Harnessing the Efficiencies of Home Energy Performance

Why Heat Pumps?
Sustainable energy systems rely on two major principles: efficient end-use and efficient use of renewable energy sources. In this scenario, the heat pump is a brilliant invention which is adaptable for a multitude of applications relating to both efficient end-use (say, in the home) and renewable energy supply. The energy source used by a heat pump can be renewable energy from ground, air, water and waste heat sources. The most prevalent use of heat pumps is for cooling, e.g. the common household refrigerator or air conditioner, but heat pumps are fully capable of upgrading heat to comfortable temperatures for entire homes. In applications paired with proper home insulation and air sealing, when both heating and cooling are needed, it is a win-win situation which virtually doubles the cost-effectiveness of a heat pump installation.

Incentives and tax breaks exist.
More incentives and tax breaks exist now than ever before for insulating homes and installing heat pump systems. For an average residential customer, a significant cost of insulation and air sealing and a variety of heat pump systems are covered by these incentives. It is simple to confirm one's ability to utilize these incentives and tax breaks, and most of the paperwork is done by the Installer Partner you chose.

There are familiar and affordable ways to acquire or finance a heat pump system.
Currently, there are several affordable ways to harness the efficiency of heat pumps. The main options are to purchase a system at an affordable upfront price after all incentives and to purchase a system through a low-interest loan product. Both home improvement and home equity loans in addition to other financing mechanisms are typically available by our Installer Partners and several options are available to county residents via Tompkins Trust Company and Alternatives Federal Credit Union. More information on state and federal incentives, tax credits, financing and which options might be best for you can be found in our Home Energy and Heat Pump FAQ.

Now is the time to do your part in mitigating the worst aspects of climate change and reducing other pollution associated with fossil fuels.
We are forcing the changing of the climate through our greenhouse gas emissions and the effects will be incredibly devastating, destabilizing, and irreversible for our families and communities. To avoid rising sea levels that can displace people and their communities, rising temperatures and changing water patterns that cause droughts, fires, and crop failures, and mass extinctions in our oceans, forests, and other land ecosystems, action is required to drastically reduce our personal and collective greenhouse gas emissions and transition to sustainable energy behaviors and practices. 

Home Energy and Heat Pump FAQ

My property is located in a nearby bordering town or county, can I participate in HeatSmart Tompkins?
Although our programs focus on Tompkins County, to be as inclusive as possible, it is open to families that live outside of the boundaries of the county. Specifically, we will be allowing up to 5% of our total enrolled families to be outside of Tompkins County.

What is a building's envelope?
A building envelope is the physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned environment of a building including the resistance to air, water, heat, light, and noise transfer. The three basic elements of a building envelope are a weather barrier, air barrier, and thermal barrier. The building envelope is all of the elements of the outer shell that maintain a dry, heated, or cooled indoor environment and facilitate its climate control. Building envelope design is a specialized area of architectural and engineering practice that draws from all areas of building science and indoor climate control.

Why insulate and air seal a house?
1. Save energy and money. Air that leaks through your home's envelope − the outer walls, windows, doors, and other openings − wastes a lot of energy and increases your utility costs. A well-sealed envelope, coupled with the right amount of insulation, can make a real difference on your utility bills. 2. Increase comfort: Sealing leaks and adding insulation can improve the overall comfort of your home and help to fix many of these common issues:

• Reduce noise from outside
• Less pollen, dust and insects (or pests) entering your home

• Better humidity control
• Lower chance for ice dams on a home's roof/eves in snowy climates

Most homes benefit from insulation and air sealing. In the United States, a majority of houses don't have enough insulation and have significant air leaks. In fact, if all leaks were combined, holes and gaps in a typical home's envelope, it would be the equivalent of having a window open every day of the year!

What is a heat pump?
Whether you use air, water, or other fluid fossil fuel-based sources such as natural gas, propane, or oil, heating and cooling systems use a lot of energy. Heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house and during the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors. Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide equivalent space conditioning at as little as one quarter of the cost of operating conventional heating or cooling appliances.

The most common type of heat pump is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if you heat with electricity, a heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating by as much as 30% to 40%. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months. For homes without ducts, air source heat pumps are also available in a ductless version called a mini-split heat pump. In addition, a special type of air-source heat pump called a "reverse cycle chiller" generates hot and cold water rather than air, allowing it to be used with radiant floor heating systems in heating mode. You can also sharply reduce your electric water heating costs by using a heat pump water heater. The average household saves almost $300 per year on electricity bills by utilizing this type of heat pump alone!

Ground-source or water-source (geothermal) heat pumps achieve higher efficiencies by transferring heat between your house and the ground or a nearby water source. Although they cost more to install, geothermal heat pumps have low operating costs because they take advantage of relatively constant ground or water temperatures. Whether a geothermal heat pump is appropriate for you will depend on the size of your lot, the subsoil, and the landscape. Ground-source or water-source heat pumps can be used in even more extreme climates than air-source heat pumps, and customer satisfaction with the systems is very high. To watch an instructional video about how ground-source geothermal systems work, click here.

For more technical information on these types of heat pump systems, visit:

• Air-Source Heat Pumps
• Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pumps
• Geothermal Heat Pumps
• Air-Source Domestic Hot Water Heat Pumps

How and where can air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) be installed?
Advances in technology over the past few years have made air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) an efficient source of heating (and cooling) in cold climates like upstate New York. Models on the market today can operate efficiently even when it is below zero Fahrenheit. Much like air conditioners, air-source heat pumps can be installed either as central units or split units. Central units utilize a building’s heat distribution system to heat and cool a building and can also be used for water heating. Central units are usually located outdoors and best away from windows and adjacent buildings as some fans and compressors can make low to moderate noise. If you experience noise, it can be reduced by mounting the unit on a noise-absorbing base. The location of an outdoor unit may also affect its efficiency. Outdoor units should be protected from high winds, which can pose defrosting issues. You can strategically place a bush or a fence upwind of the coils to block the unit from high winds. Split units typically provide heating and cooling to just one room of a home, reducing demand on the existing heating system. These units are typically wall-mounted by "zones"-- rooms that they service directly as well as the immediate area around them. The number of units installed and zones they serve will vary by the size of and number of rooms in your home. 

How and where are geothermal/ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs) installed?
Shallow ground temperatures are relatively constant throughout the United States, so geothermal heat pumps can be effectively used almost anywhere. However, the specific geological, hydrological, and spatial characteristics of your land will help your local system supplier/installer determine the best type of ground loop for your site.

Geology. Factors such as the composition and properties of your soil and rock (which can affect heat transfer rates) require consideration when designing a ground loop. For example, soil with good heat transfer properties requires less piping to gather a certain amount of heat than soil with poor heat transfer properties. The amount of soil available contributes to system design as well -- system suppliers in areas with extensive hard rock or soil too shallow to trench may install vertical ground loops instead of horizontal loops.

Hydrology. Ground or surface water availability also plays a part in deciding what type of ground loop to use. Depending on factors such as depth, volume, and water quality, bodies of surface water can be used as a source of water for an open-loop system, or as a repository for coils of piping in a closed-loop system. Ground water can also be used as a source for open-loop systems, provided the water quality is suitable and all ground water discharge regulations are met.

Before you choose a  system, be sure your Installer Partner has fully investigated your site's hydrology, so you can avoid potential problems such as aquifer depletion, groundwater contamination, or well service disruption.

Land Availability. The amount and layout of your land, your landscaping, and the location of underground utilities or sprinkler systems also contribute to your system design. Horizontal ground loops (generally the most economical) are typically used for newly constructed buildings with sufficient land. Vertical installations are often used for existing buildings because they minimize the disturbance to the landscape.

What sort of tax credits and incentives exist for this type of home energy efficiency work?
There are a number of NY state and federal programs that county residents can utilize to assist with the services and technologies offered through the HeatSmart Tompkins program. Please review the links below:

• NYSERDA EmPower New York: EmPower New York provides no-cost energy efficiency solutions to income-eligible New Yorkers. Nearly 100,000 of your neighbors are saving energy and saving money with EmPower New York — without spending a dime. Whether you own your home or rent, our Installer Partners assess if your home would benefit from free energy upgrades such as air sealing to plug leaks and reduce drafts and insulation to make your home more comfortable all year-round. Applicable for families below 60% state median income with up to a 100% grant for selected measures.
  
  
• NYSERDA Home Performance Program: The NYSERDA Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program helps state residents make smart investments in a more energy-efficient homes. For families above 80% of Tompkins County median income (~$63,000/yr): This is a 10% grant up to $3,000 and includes a NYSERDA low-interest loan applicable per single-family home projects. See web link above for more details.
  
  
• NYSERDA Assisted Home Performance Program: The Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program makes it easy and affordable for state residents to investment in a more energy-efficient home, helping income-eligible homeowners lower their energy bills and live more comfortably all year long. It provides those who qualify, Tompkins County residents below 80% of median income (~$63,000/yr), with a discount covering 50% of the cost of eligible energy efficiency improvements up to $5,000 per project for single-family homes. See web link above for more details.
  
  
• Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit: Established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the federal tax credit for residential energy property initially applied to solar-electric systems, solar water heating systems and fuel cells. The Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 extended the tax credit to small wind-energy systems and geothermal heat pumps, effective January 1, 2008. Other key revisions included an eight-year extension of the credit to December 31, 2016. A New York State homeowner may claim a credit of 30% of qualified expenditures for a ground-source heat pump geothermal system that serves a dwelling unit located in the U.S. that is owned and used as a residence by the taxpayer. See web link above for more details.
  
  
• NYSERDA NY State Loan Program: NYSERDA offers a 10% discount and additional low-interest financing options to NY State homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. NY State residents who own single-family homes are eligible for the program. To participate on the On-Bill financing program, the homeowner must be customers of New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG). Full terms of the program and loan are outlined via the link above.
  
  
• NY State Property Tax Incentive: Qualifying energy-conservation improvements to homes, including heat pumps, are exempt from real property taxation in NY State to the extent that the addition would increase the value of the home. The exemption includes general municipal property taxes, school district taxes, and special ad valorem taxes, but does not apply to special assessments. Eligible properties include single-family to four-family dwellings.
  
  
• Weatherization Assistance Program: This federal incentive, administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), issues grants to states, territories, and some Indian tribes to improve the energy efficiency of low-income homes in their jurisdictions. The DOE and state governments do not directly issue grants to low-income families or perform the retrofits. Instead, states, territories and Indian governments contract with local governments and nonprofit agencies who provide the weatherization services. Low-income homes that qualify for the program will receive free weatherization services based on the needs of the home, and the rules established by the state.
  
  
• Personal Tax Credit: This federal credit applies to energy efficiency improvements in the building envelope of existing homes and for the purchase of high-efficiency heating, cooling and water-heating equipment. Efficiency improvements or equipment must serve a dwelling in the United States that is owned and used by the taxpayer as a primary residence.

Which financing option might be best for me?
HeatSmart Tompkins Installer Partners each offer financing options as a part of the program as do several local institutions, including Tompkins Trust Company, Alternatives Federal Credit Union, and M&T Bank. The option that is best for you will depend on a variety of factors, such as the cost of the services or system you are interested in, your ability (with the guidance of our Installer Partners) to utilize tax credits and incentives, and, in some cases, the amount of equity you have in your home.