Is This the Heat Pump Moment?

By Robert Salthouse and Mary Jane Else,
South Hadley Sustainability and Energy Commission

We have just experienced the hottest January ever, the eighth month in a row in which global temperatures blew past previous records. This is our moment to take action. Those of us who care about the future now have both the awareness and the tools to help. And maybe even save some money in the process.

Residential emissions, mostly from home heating, account for nearly a fifth of CO2 produced in New England. Massachusetts has set new goals for the adoption of heat pumps as a part of an effort to decarbonize the building sector. Why? We can’t reach our climate goals without addressing emissions from buildings. As our electricity becomes increasingly reliant on renewable and non-carbon emitting sources of energy, we’ll be able to reduce our own impacts by electrifying our homes. 

Did you know that heat pumps are about three times as efficient at heating your home than burning fossil fuels? These nifty machines work the same way as a refrigerator or air conditioner does, by extracting heat from air. Modern heat pumps are designed to work in frigid New England winters. Even residents in northern Maine are having success with heat pumps.

So why is this the heat pump moment? Rebates and incentives available now - and others coming in a few months – help make heat pumps affordable. Heat pumps improve your quality of life, providing whole-home heating, air-conditioning, and healthy filtered air. The amount of money you’ll save over your current heating costs will vary depending on your current fuel and the age of your system. You can find a heat pump savings calculator that will help you estimate your savings here.

Changing the way you heat and cool your home is a big decision. We are both members of South Hadley’s Sustainability and Energy Commission, and we’d like to invite you to an online webinar titled “Is a Heat Pump Right for You?” Feb. 28 on Zoom at 6:30 p.m. The webinar will be presented by Loie Hayes of Green Energy Consumers. You can find the Zoom link on the SEC website or here. 

For a calculator that shows you all the savings you can tap into to help solve the climate crisis, go to Rewiring America. South Hadley households will find that they are entitled to many thousands of dollars in incentives. Plan ahead so you don’t miss out on savings that will help both you and the planet.