Pelham borders the Long Island Sound and is 10 miles northeast of Grand Central Station. Its 12,000 residents take advantage of the suburban lifestyle combined with the easy Manhattan commute. The oldest town in Westchester County contains 4,000 households ranging from studio apartments to large, single-family residences.
The 1916, five-bedroom colonial featured here blends classic Craftsman details with 21st century functionality. The homeowners wanted to reduce their carbon footprint by being less dependent on fossil fuels. The challenge then was to deliver effective and affordable climate control while lowering the home’s environmental impact. The solution was to switch to heat pumps.
Thermodynamix installed two Mitsubishi Hyper Heat Pumps and re-utilized the existing ductwork with minor tweaks to achieve that.
The homeowners insulated the attic with spray foam. The tight “envelope” helps reduce drafts to minimize heat loss.
Other equipment and project related activities include:
- 2 Mitsubishi SUZ Series Single-Room Mini-Split Outdoor Heat Pump Unit SUZKA30NAHZ
- 2 Single-Zone Indoor Ducted Air Handler SVZKP30NA
- Mitsubishi MHK2 Thermostat
- Decommission of Fossil Fuel Appliance
- Pump Down and Evacuate
- 3/8″ x 5/8″ Insulated Mini Split Line Set- 50′ Length (2)
- Ductless Mini Split 14-4 Wire 50′
- Mini Split Equipment Pads x2
- Quick Sling 1201
- R410A – per pound
- Slim Duct SD-100-W 6.5(10)
- Slim Duct SJ Coupling (5)
- Slim Duct Wall Inlet SW-100-W
- Existing ductwork modified for system integration
- 2, fiberglass-free insulation
- Externally mounted, auto restart unit with a powder coated finish on galvanized metal
The Energy Star units feature whisper quite operation suitable for bedrooms, offices, or sunrooms. Parts come with a manufacturer warranty of 10 years as well as an installation warranty of 1 year. The configuration is suitable for a single room or up to eight indoor units for multiple-room applications.
The multi-position ducted air handler provides powerful, quiet, and efficient cooling and heating solutions. The project qualified for $8,000 Con Ed rebate as well as $2,000 tax credit.
Heat Pumps in Cold Weather
Contrary to any misperception, heat pumps in Westchester work in freezing weather. The Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) has written specifications for manufacturers to report cold climate device performance. Many models can deliver heat in temperatures as low as -26°C.
Years ago, some early model heat pumps struggled in cold weather. However, the technology has progressed to the point where heat pumps are:
- used by homeowners in Alaska
- deployed in 40% to 60% of buildings in Norway, Sweden and Finland
The broad base use of heat pumps in Westchester and the coldest areas provides empirical evidence of their increased effectiveness.
Other FAQs About Heat Pumps
We are often asked to compare heat pumps to gas furnaces in terms of:
- Energy efficiency
- Input costs – natural gas versus electricity prices
- Environmental Impact
- Acquisition costs
- Expected life span or longevity
- Other pros and cons
The Coefficient of Performance (CP) is the ratio of heat produced compared to the amount of energy needed to produce it. For heat pumps, the CP is between 300% to 500%, meaning that 1 unit of electricity can generate up to 5 units of heat. Heat pumps operate similarly to a refrigerator:
- air is captured
- it is compressed with a liquid refrigerant to gas
- the gas is released at a higher temperature
- the gas cools, turns into liquid again
- the cycle repeats
By comparison, gas furnaces efficiency in converting fuel to energy, AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency), ranges from 0.8 to 0.95. An average model rates at 80% or 0.8 while a high-efficiency model rates at 95% AFUE.
The energy efficiency of heat pumps dwarfs that of furnaces by more than 3x. As long as the cost of electricity is less than triple the cost of natural gas, heat pumps enjoy an operating cost advantage.
Striving for Decarbonization – Individually and Collectively
Coal, natural gas, and petroleum accounted for 60% of the United States’ generated electricity in 2023. Renewable energy sources generate one-fifth of the US 4.2B kilowatt hours of electricity. Reduced dependency on fossil fuels has at least two benefits:
- insulation against oil price fluctuations
- lower greenhouse emissions
Heating buildings generate 4 giga-tons of CO2 annually – 10% of global emissions. Governments want both:
- a cleaner energy grid based on more renewable energy impacts supply
- more energy efficient homes and building impact demand
Heat pumps 3:1 energy efficiency has led governments to provide tax credits, rebates, and other incentives. At the individual home level, heat pumps can reduce energy emissions by 20% or more. With a cleaner energy grid, emissions can be reduced by up to 93% domestically.
Heat pumps offer the additional advantage of providing cooling to replace old or inefficient air conditioners. Numerous studies support that heat-pumps reduce emissions in every one of the continental United States.
Heat pumps lower emissions, even when the electricity is generated by coal or gas. The path to sustainable heating would benefit from supply-side decarbonization and heat pump proliferation from the demand-side. Even with R-410a refrigerants, heat pumps are less damaging to the environment.
New Construction or Retrofit
In 2022, heat pump sales in the U.S. surpassed gas furnace sales. While still more popular in the South, NY sales topped 37,000 units in the past year. New York’s electricity system is estimated to be powered 70% with renewable sources by 2030. As more New Yorkers embrace heat pumps, we get more calls for new construction and retrofit projects.
Whatever your home’s heating or cooling needs may be, reach out to us to review your options. To find out what it is like to work with us, read our reviews:
Call us at (914) 909-4108 to let us know about your project or objectives
