AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
Using a well designed air source heat pump system will have a dramatic effect on your home’s carbon footprint, and could help provide significant savings on your energy cost.
HOW AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS WORK
Air source heat pumps use electricity to move energy from one location into another– what this means for homeowners is that there is now an affordable way to heat your home without burning fossil fuels. With air source heat pumps, you can keep your home hot in the winter and cool and dry in the summer. Using a well designed air source heat pump system will have a dramatic effect on your home’s carbon footprint, and could help provide significant savings on your energy cost.
FEATURES & BENEFITS
Ducted and ductless equipment can provide a clean heating solution for nearly every home.
Cold climate air source heat pumps are market ready– meeting the heating demands even on the coldest day.
PARTICIPATING CONTRACTOR LIST
Use the Participating Contractor List to find qualified installers in your area.
Incentives for Air Source Heat Pumps
Mass Save HEAT Loan
If you’re installing a heat pump or solar hot water system, you may be eligible for a 0% interest HEAT Loan from Mass Save. You can finance up to $50,000 over the course of 7 years for home energy efficiency upgrades if your project includes a heat pump. Although fuel prices fluctuate, energy savings may help cover the monthly loan payments, especially if you currently heat with oil, propane, or electric resistance. Find out more about Mass Save’s HEAT Loan program.
Alternative Energy Credits
Air source heat pump system installations in Massachusetts qualify for the Alternative Energy Certificate (AEC) program. With this program, non-emitting renewable technologies generate certificates based on their energy production. These certificates are sellable to utility companies looking to meet state-mandated renewable energy goals. The revenue earned from these certificates will help you to further save on your solar hot water or air source heat pump installation. Learn more about AECs.
Rebates & Tax Credits
Massachusetts leads the nation in energy efficiency and has many incentives and rebates available to help make clean heating technologies affordable, including a rebate of up to $10,000 (or $16,000 if Income Qualified) for eligible air source heat pumps. Learn more about rebates available from Mass Save. The federal government offers a tax credit of up to $2,000 for air source heat pumps and possibly a rebate of up to $8,000. Learn more.
DUCTED OR DUCTLESS?
Example of a ducted air handler unit serving multiple partitioned spaces.
GO WITH DUCTED IF:
- Your home has ductwork that can be properly sized, sealed, and insulated
- You don’t like the appearance of the indoor units
- You’re interested in heating your whole property, and the fewer components, the better
Example of a ductless unit serving a larger open space.
GO WITH DUCTLESS IF:
- You don’t have existing ductwork
- You’re looking to heat and cool large open spaces
- You want the easiest installation possible
- You’re looking to keep project cost down
COLD CLIMATE AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
Air source heat pumps will operate under a wide range of temperatures, but the colder it is outside, the less efficient the heat pump will be. Fortunately, there are cold-climate air source heat pumps specially designed to operate efficiently at lower temperatures (even below 0 degrees Fahrenheit!) This newer technology is often installed in places with harsh winters, such as New England or the Midwest.
In New England, it’s a good idea to install cold-climate air source heat pumps so you can continue using them on particularly cold days. For most homes, it will also be a good idea to have a backup source of heat. Many homeowners choose to keep their existing furnace or boiler for this purpose.
LITERATURE RESOURCES
VIDEO RESOURCES
Here are some helpful videos to get you started.