Winter weather is well on the way, along with increases in the cost to stay cozy. By upgrading to a dual fuel or ductless heat pump, Rocky Mountain Power customers can save up to 50% on their heating and cooling costs. The company is now offering rebates on high-efficiency heat pumps for both dual fuel and ductless heat pumps.
“Over the last several years we have seen the number of customers installing heat pumps in their home go up exponentially,” said Clay Monroe, Rocky Mountain Power’s director of customer solutions. “Not only are they making their homes more energy efficient, but they can also reduce inversion-causing emissions through reducing the daily use and dependency of gas furnaces.”
Why a heat pump?
Aside from sizable savings on your power bill, heat pumps use much less energy than a traditional HVAC system. Installed as part of your home’s heating and cooling system, heat pumps are powered by electricity and located outside the home. In cooler months, a heat pump pulls heat from the cold outdoor air and transfers it indoors, and in warmer months, it pulls heat out of indoor air to cool your home.
What is a dual fuel heat pump?
A dual fuel heat pump is a heating and cooling system that replaces a traditional air conditioning system and integrates a natural gas furnace. It transfers heat from one location to another and alternates between the heat pump and natural gas furnace, based on outside air temperature and the thermostat setting to maximize comfort and efficiency. Dual fuel heat pumps utilize the existing duct network inside a home.
In the summer, the heat pump works like a high-efficiency central air conditioner. In the spring, fall, and winter, it provides efficient heating, while the gas furnace takes over only when needed during the coldest months of the year.
(Adobe Stock, Rocky Mountain Power) | Rocky Mountain Power incentive program can help keep cost down this winter.
What is a ductless heat pump?
A ductless heat pump is a heating and cooling system that uses an electric heat pump to condition the air directly in the space where it is installed. During the winter, a heat pump draws warm air from outside the home to increase the indoor temperature, and during the summer, the process is reversed as the heat pump transfers warmth out of the home.
Ductless heat pumps do not rely on a network of ducts, allowing them to avoid invasive duct work. Plus, they are far more energy-efficient than wall heaters and baseboard heaters (65-70% energy reduction), significantly reducing heating and cooling costs, while keeping indoor temperatures comfortable year-round.
According to energy.gov, “When properly installed, an air-source heat pump can deliver up to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes. This is possible because a heat pump transfers heat rather than converting it from a fuel like combustion heating systems.”
Rocky Mountain Power’s rebates for heat pump upgrades are available to customers with permanently-installed electric resistance heating systems, natural gas, or propane-heated homes. Customers sign up for the program because upgrading to a heat pump has many benefits, including easy and low-cost installation, energy savings, heating and cooling, and rebate money.
Through technical innovation that encourages energy savings, customers are helping to lay the foundation for a net zerro energy future through programs like the Wattsmart Homes rebate program for heat pumps. To learn more about the rebate program, click here.