Disclaimer: Tipping Point 01545 does not endorse any vendors. In addition, rebates and tax credits change from time to time, so it is important to check current information.
Our second heat pump blog is an interview with Nancy. Nancy and her husband Jack own a 1931 two-story, three-bedroom house in Shrewsbury. It has long had a gas boiler for steam heat: radiators and a steam baseboard. They also have a wood stove for back up if needed. In early June, 2024, they began the transition to an electric heat pump. They chose mini-splits over a whole-house heat pump because their house had no ducts. Their new system required seven electric mini-splits throughout the house.
The first four questions were asked in early June, when installation had just begun. Follow-up questions were asked in mid-July.
Nancy, what was your primary motivation for putting in mini-splits?
We’re both concerned about the environment. We’re very concerned about climate change. That’s why we have an electric car. That’s why we have an electric mower. That’s why we have a lot of things. We get gas through Eversource, so we had Mass Save come in a few years ago to check the insulation, weatherize our house, do all that stuff. We’re just trying to be good stewards. We’ve got grandchildren, and we’re just trying to do better.
Was cost a motivator for you?
No. I would say we took it into consideration, but I think if it cost me more, I would still do it because the environmental and climate thing is number one.
What about comfort?
Yes, comfort and the environment. They’re equal. It’s not even really about the heating. It’s about the cooling in the summertime. I can always put on more clothes. I can’t take anything more off in the summertime!
Some people are motivated by community. Are you motivated by your community or by the effect you have on the community around you?
When my nephew bought a house in Worcester, he had it done because of climate concerns. Then his Dad and Mom did it maybe 18 months ago. We’ve been talking about it, and finally we decided to look into it, and now we’ve moved pretty quickly from looking into, to having it done. The kids across the street are going to have it done as well, but they’re younger than us, so they’re doing the 0% SELCO loan. Our company is going to do theirs as well. Our neighborhood is really cool. We just all refer to each other.
It is now mid-July, and the installation is complete. How long did it take?
Seven business days. The first two were half days. The work was well coordinated with the electrician team when they were needed.
Were there any complications?
Not really a complication, but the room with the closet had to be resolved. HVAC guys discussed with the boss as to options and figured out a solution.
We’ve had extremely hot, humid weather this summer. How is it having air conditioning throughout your house?
I am in heaven!!!! And I don’t have to listen to the early morning lawn services anymore.
There were some disagreements on how to size the mini-split for one particularly complex zone on the first floor of your home. You were careful to get three assessments from Mass Save, your contractor, and SELCO (Next Zero) to determine the correct sizing for that particular mini-split. How has that gone?
Perfect.
So, have you been able to integrate the enclosed front porch into the rest of the downstairs?
Absolutely. I have been exercising out there and am very comfortable.
You have not capped off your gas because you still have a gas stove. But because you are no longer using your gas boiler, you have removed the thermostat. Was there a rebate for that?
Yes. The rebate was cap or remove or disconnect thermostat. The company we worked with filed our paperwork. We already got our SELCO rebate. It takes several months for the Mass Save rebate due to a backlog.
How do you feel about the final results for your house as one complete HVAC system?
We love it. I think every day Jack says it was the best decision we have made. Of course, I remind him I’m the one who made this decision.
Summary of benefits from having transitioned to heat pumps:
- Nancy had steam heat radiators, a steam baseboard that leaked, an enclosed porch that was unusable in the winter as well as in high heat, a wood stove if needed, and an air conditioner installed directly into a wall. The mini splits simplify all of that - including no more need for window air conditioners.
- The old air conditioner installed into a bedroom wall years ago has been removed, and the wall is patched.
- The three season porch is integrated into the house year round, because it is now heated and cooled as needed.
- Summers are much more bearable because of air conditioning throughout the whole house.
- Nancy is getting rebates from both Mass Save and SELCO.
“We’ve got grandkids. We’re very concerned about climate change.”
TAKE AWAYS:
Nancy’s primary motivation for transitioning to mini-splits was to reduce her greenhouse gas emissions. Equally, however, she also wanted air conditioning throughout her house because summers have become increasingly hot and humid.
Nancy’s home was built in 1931 and was not designed for 21st century heating and cooling needs. She adapted by installing highly efficient mini-splits in different areas of the house. When confronted with one particularly complex heating and cooling zone, Nancy got three assessments to make sure the system would work. It is very important to size heat pump units correctly. The mini-splits work so well that Nancy and her husband are now able to comfortably use more of their home than they could before.
Nancy and Jack first learned about heat pumps from trusted family members. Now they have referred friends and neighbors who trust them. That’s how this transition works!
A LITTLE NITTY GRITTY ABOUT AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP
Whole-House Heat Pumps vs. Mini Splits
There are two basic kinds of air source heat pumps: whole-house heat pumps, which use ducts to distribute forced air throughout your house; and mini splits, frequently the method of choice when a home does not have ducts. Mini splits are installed on an inside wall to heat and cool your choice of rooms.
Both are quiet, comfortable, and work well. In the winter, air source heat pumps are so reliable that they are the heating method of choice in Norway and Maine. In the summertime, they are far more efficient than air conditioners.
Both types have an outdoor unit.
Whole-house heat pumps are ducted, and they have a central indoor unit, smaller than a furnace. They use ducts to distribute forced hot or cool air throughout your home. One advantage of this is the ability to dehumidify the entire house at once. Heat pumps are natural dehumidifiers, and they filter out air pollution, pollen, dust, wildfire smoke, etc.
Mini splits are installed toward the top of an interior wall. They heat and cool discrete zones separately. An advantage of mini splits is their ability to control temperature in different rooms as you choose. They do not require ducts.
Who Is Eligible For Rebates And Loans?
In Massachusetts, if you heat primarily with natural gas, heat pumps qualify for $10K+ in Mass Save Rebates and up to a $50K 0% HEAT loan. If you heat with oil or electric baseboard, you are also eligible for excellent rebates and a 0% loan through NextZero, though at different rates .
https://www.masssave.com/en/residential/rebates-and-incentives/heating-and-cooling
For Shrewsbury residents who do not heat primarily with gas, our municipally-owned electric utility, SELCO, offers its own electrification rebates and a 0% interest loan with a five year term.
https://nextzero.org/shrewsbury/
All federal taxpayers are eligible for a heat pump tax credit of up to $2,000 per year through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). You get the tax credit when you pay your taxes in the spring. There is also a $1,000 Decarbonization Rebate if you remove or disconnect your fossil fuel heating system.
https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/hvac/heat-pump-tax-credit/
Rebates and tax credits can be layered for maximum savings, so be sure to look into all rebates available.
Cost Of Fossil Fuels Vs. Electricity
When considering the cost of electricity vs. fossil fuels to heat and cool your home, Shrewsbury has an advantage other towns don’t have: SELCO. Core to their mission is reliable electricity at affordable rates. SELCO charges only 13 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to the average 40 cents per kilowatt hour throughout the rest of the Commonwealth. In Shrewsbury, the cost to heat with either gas or electricity is comparable. Over time, the price of gas and oil are predicted to rise relative to electricity.
Steps For Installing A Heat Pump
- Get a Whole Home Energy Assessment through Mass Save or SELCO, or both. That’s free.
- The next step, regardless of who does your assessment, is to weatherize your home by adding the recommended insulation or air sealing in order to receive a Certificate of Completion. Weatherization immediately reduces utility costs. As of this post, Mass Save will cover 75% of the cost of insulation and 100% of the cost of air sealing. NextZero also has excellent incentives you can learn about on the SELCO website. Once weatherization is completed, you qualify for heat pump rebates and a 0% loan from either Mass Save or SELCO.
- Choose a qualified company that specializes in heat pumps. Make sure they will help you with rebates, loans, warranties, etc, or will provide you with the necessary documentation. Good companies like that exist!