Heat pumps are heating and cooling systems that move heat indoors in the winter and draw heat outdoors in the summer. Instead of burning fossil fuels, they’re powered by electricity to move—rather than create—heat to keep homes or businesses at a comfortable temperature year-round. Innovations in technology mean that today’s cold climate heat pumps can be up to 400% efficient and many provide efficient heating at outdoor temperatures as low as -15 °F.
Air Source Heat Pumps
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Cold-climate air source heat pumps extract heat from the air outside and distribute it inside buildings. This process is reversed during warmer months to provide cooling by drawing heat out of a building’s interior. Air source heat pump systems can be configured to different building layouts and designed to either replace the current system or provide supplemental heating and cooling.
Buildings with existing ductwork can install a ducted air source heat pump, which connects to an outdoor compressor, to serve the entire building in place of a furnace or air-conditioning system. Ductless air source heat pumps, often called “mini-splits,” are typically mounted to the wall to serve one room or area of a building.
Ground Source (Geothermal) Heat Pumps
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Ground source heat pumps deliver space heating and cooling by exchanging heat with the ground or a groundwater source through an underground pipe system. By using the relatively constant ground temperature (around 55°F), the system operates more efficiently than electric baseboards and oil, gas, and propane furnaces.
Even though the installation price of a geothermal system can be several times that of an air-source system of the same heating and cooling capacity, the additional costs may be returned in energy savings in 5-10 years, depending on the cost of energy and available incentives in your area. System life is estimated at up to 24 years for the inside components and 50+ years for the ground loop.
Ground source heat pumps can be sized to provide 100% of a building’s heating and cooling load without a backup system. They are compatible with new construction or retrofits, and can vary in scale from building-specific to community networks.
Water heating accounts for around 20% of energy use in the average home. Heat pump water heaters use electricity to transfer heat from the surrounding air to water in an enclosed tank. These systems are 2-3 times more efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters, helping cut energy consumption and costs.
Heat pump water heaters are taller than most other water heaters, and require at least 1,000 cubic feet of air space around the water heater. Heat pump water heaters provide the added benefit of dehumidification if installed in a humid location, like a basement.
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Make Your Building Heat Pump Ready. You might also need to upgrade your electrical panel or wiring, upgrade or install ductwork, and make space for new equipment.
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Create a Contractor List. Get at least three quotes to compare costs.
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Research Incentives. Determine if there are incentives you can leverage to defray some of the costs.
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Perform Periodic Maintenance. To maintain your heat pump, set a schedule to clean and change the filter based on the manufacturer’s instructions. Get your heat pump serviced by a professional once a year (or twice a year if it’s your primary heating and cooling system).
Maryland building and home owners can tap into several incentives to help defray the costs of heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. Through its
Clean Buildings Hub initiative, the Maryland Energy Administration is committed to help owners understand the range of incentives that they may be eligible to receive.
State:
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Electrify MC: A pilot project that provides Montgomery County residents with a one-stop option to help them conduct home electrification.
The Hub invites you to explore the materials below to help guide your next steps. Use these resources to help move your building decarbonization project forward with greater confidence.
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Cold Climate Air-Source Heat Pump List: The Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership (NEEP) curates a list of air-source heat pump systems that meet the latest version of the ccASHP Specification. The voluntary specification includes requirements for both performance levels and a series of reported performance standards.
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Air-Source Heat Pump Consumer Buying Guide: This guide offers consumers information and guidance to understand how heat pumps work, their major benefits, how to select the right type of heat pump, and how to find an installer who can accomplish a high-quality installation.
Suggestions for additional resources can be directed to [email protected].
