(image source: DOE)
If you’re like us, you’re probably seeing a lot of talk about heat pumps in your news feed. And some of it is pretty dramatic – like when climate activist Bill McKibben proposed “heat pumps for peace and freedom.”
The New York Times / Wirecutter provides one of the most comprehensive and accessible heat pump guides we’ve seen recently. If you have air conditioning, you already rely on a heat pump to keep your home comfortable in the summer. That’s on top of the other heat pump you probably wouldn’t live without – your refrigerator. But heat pumps can do more than make ice cubes or cool down the inside of your house on a hot day – they can run in “reverse” to move heat into your home during the winter. Providing both heating and cooling is a pretty neat trick, but even more impressive is that by electrifying your heating and cooling, heat pumps help us reduce or eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels.
If you’re looking for more technical details on how heat pumps work, the Department of Energy’s pages on air-source, geothermal, and ductless mini-split heat pumps will get you well on your way to being an expert. For the visual learners among us, after countless YouTube searches, we think we’ve found the best explainer from PBS’ This Old House – enjoy!
Unsure about swapping your HVAC equipment, but looking to learn more about the efficiency of your home? As you consider investing in new equipment, you’ll want to ensure you have good insulation and air sealing in order to drive down the total amount of energy your home consumes.
PSE&G offers four distinct programs to help customers identify energy-saving solutions, have energy-efficient products installed, and receive upgrades that may be available at no cost, or that qualify for rebates and interest-free, on-bill payment.
Have you participated in any of these programs? Let us know how it went! We’re eager to share up-to-date information and first-hand accounts with other neighbors.
Sustainable Princeton is a non-partisan, non-profit organization in Princeton, NJ with a mission to inspire our community to develop and implement solutions that positively impact our environment. It’s our vision that Princeton be a model town that examines every action through the lens of sustainability ensuring a healthy environment, a strong economy, and the wellbeing of all community members now and in the future.
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