Heat pumps offer superior energy-efficiency compared to furnaces and air conditioners. You may have seen them on your neighbors’ homes around SOMA.
Don’t be fooled by the word “heat” in the name — heat pumps can both heat and cool your home. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat from one space to another. During the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your house to the outdoors, and during the heating season, they move heat (even when it is very cold) from the outdoors into your home. Heat is moved, not generated, saving energy!
Actions you can take right now
If your home is drafty or poorly insulated:
- Visit our Home Weatherization page to address any areas of your home that lose heat quickly in the winter.
- Heat pumps are most efficient when the home is well-insulated with minimal air leakage.
If you already have heat pumps:
- Consider upgrading your outdoor units to provide greater efficiency and more heat in cold-weather months.
- Modern systems have higher SEER ratings (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and can help reduce the need to use your gas or oil furnace, lowering emissions and saving money.
If you don’t already have heat pumps:
- Visit the IRS website for information on tax credits for improving your HVAC system with heat pumps.
- Check out PSEG’s energy efficiency program to learn about 0% financing options available for SOMA residents.
If you have a central air-conditioning system without heat pumps:
- Consider replacing your outdoor A/C condenser unit with heat pumps to create a dual-fuel system.
- This setup can efficiently heat and cool your home while reducing the need to use your furnace.
If you don’t have a forced-air system:
- Explore ductless mini-split systems for your whole home or for select rooms.
- These systems don’t require significant renovations to install ductwork.
- Thin piping and power lines connect each room’s indoor evaporator to an exterior condenser unit.
How can Electrify SOMA! help you?
We can equip you with all of the information you need to decide if heat pumps are right for your home and your family’s needs.
Many factors are involved in decisions about your home’s heating and cooling systems, and there are a variety of different setups that you can consider. We can help you weigh these options and make an informed decision.
We also share stories and examples from SOMA neighbors who’ve taken steps to electrify their homes — so you can learn what works best, locally.
More details coming soon