer “Yes” to any of the questions below, a heat pump system could be a particularly good fit for you:

  • Do you want to reduce your carbon footprint?
  • Do you want central air conditioning but don’t have (or don’t want to) install ductwork?
  • Do you have persistent hot or cold spots in your home?
  • Do you want more control over the temperature in individual rooms in your home?
  • Are you sensitive to air pollutants and allergens?
  • Do you heat with electric resistance heating and want to reduce your energy bills?

Heat pumps are typically rated for heating efficiency based on their Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) or seasonal Coefficient of Performance (COP), both of which describe the system’s efficiency over the course of the heating season. The seasonal efficiency of heat pumps can range from 220% to 300%+ (i.e. COP of 2.2 to 3.0) depending on the system type and application. That means that for every one unit of electricity used, 2.2 to 3 units of heat are transferred into the home.

By comparison, electric resistance heating has a COP of 1. Heat pumps are even more efficient when used in the shoulder season: if you only use your heat pump when the temperature is above freezing (using your existing furnace for backup for colder days), your system may be 300-400+% efficient!

Heat pumps also provide efficient cooling, comparable to the highest-efficiency air conditioners. Ductless heat pumps can give you the opportunity to get AC throughout your home without using loud window units or installing or /expanding your ductwork!

Annual system maintenance, which consists of cleaning air filters and an annual maintenance checkup for the outside unit, costs about the same as annual servicing charges for a central air conditioner or furnace.

Heat pumps have an expected lifetime of about 15 years—similar to the average furnace or central AC system.

A ductless indoor unit is quieter than a refrigerator and much quieter than a typical window AC unit. Ducted heat pumps are no louder than a typical furnace or central air conditioner—and variable-speed systems will switch on and off less frequently, resulting in fewer of the loud, disruptive blasts of air typical of furnaces!

There are water heaters that use heat pump technology (heat pump water heaters or HPWHs), though they are considered different technologies than ASHPs. Other models (e.g. “air-to-water” heat pumps) can provide hot water and heating (through radiant floor or hydronic baseboard heating), but these models are less commonly available in the U.S.

A heat pump installation is typically a straightforward process with minimal disruption to your home. A simple, single-zone ductless ASHP system can be completed in less than a day and only requires a single 2-3 inch hole to be cut (and later, sealed) in your wall.

If you are installing a “multi-zone” ductless system or a ducted system that requires modifications to your ductwork, your installation may take a few days or more to complete.

While intuitively you might assume that you should install a ducted ASHP if you already have ductwork, there may be plenty of cases in which a ductless ASHP might actually be a better option for your needs. Some examples include:

  • Do you have poorly sized ducts or inadequate heating/cooling to particular areas of your home? Ductless systems could help you address those hot and cold spots in a less invasive/costly manner than making significant ductwork modifications.
  • Do you have a new addition on your home, or are you planning one soon? A ductless system could be a cheaper solution than extending ductwork to the addition.
  • Do you want to add zoning for heating and cooling in your home? An EnergySmart contractor can install ductless units and/or modify your ductwork to give you more control over zoning in your home.
  • Is modifying ductwork in your home very difficult (or are you concerned about the invasiveness of ductwork modification) Ductless systems could offer you the benefits of switching to a heat pump without necessitating an extensive ductwork retrofit.

Every home (and every homeowner) is different. EnergySmart contractors can help make a recommendation that best suits your specific needs.

About Heat Pump Water Heaters

Heat pump water heaters also use heat pump technology to transfer heat from one place to another. Unlike air source heat pumps, which are used to heat and cool the air in your home, heat pump water heaters extract heat from the air and moves it into a tank to heat water. As a result, heat pump water heaters are 2-3 times more efficient than electric resistance water heaters.

As shown in the diagram below, most heat pump water heaters differ from air source heat pumps in that all of the heat pump elements are indoor and combined with the storage tank. Most heat pump water heaters are “hybrid” heat pump water heaters and include electric resistance heating elements to provide backup heating when hot water demand is high.

Energy savings. If you use an electric resistance tank to heat your water, a heat pump water heater will cut your water heating bill in half or more (and reduce your carbon footprint too!). Depending on your hot water usage, this could amount to $200 in electricity bill savings a year or more!

Dehumidification. While Boulder can be pretty dry, humidity can still be a problem in some basements. A heat pump water heater will greatly reduce (or eliminate) the need to run a dehumidifier in your basement.

Noise. Since the heat pump compressor is located inside your home instead of outdoors, a heat pump water heater will be noisier than a typical water heater—more similar to a window air conditioning unit. Speak with your EnergySmart advisor or contractor if you are sensitive to noise and vibration to learn more about your options.

Cooling effect. Most heat pump water heaters extract heat from indoor air. If placed within a finished space, the heat pump water heater will cool off the room it’s in. While installing a heat pump water heater will typically still offer net energy savings, it will increase your space heating bill a bit to compensate—though on the flip side, it will reduce your need for air conditioning in the summer!

Higher upfront cost. Heat pump water heaters are more efficient than traditional water heaters but will cost more upfront than a typical electric water heater. However, their energy savings will pay for the difference in cost–and rebates from EnergySmart will help to offset the added cost as well.

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