Heat Pump Technology

High Efficiency Heat Pumps

Heat and cool your home up to 2-3 times more efficiently with a cold weather, high efficiency heat pump. Rather than using fuel combustion to generate new heat like other conventional HVAC systems, heat pumps use technology similar to that of your refrigerator and transfer heat from one area to another. Because they transfer heat, they are dual purpose in that they can effectively transfer heat into your home – even in New Hampshire’s frigid winters- and then out of your home- during our hot and humid summers.

Heat Pump Water Heater

Second only to heating and cooling, your water heater typically consumes the second largest amount of energy use in your home. Switch to a heat pump water heater which can be up to four times more efficient than a conventional electric water heater, with annual savings of up to $550 for a family of four.

Heat Pump Programs

NHEC provides heat pump incentives for members installing heat pumps in existing buildings or in new construction. These rebates are available to members of New Hampshire Electric Cooperative while funding is available.
  • Air-Source Heat Pump Incentive
    • $250 per ton (Standard Incentive)
  • Whole House Incentive
    • $250 per ton (This incentive is in addition to the Standard Incentive)
    • For those members who install enough qualified heat pumps equipment that it offsets at least 80% of total load of the home. Primary fuel types are oil, propane, kerosene, wood, and pellets.
    • Verification required.
  • Weatherization Incentive
    • $250 per ton (This incentive is in addition to the Standard Incentive)
    • For those members who are also participating in Home Energy Performance with ENERGY STAR® program and install qualified heat pump equipment within the same program year.
  • Electric Resistance Retro-fit Incentive
    • $1,250.00 per ton
    • For those members who install enough qualified heat pumps equipment that it offsets 80% at least of total load of the home. Primary heat source must be electric resistance.
    • Verification required.
  • Cooling ONLY Air-Source Heat Pump Incentive
    • $70 per ton
  • Wi-Fi Thermostat Incentive
    • $85.00 per unit (In conjunction with a qualified heat pump installation)

Compare & Calculate Your Savings

For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house and during the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors. Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide equivalent space conditioning at as little as one quarter of the cost of operating conventional heating or cooling appliances.

Compare the Savings Between Your Fuel Source & Heat Pumps

Heat Pumps are one of the most cost-effective methods to heat your home. See the chart below for a comparison of how your fuel type compares to Air Source Heat Pumps.

Fuel typePrice UnitHeat Content Per Unit (BTU)System efficiencyPrice Per million BTU
Fuel Oil (#2)$4.82/gallon138,50080%$23.38
Propane$3.79/gallon91,33380%$43.04
Kerosene$5.71/gallon135,00080%$29.34
Electricity-Resistance Heat$0.2883/kWh3,412100%$48.52
Electricity-Air Source Heat Pump$0.29/kWh3,412250%$19.41
Wood Pellets (Bulk Delivered ton)$335.3416,500,00080%$23.64
Wood Pellets (Bag Ton)$279.0016,500,00080%$22.58
Wood (cord)$391.2520,000,00050%$33.42

Source: as of August 10, 2022  NH Office of Strategic Initiatives