The Most Sustainable Ways to Heat and Cool
Your Home
OSU Green Home Workshop 5-16-17
Nate Adams
Energy Smart Home Performance
nate@energysmartohio.com
Heating and Cooling Our Homes Takes Energy
Credit: Pixabay
What kind of energy?
Fossil Renewable
Renewable = Electric
Go Renewable Today For Almost Nothing.
Google PUCO. Select your supplier.
Go Renewable Today For Almost Nothing.
Select 76-100% renewable content. Switch.
All Electric = Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are air conditioners that can heat as well as cool.
Never buy an air conditioner again. Only heat pumps.
Heat Pumps
Moving heat.
Not making heat.
Making Heat
Moving Heat
Cold air
contains heat!
Making Heat Moving Heat
= 2x to 5x the energy of
Conclusion:
Heat Pumps Rock!
Moving heat.
Not making heat.
Two Options
Ground Source
aka Geothermal
Air Source
Ground Source
Pros
Cons
New Development: Efficiencies are getting much closer.
Ground Source
aka Geothermal
Air Source
Ground Source Example
Uncomfortable Home, No $ left
Conclusion:
Ground source may be worth considering for 5000 square foot+ homes and commercial buildings
Air Source
Pros
Cons
Air Source: Two Options
Mini Split
Standard Split
Mini Split
Inside
Outside
Mini Split
Pros
Cons
Standard Split: Two Options
Heat Pump Only
Hybrid: Heat Pump On Top of Furnace
Standard Split: Heat Pump Only
Inside
Outside
Heat pump looks like furnace
Heat pump is on legs to stay above snow
What Happens On
Really Cold Days?
Backup Heat
Heat Pump Only
Pros
Cons
Standard Split: Hybrid
Inside
Outside
Furnace
Heat pump on top of furnace instead of AC
Same outdoor unit
Hybrid System
Pros
Cons
Don’t Heat Pumps Cost More?
A Tale of Two Similar Houses
Furnace
Heat Pump Only
Don’t Heat Pumps Cost More?
A Tale of Two Similar Houses
Don’t Heat Pumps Cost More?
A Tale of Two Houses
Cost to Operate
12/15 - 12/16
$1813.62
$151/mo
Don’t Heat Pumps Cost More?
A Tale of Two Houses
Cost to Operate
12/15 - 12/16
$1813.62
($151/mo)
Cost to Operate
12/15 - 12/16
$1730.00
($144/mo)
What about a mild winter?
A Tale of Two Houses
Cost to Operate
4/16 - 4/17 (Mild Winter)
$1706.59
($142/mo)
Cost to Operate
4/16 - 4/17 (Mild Winter)
$1450.68
($121/mo)
Don’t Heat Pumps Cost More?
A Tale of Two Houses
This is with natural gas at record low prices.
Conclusion:
Air source heat pumps aren’t necessarily more expensive to run than gas furnaces.
Energy Price Volatility?
Energy Price Volatility?
Energy Prices?
Will electricity costs go down while fossil fuel costs go up?
If heat pumps make sense today, what about when electricity is cheaper?
Energy Prices?
When you buy a furnace, you are making a 15-20 year commitment to fossil fuels.
Are you sure that’s wise?
*I could be completely wrong here, too...
Here’s my future bet:
Heat Pump Only
Most Sustainable Way to Heat and Cool Your Home:
Heat Pump Only
But.
It requires design.
The Home Performance Project
Before Foam w/ Heat Pump
Leaky: 4610 cfm50
After Foam w/ Heat Pump
Tight: 1860 cfm50
The Home Performance Project
Before Foam w/ Heat Pump
Leaky: 4610 cfm50
24,289 kWh/yr
After Foam w/ Heat Pump
Tight: 1860 cfm50
Energy Use Intensity 48.7 (Top 79%)
Energy Use Intensity is total annual fuel usage (electricity, gas, propane, etc.) divided by square footage.
The Home Performance Project
Before Foam w/ Heat Pump
Leaky: 4610 cfm50
24,289 kWh/yr
After Foam w/ Heat Pump
Tight: 1860 cfm50
12,161 kWh/yr
The Home Performance Project
50% less usage after air sealing!
(To be fair, it was a harsh winter vs. a mild one.)
Energy Use Intensity: 24.5 (Top 93%)
The Home Performance Project
A 1918 Cleveland home is performing in the top 93% of Ohio homes under 2550 square feet!
(Only after a Home Performance project.)
Conclusion:
Design and air sealing are critical for optimum heat pump performance:
Work with a Home Performance Specialist.
Best Paths to Heat and Cool Your Home Sustainably
First, switch electric suppliers to a 100% renewable one. Google PUCO.
Best Paths to Heat and Cool Your Home Sustainably
Home Performance Process
Best Paths to Heat and Cool Your Home Sustainably
Heat Pumps
Ground Source Air Source
Mini Split Standard Split
Hybrid Heat Pump Only
Residential Heat Pumps
Ground Source
(Geothermal)
Air Source
Mini Split
Standard Split
Heat Pump Only
Hybrid
(Heat pump on top of furnace)
Best Paths to Heat and Cool Your Home Sustainably
Hybrid
Heat Pump Only
Best Paths to Heat and Cool Your Home Sustainably
Don’t forget to design for a Healthy Home/Good Indoor Air Quality
Want to know more?
See our case studies
Want to know more?
The Most Sustainable Ways to Heat and Cool
Your Home
OSU Green Home Workshop 5-16-17
Nate Adams
Energy Smart Home Performance
nate@energysmartohio.com