Have an old boiler and/or AC system? Frustrated by high energy bills (who isn’t?)? Look to make an investment in a different technology that will provide reliable heating and cooling to a space and reduce energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and cost. I am talking about an air source heat pump. This is not an old technology; it has existed for quite awhile. Its recent step up is its ability to heat a space even in Northern climates.

An air-source heat pump system uses refrigerant to move heat across a wall. In the wintertime, it takes heat from the outside and transports it to the inside space. This seems counterintuitive. Even on a bitter cold day, the huge reservoir of cold air does contain heat. That heat warms a liquid refrigerant to a gas which through a compressor transports the refrigerant and releases the heat to the indoors. In the summertime, the reverse happens. The refrigerant takes heat from a hot room and delivers it and releases it through a coil to the already hot outside.

What makes an air source heat pump a good investment is that this can be done using less energy than other HVAC equipment. It takes less energy to move heat from one place to another compared to creating heat, such as a boiler combusting a fuel (purchase, transport of the fuel and then combustion and ensuring that heat is not lost).

Air source heat pumps can be built into walls or mounted onto the ground right outside a building or be placed on a roof. They do not take up a lot of space (compared to boiler systems), but do require some construction and, potentially, putting holes in walls.

Air source heat pumps can be controlled by any of a variety of automated controls to pre-program set points for heating and cooling or automated controls (remotes) to turn on and off such systems. Mini-split systems, packaged terminal air-source heat pumps, and single-package air-source vertical heat pumps are options for appropriate spaces.

Why you should consider air source heat pumps:

• Cost.  Air-source heat pump systems provide heating and cooling more efficiently, using electricity, rather than combusting a fuel. Such systems can reduce heating energy use by up to 50% compared to comparable technologies. One need not deal with the price surges of natural gas and oil.
• Reduced maintenance.  Such systems require less maintenance than boilers, such as the absence of fuel storage, insulation, and cleaning boiler tubes.
• More pinpoint comfort. Air source heat pumps can provide heating or cooling from room to room, rather than having to heat or cool a large space, reducing energy waste. Controls allow even better temperature and humidity control.

• Environmental upgrade. Besides the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by using electricity for energy rather than fuel oil or natural gas, heat pumps do not create onsite emissions; your employees and the public will breath cleaner air and you get all of the health and wellness benefits of this. In addition, by ridding yourself of a combustion source, you reduce the risk of fuel leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Incentives aplenty.  Many building owners hesitate to implement energy upgrades because they do not have the money on hand to purchase such systems. Air source heat pumps are being pushed strongly by a number of utilities and states nationwide, as they recognize this as a step toward meeting energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. Thus, many utilities will pay you back handsomely for installing air source heat pumps, as much as 50, 60 or a higher percentage of your installed cost.

Significant, long-term energy cost savings and potentially paid for in large part by your local utility or government. In this age of skyrocketing energy costs, air-source heat pumps can provide reliable and controlled comfort at a low cost for you. Get more information on air source heat pumps from Energy Star (www.energystar.gov).

CCES experts are here to assess your building and determine whether air source heat pumps or other technologies will reduce your energy usage and costs significantly as a worthwhile investment. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or 914-584-6720.