Latest news with #heatpump
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
What Size Heat Pump Should You Buy for Your Home?
It's summer, and that means your home is going to need cooling if you want to stay comfortable as the temperatures rise. Although you could add a few of the best window air conditioners to cool down your home, but a good heat pump system might be the better option for you. It's always a good idea to keep an eye on the thermostat, but choosing the right technology can make it even easier to maintain the perfect temperature. Heat pumps can be a great option for homeowners. They offer a few benefits -- they're up to 50% cheaper to run than standard central air conditioners, according to the US Department of Energy. They're also useful in both hot and cold weather. If you're among the 78% of US adults stressed out about energy bills, as found in a recent CNET survey, you would do well to pick the right heat pump. If you want to get the best out of a heat pump, it's crucial to choose the right size for your home. You should avoid spending money on a pump that's too powerful for your needs and needs more energy, or one that's too weak for your needs and needs to run harder to keep up with the space. So how do you pick the right one? We've got all the answers to your questions, below. The importance of finding the right size heat pump It might seem like the size of your heat pump isn't that important. After all, what's the worst that can happen if it's a bit too small or too large? You might be surprised to learn just how important it is to find the right size. Having a heat pump that's either too small or too large can result in unnecessarily high energy costs. If your heat pump is too small for your home, it likely won't work properly. You could end up paying higher heating and cooling bills because the heat pump will struggle to heat and cool your home. Because the heat pump has to work harder to get your home to the right temperature, you can also expect to pay higher repair and maintenance costs. On the other hand, oversized heat pumps will produce more energy than you need, which wastes energy and reduces efficiency. Google's Nest Thermostat is a steal at $130 Google's Nest Thermostat is a steal at $130 Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 2:21 Loaded : 4.21% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 2:21 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Google's Nest Thermostat is a steal at $130 How to size a heat pump There are a couple of different methods you can use to find the right size heat pump for your home: Manual J and square footage. We'll discuss each of those in further detail below. Manual J Manual J calculation is the industry standard of sizing a heat pump. It was established by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America to help determine the proper size heat pump for your home based on eight different factors. The eight factors that Manual J considers are: The local climate, including how many days per year you need heating and cooling Your home's square footage and layout How many windows you have and where they're located Your home's air filtration The insulation quality in your home How many people live in your home Your preferred temperature Heat-generating appliances in your home Square footage There are a lot of factors that go into calculating your heat pump size, and it can be complicated to determine how each of those affects your heat pump needs. Luckily, there's a simpler approach you can take to choose the right size heat pump. In general, every 500 square feet of your home will require one ton of air conditioning capacity. Here are some guidelines to help you determine how many tons you'll need: 500 square feet: 1 ton 1,000 square feet: 2 tons 1,500 square feet: 3 tons 2,000 square feet: 4 tons 2,500 square feet: 5 tons 3,000 square feet: 6 tons It's also important to know what each ton equals in BTUs, or British thermal units, which is the measurement used to determine heat pump sizing. Use this chart to help you determine the BTUs needed for your home: Heat pump size guide undefined Home size (in square feet) Heat pump size (in tons) Heat pump size (in BTUs) 500 square feet 1 ton 12,000 BTUs 1,000 square feet 2 tons 24,000 BTUs 1,500 square feet 3 tons 36,000 BTUs 2,000 square feet 4 tons 48,000 BTUs 2,500 square feet 5 tons 60,000 BTUs 3,000 square feet 6 tons 72,000 BTUs Once you know the appropriate number of BTUs required for your home's heat pump, you can start shopping for the right one. Remember that you can also work with an HVAC expert who can help offer some guidelines and advice. The bottom line Finding the right heat pump size for your home is critical when it comes to saving money on energy and keeping your home at the right temperature in both the winter and summer. Sizing your heat pump may seem difficult at first, but it's actually pretty simple to figure out. And luckily, there are plenty of heat pump sizing calculators available online to simplify the process further. And once you know what size heat pump you need, the process of finding the right one should be a breeze. Keep reading to learn more about heating and cooling your home:
Entrepreneur
10-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Turning Up the Heat
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. What if running a heat pump business felt less like drowning in spreadsheets and more like sailing through a well-oiled system? Imagine a world where quotes took minutes instead of days, surveys were pre-filled, designs generated instantly, and paperwork… well, just happened. Not in a dozen different programs or clunky PDFs, but in one seamless platform. In a country racing to decarbonise 26m homes, that vision is more than a luxury - it's a necessity. Step forward Spruce, a rising UK climate tech startup co-founded by Joseph Saxby and Steph Willis in 2023. Spruce is reshaping the heat pump industry by creating something deceptively simple: software designed specifically to enable the people doing the work. At its core, Spruce isn't about disrupting the installer - it's about empowering them. And it's clearly working: within 18 months they're now working with over 500 installation businesses, suppliers, and manufacturers. The installer's reality Running a heat pump business in the UK today is not for the faint-hearted. Ask any independent installer, and you'll hear the same story: long days, low margins, and a worrying amount of time spent on tasks that have little to do with actually fitting heat pumps. Instead of growing their businesses or training new engineers, they're stuck juggling incoming enquiries - most of which never convert - collecting and processing data manually, or wrestling with reams of compliance paperwork. For many, the admin burden is a full-time job on top of a full-time job. The result? Skilled engineers get bogged down. Ambitious companies stall. And newcomers, watching from the sidelines, hesitate to enter an industry that seems laden in inefficiency. This, Spruce argues, is exactly where change must start. Tools to untangle the tangle Spruce's solution isn't a silver bullet- it's a toolkit. One designed not in a boardroom, but through countless conversations with engineers and installation firms navigating these challenges day-to-day. Their Estimate Tool is the first line of defence: it allows installers to filter and respond to incoming enquiries in minutes, not days - quickly separating the serious customers from the time-wasters. Next comes the Survey & Design Tool, which manages heat loss surveys, system design, and reporting. And finally the Paperwork Tool automates all the compliance and admin required, saving almost a whole day's work on every job. But real brilliance lies in collaboration. Where once there were manual data transfers and repeat inputs across different systems, Spruce offers a single workflow, where information flows naturally from one step to the next. And now installers can work with subcontractors and manufacturers in one place, without any need to email PDFs and Excels back-and-forth. The platform doesn't just save time - it transforms how that time is used. Installers can focus on doing what they're trained to do: deliver great work, support customers, and grow their businesses. As Jason Hobbins from Energy My Way puts it: "Spruce is a brilliant innovation which saves us time and increases our conversion rates." Why the installer matters No-one at Spruce is under no illusion about the scale of the climate transition. But while much of the net zero conversation hovers around carbon targets, grant funding, and future tech, they've placed their bet elsewhere - on the overlooked tradespeople tasked with delivering it all. The team believes the key to unlocking mass adoption of heat pumps isn't just more grants or cheaper units - it's putting installers front and centre. That means building systems around their real-world needs, smoothing the path from enquiry to installation, and ultimately making the job more attractive to the next generation of engineers. In that way, Spruce is part of a new wave of climate start-ups that see usability as the linchpin of progress. Innovation only works if people can actually use it today. And in a sector where trust is earned slowly and disruption is often viewed with suspicion, Spruce's approach - build with, not for - has helped it rapidly gain early traction. More than admin relief There's a quiet power in Spruce's mission. It doesn't aim to dominate headlines or reinvent heating technology itself. Instead, it focuses on making life easier for those at the coalface of clean energy transition. Because for every bold carbon target, there are thousands of individual jobs that need doing - each one requiring someone to quote, survey, design, install, and follow up. Spruce's insight is simple: if you make that person's life easier, and their customers happier, everything else moves faster. While much of the industry grapples with policy, pricing, and public awareness, Spruce is cutting through the logistical gridlock at the core of the system. If the UK truly wants to meet its heat pump targets, success won't come from ambition alone - it will require smarter, more effective tools. And that's exactly what Spruce is delivering.
The Independent
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Take up of heat pumps ‘may be boosted if households shown running cost savings'
Many households may switch to a heat pump if they had a better idea of how much money it could save them over the longer-term in running costs, a report indicates. Banking and finance industry body UK Finance, which released the findings, said a blend of targeted policy measures is needed to encourage homeowners, landlords, and housing associations to retrofit their properties with 'green' technology. Its Unlocking Demand for Green Home Finance report used YouGov research to show the attitudes of UK consumers specifically towards heat pump technology. It said the UK needs to install around 1.5 million heat pumps per year by 2035 to meet its carbon reduction goals. The research indicated that 54% of people felt the main barrier discouraging them from getting a heat pump was the up-front cost. But 44% said they would switch if they were provided with a clear idea of the savings in running costs. The report set out various recommendations, including establishing a government-led body or group to drive collaboration; launching a public awareness campaign with independent guidance; and providing grants, subsidies, and a coordinated plan to train sufficient tradespeople. Clear long-term expectations should also be set, so that households and firms can make preparations and energy efficiency metrics should also be updated, UK Finance said. Ian Bhullar, director of sustainability policy at UK Finance said: 'To meet our ambitious targets on greening the UK's housing stock we need to drive demand and convince the public of the benefits. 'Lenders are committed to playing their part and through the Government's Warm Homes Plan we have the opportunity to really make a difference. 'Increasing demand for green home improvements will bring significant benefits, stimulate job creation, drive innovation, and reinforce the UK's energy security in an increasingly volatile global market.' More than 4,200 UK adults took part in the research in December 2024, among whom nearly 4,000 did not have a heat pump.
CNET
13-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
From Heating Oil to Heat Pump: One Homeowner's Savings Story
Heating and cooling your home make up the biggest chunk of your home's energy costs. But not enough people are considering a heat pump as a solution. The Energy Information Administration data shows 31% of energy consumption comes from air conditioning and space heating. It's no wonder CNET's latest energy cost survey found 78% of Americans are stressed out about their utility bills. While these energy-efficient HVAC systems have gained popularity in recent years -- outpacing gas furnaces for the past three years -- the same CNET survey also showed only 14% of respondents plan to upgrade to a heat pump to help reduce those energy costs. At CNET, we are big fans of heat pumps because of their efficiency and ability to both heat and cool your home by transferring heat rather than generating it. While heat pumps are often advertised as a money-saving home upgrade, the actual savings depend on where you live, electricity rates and the HVAC system you're replacing. So, how much can you really save with a heat pump? We asked home electrification expert and Pennsylvania homeowner Wael Kanj, who is also a senior researcher at Rewiring America, a nonprofit that advocates for home electrification efforts. A heat pump case study: Pennsylvania Heat pumps are an energy-efficient way to keep your home comfortable year-round. Heat pumps run on electricity and move heat from inside your home to outside to cool it. Then it reverses the process for heating by pumping the heat inside. We spoke with a homeowner in Pennsylvania who tracked their heating and cooling costs for the past nine years. The home was built in the late 1950s and used an air conditioner and heating oil before installing a heat pump in January 2022. Prior to installing a heat pump, the homeowner's electricity costs included air conditioning, lights and home appliances. In 2019, the homeowner completed an energy audit to evaluate the home's efficiency and made weatherization improvements in 2020. We reviewed their energy cost data to assess the overall energy savings from switching to a heat pump compared with using electricity and heating oil. Before installing a heat pump, the homeowner's average electricity bill totaled $138 per month. After the heat pump, their average bill increased to $153. While the homeowner's total electricity costs increased, they saved on total heating and cooling expenses by installing a heat pump. Here's how. Total energy costs The following table displays the total costs for heating and electricity from 2016 to 2024. There's a significant decrease in overall costs after heat pump installation in 2022. Year Annual energy cost 2016 $2,800 2017 $2,700 2018 $4,000 2019 $3,050 2020 $2,100 2021 $2,500 2022 $1,700 2023 $1,900 2024 $1,850 Does a heat pump save you money? The short answer is yes, heat pumps save you money. But how much you save depends on the system you're replacing, how much energy you use and where you live. Your electricity bill might go up because heat pumps use electricity for both heating and cooling. But heat pumps will save money overall because you won't pay for heating fuels. Natural gas is cheaper than delivered fuels, like propane or heating oil. So if you're replacing delivered fuels, you will save more than someone replacing a natural gas heating system. You can determine your home's potential energy savings using the Energy Star calculator or Rewiring America Personal Electrification Planner. Energy savings depend on where you live As mentioned, location plays a big role in potential heat pump savings due to the climate, home size, insulation and energy costs. In cold climates where heat is used more frequently, those using delivered fuels will save more money with a heat pump than those using natural gas. However, some are concerned that extreme cold temperatures affect heat pump efficiency. "A lot of folks will probably hear heat pumps don't work where it's really cold. And that's just not true," Kanj said. "Many of the modern heat pumps work into negative Fahrenheit temperatures." For example, the Mitsubishi H2i still keeps working down to minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit. Below these temperatures, heat pumps can lose efficiency and need more energy to operate. Electricity costs in your area can also impact how much you save with a heat pump. Homes with poor insulation or drafty doors and windows may use more electricity to maintain indoor temperatures. Kanj recommends a home energy audit to make your home as efficient as possible. Expensive electric bills might be an issue for those in states with high rates, such as Hawaii, Connecticut and Texas. But heat pumps are more efficient than traditional systems, so it may not be as much as you think. For example, the Pennsylvania homeowner's electricity bill increased by only $15 after switching to a heat pump, and they still saved money overall by eliminating heating oil costs. It depends on your heating fuel The type of fuel you use for heating impacts how much money you can save with a heat pump. "If folks are using delivered fuels in their household, then we think there's a high likelihood those would save by switching to a heat pump," Kanj said. "Folks in the southeast and areas with more tempered climates have a higher likelihood of saving money too." The homeowner from the Pennsylvania case study saved $800 in their first year with a heat pump compared with the previous year using air conditioning and heating oil. The estimated annual savings from switching to a heat pump from delivered fuels is $810 more than switching from natural gas. "The savings in natural gas is less, but if you live in a place where you use more air conditioning a heat pump could help you save more," Kanj said. Heat pumps may not drastically reduce your bill if you already have cheap heating fuel, like natural gas. But prices are expected to rise in 2025. So installing a heat pump offers long-term energy efficiency, savings and potential environmental benefits when powered by renewable sources like solar energy. Heat pump savings comparison Here's how much you could save with a heat pump based on your current fuel type, according to Rewiring America. Fuel type Annual estimated savings Delivered fuels (propane or heating oil) $840 Furnace or baseboard heat $780 Natural gas $60 How much does it cost to run a furnace and air conditioner? Heating and cooling costs vary, and your heating fuel also plays a major role. Natural gas, electricity, propane and heating fuel are the most popular heating fuels, but usage varies by region. Natural gas is the most common heating fuel, used in 47% of US households. It's the main source in the northeast, the Midwest and the West. Electricity is more common in the South where winters are milder. Generally, heating and cooling costs are more expensive in regions with extreme temperatures. For example, Massachusetts uses more heat in the winter than warmer climates like Florida. This means homeowners in colder climates spend more on heating, while those in hotter areas pay more for air conditioning. The type of heating fuel also impacts your costs. Natural gas tends to be cheaper than electricity or delivered fuels, like propane and oil. Here's an idea of how location and heating source affect costs based on EIA data. State Average natural gas usage (million British thermal units) Average annual heating cost Primary heating source Details Hawaii 30.3 $1,538 Minimal heating (6%) Warm climate, only 57% homes use AC Alaska 125.1 $1,509 Space heating (99% use) Cold climate, only 7% homes use AC North Dakota 94.3 $1,648 Natural gas Cold climate, higher heating costs due to natural gas use Florida 50.3 $1,654 Electricity Mild winters, high cooling costs due to AC use The different types of heat pumps Air-source heat pumps are the most common type, but you have other options to choose from based on your home and budget.
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Workers could pay for heat pumps using salary sacrifice
Homeowners who ditch their gas boilers for a heat pump could pay back the cost of installation through salary sacrifice schemes under plans being considered by Ed Miliband. The proposal would allow salaried employees to repay their loan in monthly instalments that come out of their pre-tax income, saving money overall as they pay less towards national insurance and income tax. It would be similar to salary sacrifice schemes already in place for electric vehicles, which have been credited with boosting uptake among drivers. Mr Miliband, the Energy Secretary, is looking to expand the schemes on offer as a way of helping consumers with the similarly high costs of switching to a heat pump, according to energy companies. According to data provider MCS, the typical cost of installing an air source heat pump – the most common kind – is still about £5,500 after government grants are applied. On Monday, the Government did not rule out making salary sacrifice options available for heat pump purchases but it is understood there are no immediate plans being drawn up. The proposal would likely be more complicated to introduce than the equivalent EV scheme, however, given that heating systems are not typically leased. However, The Electric Car Scheme, which runs salary sacrifice schemes for client companies, said payments on a heat pump costing £14,760, spread over three years, could effectively be reduced from £410 to just £295 using the tax perk. Thom Groot, the chief executive of the company, said: 'We know that the government is seriously considering adding heat pumps to the hugely successful legislation covering salary sacrifice EVs and would welcome their introduction. 'Including these sustainable technologies would provide a meaningful boost to both our net zero goals and the economic growth that Rachel Reeves has made a central pillar of her policy.' Trevor Hutchings, the chief executive of the Renewable Energy Association, added: 'The growing uptake of EVs has been driven in many cases by the hugely successful salary sacrifice provision that makes them cheaper for consumers. 'Extending this to include renewable technologies like heat pumps and solar could provide the industry with a much-needed boost, one that industry estimates could translate into roughly 600,000 Heat Pump and renewable heating installations by 2030.' A government spokesman said: 'We are helping more people install heat pumps, including with our £7,500 grant – and supporting industry to develop financing models that can remove the upfront cost entirely. 'We are consulting on expanding the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to support new approaches, such as heat pump subscriptions, to help more households make the switch to cleaner heating in a way that works for them.'
