Why you should replace your home heating and cooling systems with a heat pump!
I recently had the amazing opportunity to interview Lisa Marshall, the Advocacy and Organizing Director of New Yorkers for Clean Power, who is a fountain of knowledge about environmental advocacy, action, and renewables. She explained how heat pumps are better for the environment and often cheaper to run than their counterparts!
And for all you renters out there (like me) don’t think you’re off the hook for taking action on this topic! Even though you may not be able to change the heating and cooling systems provided by your rental management company, you do have the ability to support, push for, or help create policies in your community that support the transition to green, renewable heat and energy!
Find out more about heat pumps or heat policy in New York State by clicking the link below to listen to the full interview with Lisa or by scrolling down for a summary of the interview!
WHAT IS A HEAT PUMP?
A heat pump is a type of heating and cooling system for homes and other buildings. The way that they transfer heat is similar to your refrigerator and air conditioner.
WHY ARE THEY ECO-FRIENDLY?
They are better for the environment than traditional methods of heating and cooling because they eliminate the direct burning of fossil fuels (UC Davis). And if you want to make them even more environmentally friendly, you can source the electricity your heat pump runs on through renewable energy, like solar panels or a community solar program.
WHICH HEAT PUMP IS RIGHT FOR ME?
There are several different kinds, but two main types are:
Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps
Source: Colorado Country Life
What it does: heat and air condition
How it works: They take heat from the outside air and pump it into your home
Learn from someone who has one: Watch Terry’s story here
Geothermal Heat Pumps
Source: How Stuff Works
What it does: heat, air condition, and provide hot water.
How it works: They absorb heat from the ground and transfer it into your home.
When talking with Lisa, she said that “an air source heat pump is more expensive to operate than a ground source heat pump, but an air source heat pump is cheaper and easier to put in because you don’t have to dig a hole in the ground.”
DO THEY WORK WELL?
Yes! Some cold climate pumps can operate down to -19°F. Also, you need to ask yourself, “Is your building insulated well? Each building is different!” said Lisa. If your building isn’t insulated well, your hot air could be leaking out in the winter or your cool air could be leaking out in the summer. This causes your heating and cooling systems to work harder than they have to. The best way to check if this is happening to you is to get an energy audit, which is now eligible for a tax credit of 30% of the cost, up to $150 (learn more in the incentive section below)!
COSTS
“It’s different from the fossil fuel structure that we’re used to having,” said Lisa. “It’s an expensive upfront cost, but to operate a geothermal heating system is the most efficient and least expensive to operate. The maintenance is incredibly low. It’s sort of like a ‘set it and forget it’ system,” said Lisa. “Compared to gas - you save. Compared to propane - you save HUGE! And compared to electric resistance - you also save HUGE!” Lisa has seen cases where very expensive geothermal systems in rural NY homes paid off in less than 5 years just because people were spending so much on propane. She said, “I’ve seen people go from spending $4,000 for heat per year to $400.” We also expect the price of gas to keep going up and therefore benefit those with heat pump systems and hurt the wallets of those using gas to heat their homes.
STEPS TO TAKE TO GET A HEAT PUMP
If you’re looking to replace your heating system, Lisa says “Start going through that process now, because it doesn’t happen overnight. You don’t want to be that person whose heating system breaks at midnight on New Year’s Eve, so you just have to buy something from whichever HVA contract you can reach so you’re not going to be cold!” Follow the steps below to get started!
Research - like you’re doing now by reading this article, but keep going!
Choose - what efficient electric appliance or heating system is appropriate for you. Start by taking the NY State heating system quiz and then search for different heat pump options based on the answer from the quiz. You can start that here!
Learn - what the incentives are to help you make that change (see the section below to help kickstart this process!)
Get Quotes from contractors
Get an energy audit - an energy audit can tell you if your home isn’t properly insulated. If it isn’t, then you’re paying more than you need to heat and cool your home! (As mentioned above, there is a tax credit for energy audits too!)
Jump in! Choose your contractor and ask for their help on which heat pump to use based on your research and then decide!
INCENTIVES
There are current federal incentives through the Inflation Reduction Act and other incentives through your state or local community. Lisa said, “I’ve seen a lot of households that are income eligible in upstate NY get $20,000 to $30,000 worth of energy work including heat pumps put in at no cost to the homeowners, so that exists.” Start finding out the incentives accessible to you through this calculator.
U.S. Federal Incentives: View a summary of those at either of the links below
NYSERDA - Inflation Reduction Act for Homeowners
Also, please note that “these tax credits can be amortized over several years. For example, let’s say that 30% of your geothermal heating system is $10,000, but you only owe $2,000 in taxes, you could keep taking this off tax credit for up to 5 years,” said Lisa.
NY State Specific Incentives
TAX CREDIT: NY state has a $5,000 tax credit (they’re working to make this refundable and make it $10,000)
UTILITY INCENTIVES: Every utility company by law has to offer you incentives to put in heat pumps, but these differ by each utility company.
NYSERDA INCENTIVES:
Contact your local NYSERDA hub to find out about local incentives
NY State has energy affordability programs for lower-income households, like EmPower+
HEAT POLICY IN NEW YORK STATE
As promised, there are also actions you can take even if you don’t own a home! The big, current bill being presented in New York State regarding heat is the New York Heat Act. It’s a bill that will help cut off fossil fuels currently used to heat buildings and transition the state to clean heating technologies while lowering household energy bills. “We are subsidizing the literal expansion of fossil fuels at a time we know we have to STOP using fossil fuels. That makes so sense at all, so we're going to fix that with the NY Heat Act,” said Lisa. Watch an info video here.
How to help
Find and contact your state assembly member and senator
If they’re a cosponsor, publicly thank them on social media, write a letter to them, or write a letter to the editor.
If they’re not a cosponsor, ask them to be.
Send yours reps this letter (but add your flare)
Come to Albany on March 13, 2024, for the NY Heat Act Rally & Lobby Day. Learn more about that day here!
Get involved in the Renewable Heat Now campaign. Learn more here.
Join climate groups that are helping push forth green policies, like 350.org, CCL, and Sunrise!
Why Activism is important
We need people's power to pass green policies! “You can have a lot of information and not be able to take action until you hear from a trusted person, like a friend or family member, and they give you this on-ramp that feels accessible to you. That’s when you can go from not doing something to doing something” said Lisa. This is how she got involved and maybe how you can get someone involved in the movement too!
- As told by Molly Bombonato
Posterity Collective is a blog that shares research-backed actions for fighting climate change and stories from individuals conquering them. If you want to learn more about what you can do for climate change, then download the free ebook below.