Residential Heating and Cooling Rebate Program
This public benefit program offers rebates to residential electric customers when they purchase and install new energy-efficient heat pump or air conditioning systems in their homes.
There are two types of air conditioners and heat pumps – split systems and packaged units. For split systems, both the condenser and the evaporative coil must be “new” and replaced at the time of installation. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) must meet the specifications for the appropriate types of systems as stated below. Both the condensing unit and the evaporative coil model numbers must be listed in combination on the AHRI Directory and meet the efficiency requirements as a combination to qualify.
Heat Pumps vs Air Conditioning
When controlling the temperature of your home you have a few options; the most common of which are air conditioning and heat pumps. While both systems can heat and cool your home, there are a few differences between the two types of systems.
- Heat pumps can pump hot air into a home to help heat it, while air conditioners cannot and rely on a furnace system to provide heat.
- Heat pumps don’t work well in climates that experience freezing weather, while air conditioners are typically better suited for more extreme climates.
- Air conditioners cost less but can have higher utility cost, while heat pumps work more efficiently.
How does a Heat Pump work?
To cool your home, the heat pump transfers heat from the air inside the home to the outside air. To perform this function, a heat pump works like a central air conditioning system. It has three main components: a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator coil. These parts are responsible for converting the working chemical known as a refrigerant from a gas to a liquid and back again. The indoor unit, which contains the evaporator coil, removes undesirable indoor warmth and humidity from the air. The outdoor unit, which contains the condenser and compressor, expels the heat that was captured indoors.
When an air-source heat pump is heating your home, the cooling cycle is reversed. The outdoor unit absorbs heat from the outside air and moves it into the home. A heat pump can do this because heat exists in all air down to absolute zero (-460 F or -273 c). Even cold winter air contains heat.