Heat Pumps to Heat and Cool Your Home

The outdoor condenser of a heat pump

Reducing emissions to mitigate climate change means heating your home using clean, renewable electricity rather than fossil fuels such as heating oil or fracked gas.

Electric heat pumps can efficiently heat your home in winter and cool it in summer. They are typically around three times more efficient than baseboard electric heaters and they also cool the rooms efficiently. They move heat energy rather than producing it by burning fuel.

Different kinds of heat pumps and how they work

Selecting, purchasing, and installing a heat pump

Resources to learn more

Different kinds of heat pumps and how they work

There are two types of heat pump systems: air source and ground source (also known as geothermal). Ground source heat pumps are more efficient than air source heat pumps, but they are significantly more expensive to install, since they require drilling a well to exchange heat with the ground.

Among air source heat pump systems, there are ducted heat pump systems for buildings that have air ducts, and ductless mini-split heat pumps that involve wall-mounted blower units rather than air ducts.

Both ducted and ductless mini-split heat pump systems require one or more outdoor condensers. These condensers capture heat energy from outdoor air in winter; in summer the process is reversed to transfer heat energy from the building to the outdoors, eliminating the need for separate air conditioners.

The standard ground-source, or geothermal, heat pump, is built to serve a single home or building. A variation is “networked geothermal”, in which several buildings are connected to the same underground pipework via their building-specific heat pumps. Eversource, with state approval, has begun one of the first-in-the-nation pilot projects in Framingham to serve 45 buildings, 30 of which are residential homes. 

There are many good resources to learn about heat pumps. We cite these sources below. Here we recommend the Energy Star website for an explanation of how a heat pump works.  

Selecting, purchasing, and installing a heat pump

Here are six steps to replace your heating and cooling system with efficient heat pumps.

Step 1 – Begin your project by scheduling a free home energy assessment. A record of the assessment will be filed with Mass Save. There are a number of benefits. The assessment will help upgrade your home’s current energy efficiency (see Step 2); and it is a prerequisite to obtaining rebates and favorable financing (see Step 6).

Step 2 - Complete any additional insulation or weatherization that's identified by the energy assessment. Even if you decide not to replace your furnace and air conditioner with heat pumps, insulating will save you money on your energy bills. Mass Save not only recommends these energy-saving opportunities, but it typically subsidizes 75% to 100% of the cost of insulation and weatherization. 

Step 3 – Select an installer and a heat pump brand and model for your project. Mass Save lists certified installers by location. Meet with multiple installers to hear their price estimates, since prices can vary widely from installer to installer. In addition to considering the price, you should also look up the energy efficiency of the brand and model being proposed by each installer. You can find that information from the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) website. The higher the Coefficient of Performance (COP), the more efficient the heat pump system, and the more money you will save over the life of the system. (If you can't figure out how to use this web site, volunteers in our Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program can help you.) Note that other factors such as system size and configuration also play a role in determining overall efficiency, so listen closely to each installer and try to understand how they propose to maximize the efficiency of the system. Also, to ensure your eligibility for a rebate, the heat pump should be included in the Mass Save Heat Pump Qualified Product List. 

Step 4 - Once you have chosen a Mass Save certified installer and a qualified heat pump product, and obtained a written price quote, decide if you want to apply for a 7-year, zero percent Mass Save HEAT Loan through a local bank or credit union. 

Step 5 - Give the installer a deposit and schedule the installation. This typically takes two or three days for an average sized home. Your installer should tell you what to expect. The balance will typically be due upon completion of the work.

Step 6 – When the system is in place and paid for, you can apply for your Mass Save rebate of up to $10,000-$16,000 (depending on one’s income). Also, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, federal tax law now allows a tax credit for heat pumps of up to $2,000 (see IRS, Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit). Mass Save certified installers will provide you with an invoice and an application form, and assist you with the rebate application process when the heat pump system has been installed and paid for. It typically takes at least six weeks to get the rebate check. Mass Save provides a webpage to track the progress of your rebate application.

Consider an SSC Partner Company. To help residents with the process of installing heat pumps, Sustainable Sharon Coalition has partnered with local companies, based on recommendations from Sharon residents and SSC members. For more information, see our Initiative: Engage SSC Partners for Your Home’s Heat Pump. 

Resources to learn more

Here are some resources and links for more information.

  • Mass Save’s main page on heat pumps describes how they work and the common types (air source and ground source), and offers advantages and considerations.

Please consider Sustainable Sharon Coalition's free Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program if (1) you own or have experience with the items described on this page and are willing to be a volunteer advisor, or (2) you have questions about a possible project or purchase and would like to discuss it with another Sharon resident.

Page Updated December 2023