With the planet experiencing warmer temperatures these days, staying comfortable becomes top of mind for people. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are beneficial as they regulate home temperatures, improve indoor air quality, and control humidity.
Typically utilizing multiple components inside and outside the home, some can do more than others while remaining energy-efficient. Heat pumps, an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners for all climates, can move heat from the house to the outdoors and vice versa. The opportunity to save both money and energy when you switch to the latest in HVAC technology is too good to pass up.
The scoop
As discussed in a previous release, heat pumps are versatile in that they can both heat and cool your home. The historic Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment by the United States Congress for climate action (up to $370 billion), has made it possible for Americans to save money on how they power their homes.
The IRA offers up to $2,000 in tax credits to homeowners who install a heat pump, potentially cutting installation costs by half. For those classified as low-income households, there's an even greater incentive of up to $8,000 available.
As heat pumps essentially use a refrigerant that is compressed and decompressed, the technology controls where the heat goes, coming from or into the home. This is great as it eliminates the need for a separate heater, air, or other HVAC system.
How it's helping
Heat pumps function across all seasons. Unlike air conditioners and radiators, they use significantly less energy when moving heat around. As a result, they significantly reduce the amount of pollution in the air, which is great news. Similar to a type of regulator, what makes the technology truly unique is the ability to collect heat from air, water, or the surrounding ground outside your home and divert it to the outdoors.
According to the Department of Energy, the most common type is the air-source heat pump, which can reduce electricity use for heating up to 75%.
Homeowners who weatherize their homes can see noticeable savings on their energy expenses, up to $300 annually. In fact, home upgrades continue to be backed by programs such as Energy Star, which encourages energy-efficient products and devices.
As the federal government promotes the adoption of electrification and energy efficiency, making the switch to reduce electricity bills has never been easier. The Defense Production Act, for example, has been approved to manufacture more of them in the United States, per The Hill.
🗣️ Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to buy a heat pump?
🔘 Lower energy bills 💰
🔘 Better temperature control 🌡️
🔘 Helping the planet 🌎
🔘 I'd never buy a heat pump 🚫
🗳️ Click your choice to see results and speak your mind
Heat pump marketplaces such as EnergySage can help so many choose the ideal energy-saving items and find great rebate options as they make the upgrade.
💡Save thousands with a heat pump
A heat pump can save you thousands of dollars in heating and cooling costs — but first you have to find the right installer at the right price.
Use EnergySage's free tool today to find local options, compare prices, and see how much you can save.
The Cool Down may receive a commission on signups made through links on this page, but we only promote partners we vet and believe in. For more cool tips like this one, check out our solutions list here.
What people are saying
Heat pumps are generating quite a buzz, and for good reason. Homeowners such as Michael Overend from Minnesota shared how heat pumps have kept their homes warm, even in harsh conditions, while saving money.
"It's a quality-of-life improvement," Brown University political economist Alexander Gard-Murray told The New York Times.
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