Electric Heat Pump Customer Buying & Operation Guide

INTRODUCTION

On average, more than half the energy you use goes to heating and cooling your home. That’s why it’s important to choose a heating and cooling system that will save energy and money, while keeping your family comfortable for years to come. Heat pump technology is an option for high efficiency heating and cooling. A heat pump system can complement, or even be a great alternative to, a traditional furnace or other heating equipment. It also provides a simple way to introduce air conditioning to your home. What’s a heat pump? It is as simple as it sounds. A heat pump, pumps heat. It mechanically transfers heat from outside and moves it indoors to heat your home – or in reverse to pull heat from your home to cool it down. Heat pumps are common – so common, in fact, you have lived with one in your home your entire life! It is not typically referred to as a heat pump, but using the same basic heat pump process, your refrigerator extracts heat from inside the refrigerator and expels it outside the unit to keep your food cold. This is the warm air you feel coming from the back of your refrigerator. So, What Are The Benefits Of A Heat Pump?  Efficient. Heat pumps can use considerably less energy to heat and cool a home, all year long. They’re two to four times more efficient than electric resistance or fuel burning systems. Less energy used more efficiently could mean the potential for high savings on your energy bills if you heat your home with electric baseboards, oil, or propane.  Convenient. Since a heat pump system is powered by electricity, you won’t spend time filling tanks, splitting and hauling wood, or dealing with the risk of fuel shortages.  Flexible Comfort. A heat pump allows for a variety of configurations to complement your existing heating system. They can also provide heating and cooling to just the uncomfortable areas in your home.  Healthier. Heat pumps may offer both air filtration and dehumidification, keeping a home’s air cleaner and reducing the likelihood of mold and mildew.  Cleaner. Electric-powered heat pumps produce zero emissions on-site. Heat pumps can utilize renewable energy sources like wind and solar, thereby reducing a home’s environmental impact. As the electric grid likely gets cleaner over the next decade, your heat pump operation will get cleaner too.

HOW MUCH WILL I SAVE ON MY HEATING BILL?

A home’s savings depends on the type of heat pump selected, current source of heating fuel, age of home, and amount of insulation, among other factors. Homeowners who switch from electric baseboard heating to a heat pump can see drastic reductions of 50% or more in their electric bills during the winter. In summer, you will likely see additional savings compared to conventional air conditioners. If you don’t heat with electric resistance, your electric bill will go up, but other heating fuel costs will go down. Oil or propane users can see up to 50% net savings on their average yearly heating costs. Homeowners are likely to experience higher energy bills if converting from natural gas to an all-electric system. Including weatherization upgrades will increase savings on your heating bill too.

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ELECTRIC HEAT PUMP CUSTOMER BUYING AND OPERATION GUIDE FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES

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