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☆ Carrier, the century-old inventor of the air conditioner, is moving on to the home heat pump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Bob Woods | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Andrew Aitchison | In Pictures | Getty ImagesIn case you haven't noticed, heat pumps are hot. But there are other reasons why heat pumps are fast becoming popular with homeowners. All of this is transforming Carrier Global , the nearly 100-year-old manufacturer whose founder, Willis Carrier, invented air conditioning. Heat pumps have a history dating back to 1850s The thermodynamic science behind heat pumps was developed in the 1850s, when the first ones were invented, and they've been used in homes since the 1960s. Heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer.

Persons: CARR, Andrew Aitchison, Willis Carrier, David Gitlin, Carrier, Hakan Yilmaz, Yilmaz, they've, Michael Kretschmer, Sebastian Kowalski, Kretschmer, Tobie Stanger, Dave Lis, Viessmann, Milena Oliveira, Oliveira, Mark Prodan, Prodan, There's Organizations: Carrier Global, United Technologies, Solutions, East Trade Policy, Getty, International Energy Agency ., U.S . Climate Alliance, Consumer, Energy Efficiency, Carrier, M, Energy Star Locations: Gardens , Florida, Saxony, Leipzig, America, U.S, Maine, Michigan, Indian, Connecticut, New York State

☆ It might be the year to upgrade your home's heating and cooling system and get a big discount
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Electric heat pumps are also more efficient at heating and cooling homes than systems powered by oil and propane. Heat pumps move hot and cold air from indoors to outdoors, rather than burn fuel, and can save the average US homeowner an estimated $500 a year. Cutting the up-front costs of buying and installing heat pumps is a key way to increase sales. "There's a lot of outdated information about heat pumps out there." AdvertisementMcIlwain said Maryland was working to put more information online, including a database of contractors, electricians, and manufacturers trained on heat pumps.

Persons: Maine —, Serena McIlwain, Joe Biden, Jay Apperson, Sage Briscoe, Emily Levin, McIlwain Organizations: Service, Wednesday, Business, Energy Information Administration, Maryland Department of, Heat, Management, Rewiring, Energy Department, state's Department of Locations: Maine, Maryland, California , Colorado , Maine , Massachusetts , New Jersey , New York , Oregon, Rhode, States, Rewiring America, Massachusetts, California, New York, Hawaii, New Mexico, Rewiring, NESCAUM

A variety of home upgrades come with federal and state tax rebates, which can offset the cost. New programs are being rolled out — your state might have new tax rebates available this year. AdvertisementMany upgrades have tax incentives"The Inflation Reduction Act has put a really large bank account at the fingertips of most Americans for most electrical upgrades," Richardson says. Rebates can be stacked for added valueQualifying energy-efficiency home upgrades made between January 1, 2023, and 2032 can get a federal tax credit of up to $3,200. "To maximize the financial value of the project, you want to get efficient equipment, and you want to maximize the rebates," Richardson says.

Persons: —, DR, Richardson, You'll Organizations: Service, DR Richardson, Elephant Energy, Energy Locations: Colorado and Massachusetts, Denver, Colorado, America

More Americans are buying heat pumps, an environmentally friendly alternative to furnaces and air-conditioners that can significantly lower monthly energy bills. But the pace of installations has slowed in the past year, posing an obstacle to the Biden administration’s climate plans. Rising interest rates and inflation combined with a slow and confusing rollout of federal government incentives for the purchase of heat pumps are largely responsible for the recent drop in sales, energy analysts said. These headwinds, if they persist, could jeopardize President Biden’s goals of effectively eliminating U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. Those incentives defray only a small portion of the $16,000 an average heat pump installation costs, according to Rewiring America, a nonprofit group that is working to increase the use of cleaner forms of energy.

Persons: Biden’s Organizations: Biden Locations: America

☆ Installing solar isn't the only big financial decision to make about controlling home power
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

That means it may be a good time to consider a home backup power storage system. Fossil fuel vs. battery power If you're not opposed to fossil fuel-powered options, there are several categories to consider based on your power needs. EVs as a backup power option for the home Some electrical vehicles can be used to back up essential items, or, in some cases, a whole home. "If you're contemplating spending $10,000 on a whole home gas generator system, why not think about an EV with this capability instead?" Some states provide additional solar battery incentives.

Persons: Ian Thomas Jansen, Lonnquist, Benjamin R, Dierker, Vikram Aggarwal, EnergySage, it's, Aggarwal, EVs, Ford's, Jim Farley, Stephen Pantano, Pantano, Sarah Delisle, Ted Tiffany, Tiffany Organizations: Motors Inc, Bloomberg, Getty, Alliance for Innovation, National Centers for Environmental, Consumers, GM, Ford, Swell Energy, Decarbonization Coalition, of Energy, Homeowners, Energy Department Locations: United States, California , Texas, Louisiana, California, California , Vermont , Massachusetts, New York, America

☆ How to Increase the Value of Your Home With 5 Popular Home Improvements
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Daniel Bortz | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

Plus, data also suggests solar panels increase a home’s value somewhat when it comes time to sell. Does a new roof increase home value? Does a new kitchen increase home value? Does a new bathroom increase home value? “Classic subway tile is clean, simple and has a timeless appeal.”Do energy-efficient windows increase home value?

Persons: Daniel Bortz, ”, David Steckel, you’ll, Steckel, Mallory Micetich, Micetich, HomeAdvisor, Courtney Mason, Mason Organizations: Rewiring America, Census, Google, Energy Locations: New York, Riverside , Calif, Atlanta ,, Tampa, Fla

☆ Opinion: How I talk to my kids about climate change
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Opinion Laura Schifter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Editor’s Note: Laura Schifter is a senior fellow with the Aspen Institute and leads This Is Planet Ed, the institute’s initiative on climate change information. We won’t know for sure what it will be or where, but we can predict that these extreme weather events are becoming more common. Katharine Hayhoe, a leading climate scientist suggests one of the most important things we can do about climate change: talk about it. My second grader added, “And we can get power from the sun, compost and walk instead of drive!” We haven’t thought about this as a singular “climate change talk,” but rather as part of how we talk — how we try to help them make sense of the world. For all our kids, it’s time we prioritize their future and help ensure they can thrive in a changing climate.

Persons: Laura Schifter, Ed, There’s, Alexa, I’ve, Katharine Hayhoe, Taylor Organizations: Aspen Institute, Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, CNN, Environmental Protection Agency, Twitter, Facebook, Infrastructure Investment, Jobs, America, National Parent, Association Locations: Arlington , Virginia, Washington , DC, Canada, Pacific, Kentucky, California, Europe, Pakistan

☆ The homeowner basics of financing solar power for residential real estate
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

There are a host of complicated issues in the solar market, including some contentious politics. Last year, the growth of residential solar in the U.S. boomed. It won't repeat that in 2023, but will remain a large part of the solar market. Ohio, for example, has a state program that offers a reduced rate on a solar loan with certain lenders. GoodLeap (26% of the residential solar market) was No.

☆ How Electrifying Everything Became a Key Climate Solution
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Nadja Popovich | Brad Plumer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +19 min

Water heating Air conditioning Space heating Refrigeration Washing and dry. Refrigeration Air conditioning 16% electric Water heating 99% Refrigeration Air conditioning Residential Cooking Space heating Refrigeration Other 96% Lighting and electronics Lighting and elec. Cooking 2021 Current Electricity Use Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in 2021 36% Water heating Space heating Washing and dry. Cooking 2050 Net Zero Pathway Electricity as percent of total energy consumed in a high-electrification scenario Water heating Space heating 63% Washing and dry. Air conditioning Refrigeration Other Air conditioning Water heating 99% Refrigeration Space heating 96% Other Lighting and electronics Lighting and elec.

☆ As Heat Pumps Go Mainstream, a Big Question: Can They Handle Real Cold?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Elena Shao | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Line chart that shows annual units of heat pumps and gas furnaces shipped, which is an approximation of sales, from 2002 through 2022. Heat pumps surpassed gas furnaces in annual sales in 2022 by a wider margin than ever before. 4 million units 3 million Gas furnaces 2 million Heat pumps 1 million 2002 2022 Heat pumps outsold gas furnaces in the U.S. last year. But even in cold weather, electric heat pumps are more energy efficient than the gas or oil furnaces that heat many homes. Even in cold weather, electric heat pumps are more energy efficient than the gas or oil furnaces that heat many homes.

☆ That gas stove you're cooking on could be giving your kids asthma, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

About 650,000 kids in the US likely have asthma because of gas stoves, a study found. The momentum was met with an opposition campaign by the gas industry and their allies in state legislatures. The gas industry also often points out that proper ventilation significantly reduces the concentration of pollutants from gas stoves. The Consumer Product Safety Commission could also regulate pollutants from gas stoves or require warning labels, Seals said. The commission's head, Richard Trumka Jr., in December indicated the agency was headed in that direction and said an outright ban on new gas stoves was "a real possibility," The Hill reported.

☆ A Colorado man says his green home renovation paid off during a winter storm when temperatures dropped below -10 degrees
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Chaz Teplin spent $30,000 to electrify his home and tracked what happened during the winter storm. The winter storm that blanketed much of the US in late December put Chaz Teplin's green-home renovation to the test. Modern heat pumps can keep homes warm from snowy Colorado to chilly Maine and come with a fail-safe known as electric-resistance heating. Despite the name, heat pumps both warm and cool a home by circulating heat from indoors to outdoors and back again. After the winter storm, Teplin said he compared notes with a neighbor who has a gas-powered system.

☆ Heat pumps are an energy upgrade for homeowners that's becoming a climate and financial winner
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Heat pumps are becoming more popular for residential housing with energy prices increasing and the need to reduce use of fossil fuel heating systems. Thinking about a home heat pump? The use of heat pumps will become more common as governments legislate their adoption. Here are four important things to know about upgrading your home to a heat pump system. "While there's an upfront cost, millions of homeowners would save money with a heat pump over the life of the device," he said.

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