Heat pumps

Mass. regulator orders National Grid to set lower winter rate for heat pumps

The decision instructs the state’s second-largest utility to develop a more affordable wintertime electricity rate for customers who have a heat pump.

By Sarah Shemkus . 4 October 2024

A heat pump in Rangeley, Maine. (Kathryn Krawczyk / Energy News Network)

Heat pumps

10 questions to ask if you want to get a heat pump

Will you need to overhaul your electrical panel? What if you live in a cold climate? Will a heat pump save you money? We walk you through the basics.

By Julian Spector . 7 February 2023
Carbon-free buildings

Interactive: Turn this old house into your clean-energy dream home

How can you make a home more climate-friendly and more comfortable? Here's the technology you need, plus the steps to get you there.

By Alison F. Takemura . 6 February 2023
Geothermal

Here's a model for bringing geothermal to urban areas

Geothermal systems can cleanly heat and cool buildings, but they can be costly and complex to install, especially in cities. A Chicago building shows the way.

By Audrey Henderson . 20 December 2022
Energy efficiency

Leaky air ducts can undermine heat-pump performance. Aeroseal has a fix

After decades of steady growth, a tech that seals air ducts from the inside out may be poised to take off, thanks to new heat-pump and efficiency incentives.

By Jeff St. John . 9 December 2022
Geothermal

Dandelion Energy raises $70M to take geothermal heat pumps mainstream

The Google spinout installs ground-source heat pumps for households in the frigid Northeast. Now it’s got federal tax credits and energy inflation to help it make the pitch.

By Julian Spector . 21 November 2022
Podcast

Unleashing the magic of heat pumps

Despite all the buzz around this super-efficient technology, adoption of heat pumps has been slowing in the U.S. What gives?

Play

By Shayle Kann . 42 min . 10 November 2022
Heat pumps

Heat pumps now required for new homes in Washington state

New-build residences will have to install energy-efficient heat pumps starting in July as part of Washington’s ambitious efforts to curb carbon emissions.

By Maria Gallucci . 8 November 2022
Electrification

Lyft, Airbnb and other companies join forces to help you go electric

An unexpected coalition aims to assist Americans in taking advantage of the decarbonization benefits in the Inflation Reduction Act.

By Alison F. Takemura . 3 November 2022
Heat pumps

Heating will be costly this winter, but much less so with a heat pump

Federal forecasts have warned about high heating bills, yet they don't account for the much greater efficiency of electric pumps, says pro-electrification group Rewiring America.

By Jeff St. John . 31 October 2022
Heat pumps

Will tough standards for heat pump tax credits hurt adoption?

Industry insiders spar over whether the climate bill's $2,000 tax credit for heat pumps should require higher-efficiency models or loosen standards to expand the market.

By Jeff St. John . 17 October 2022