*Heat Pumps 101* Heat pumps are new to many of us and they can be hard to understand. But they offer:
· Great savings on operating costs in many situations · Cooling at no extra cost—no air conditioner needed · Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, especially when powered by renewably-sourced electricity · Access to generous subsidies through Commonwealth and federal programs Lincoln’s Green Energy Committee is committed to helping residents make their homes as energy efficient and sustainable as possible. Heat pumps are one way to do so. In fact, since residential heat accounts for about 30 percent of Lincoln’s greenhouse gas emissions, they are essential for meeting Massachusetts’ climate goals for 2030 and 2050. The Green Energy Committee has prepared a step-by-step guide <https://www.lincolngreenenergy.org/heat-pumps-101> to help you decide which heat pumps are right for your home and navigate the selection and installation process successfully. *1. Weatherize.* The first step before installing a heat pump is to weatherize your house so that it does not leak heat. The tighter the house, the smaller and less expensive the heat pump required. And the lower your energy bills will be for years to come. The guide will point you to sources that can help you learn about weatherization. *2. Learn. *Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships and HeatSmart Alliance are excellent sources of information that the guide will link to. In addition, Lincoln has its own expert, Belinda Gingrich, who works with *HeatSmart Alliance* ( [email protected]). You can also view a video about heat pumps presented by Lincoln’s Green Energy Committee. *3. Finance.* Generous rebates, tax credits and no-interest loans can help you finance a heat pump and weatherize your home for a lot less than you might expect. Explore these incentives and two examples of retrofitting your home in the guide. *4. Execute.* Probably the most important decision you will make in the course of this project is in the choice of an installer. The heat pump industry is still relatively young and there aren’t a lot of experienced installers yet. A good installer is critical to getting a heat pump system that’s right for you. It’s more important than for standard HVAC systems where most vendors have a lot of experience. Help for making that important decision (and more!) is in the guide. You can access the guide here <https://www.lincolngreenenergy.org/heat-pumps-101>. Good luck and let us know how your project goes! Michael Moodie
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