Heat pumps are good for your wallet & the world

Generating heat requires a lot of fuel, but because a heat pump doesn’t generate heat, it only needs enough electricity to circulate the refrigerant through its pressurized lines. A heat pump uses much less energy than an electric or gas furnace. While exact operating costs depend on the climate where you live, the unit’s efficiency, and local utility costs, for a single winter season, heating costs run an average of $1,550 for a propane furnace, $850 for a natural gas furnace, $900 for an electric furnace, and just $500 for a heat pump. Since heat pumps work on the same principle as air conditioners during the summer months, the costs to cool your home with either will run about the same—$300 or more, depending on your climate.

Everyone is talking right now about heat pumps

“Heat pumps use small amounts of electricity to move heat from one space to another.” – (c) Forbes

“According to the Department of Energy, heat pumps use about 50% less energy than furnaces or natural gas systems and can help you cut energy and utility bills. ” – (c) Modernize.com

“The more people take advantage of the heat pump tax credit over the coming decade, the better for cutting emissions.” – (c) Cleantechnica

While a furnace is designed to generate only heat, a heat pump warms your home in winter and cools it during the summer months. During hot weather, a heat pump operates in an identical manner to an air conditioner, by reversing the pressure and the flow of refrigerant through its coils. This can be a big benefit for homeowners who would otherwise need to purchase a separate air conditioner.

Furnaces, which are typically installed indoors, can take up a lot of square footage because manufacturers and local building codes often require a 30-inch clearance on all sides for fire safety purposes. The compressor part of a heat pump, which is located outdoors but close to the house—in a similar manner to an air conditioner—requires a minimum 24-inch clearance around its outdoor unit. Since a heat pump’s indoor air handler does not use combustible fuel or generate its own heat, it doesn’t need additional safety clearance. Depending on the type of air handler that comes with your heat pump, you might be able to mount it high on the wall so the unit doesn’t encroach on any floor space.