With heating and cooling accounting for some of the largest expenses for homeowners, it makes sense for your space to be equipped with one high-efficiency appliance to keep costs low.
Try an air source heat pump
A smart, all-in-one solution is to install an air source heat pump (ASHP), which handles both your heating and cooling needs.
How an ASHP works
It functions in the summer months by extracting the existing heat from inside your home and moving it outside, often outperforming standard central air conditioners. The cycle is reversed for heating: by extracting warmth from the outdoor air and pumping it into your home, you can run your furnace less. During the spring and fall, you may not even need to run it at all!
The efficiency of an ASHP
An ASHP achieves all this while consuming up to 72 percent less electricity than conventional air conditioners and furnaces, leaving you with a savings of up to 30 percent on your electric bill. Earlier generations of ASHPs were limited in terms of their effectiveness in states with colder climates like Minnesota’s, but technology has advanced to where they can now operate as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
What an expert from Great River Energy has to say
“With the recent advancements in ASHP technology, they can now be used to cost-effectively deliver a much larger portion of the heating needs of homes and businesses in cold-climate areas such as Minnesota,” said Rodney De Fouw, member electrification strategist at Great River Energy. “In rural areas where natural gas is not available, using ASHPs for heating is now commonly the most cost-effective heating option available for the vast majority of the heating season. This is especially true if you can take advantage of programs and rate options available through your local electric cooperative.”
The perks of an ASHP
Beyond cost savings, they provide additional benefits such as higher-quality warmth compared to conventional furnaces as the ASHP distributes heat more evenly and holds moisture better, which results in a natural, comfortable warmth. They also provide a safe, environmentally-friendly solution for home comfort conditioning. They don’t use an open flame or create products of combustion—such as carbon monoxide—so there is no need for venting.
How your cooperative can help
Part of your electric cooperative’s mission is to help you use energy wisely by offering a variety of programs, resources and products to make this possible. Cooperatives offer rebates up to $2,000 based on your SEER rating and financing as low as 0 percent on new ASHP systems.
How to get started
For more information on what your cooperative can do to provide you with an energy-efficient ASHP, including rebates, visit energywisemn.com or contact your cooperative for more information.