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Dennis Home

split level home with solar panels on roofCortland, NY

Square Footage: 2,700
Year Built: 1962

Concern about the environment and the need to replace an aging natural gas boiler led the homeowner to choose an air source heat pump to heat and cool his home. A solar photovoltaic array had been installed a year earlier. Three air source heat pumps allowed him to fully utilize his solar photovoltaic array and to add air conditioning to the house. The homeowner says the system was “exactly what I had hoped for."

Installation and Energy Details

Prior Energy system: Natural gas-fired hot water boiler. Some A/C provided by a window unit.

New Energy System: Air source heat pump (ASHP) heats and cools the entire house and rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) array generates electricity.

New Insulation or Sealing: N/A, will be adding.

System Specifications:

  • Air Source Heat Pumps: Three ductless units for space heating and cooling of the entire house. one single zone (Mitsubishi); main floor: one zone in living room (LG) and one zone in master bedroom (LG). Installed by Halco, 2017.
  • Solar PV system: 11.6kW rooftop array installed in 2016.

Net Zero? No, but within 20%. Will likely be achieved once home is properly insulated.

Results

  • The installation resulted in a new heating system which is efficient and electrically powered using solar PV energy. In addition, the owner now has whole house cooling.
  • The systems are exactly what the homeowner had hoped for. The systems were installed in the summer so the air conditioning could be used right away. The system in the basement was also used in dry mode as a dehumidifier.
  • The homeowner intends to install additional insulation in the walls and attic as well as perform some air sealing, which will bring the house to net zero.

Motivation for Heat Pump Technology

  • The homeowner was concerned about the environment and wanted to move away from fossil fuels. He also wanted to install an efficient system which would utilize the solar PV system which he had installed a year earlier.
  • Additional reason for installing heat pumps: cooling of the home.
  • Natural gas-fired boiler was at the end of its useful life.
  • The homeowner works for a company which installs heat pumps and solar PV. He wanted to be able to “practice what he preaches” in regards to efficient, fossil fuel free heating and cooling. In addition, as an employee, he was able to secure "preferred pricing."

Expenses

Cost Category Initial Cost Incentives Final Cost
Air Source Heat Pumps $18,000 - $18,000
Solar PV system $35,000 NYSERDA rebate: $4,640 30% federal tax credit: $7,608 25% NYS tax credit: $5,000 $17,752
Grand Total $53,000 $17,248 (33% of total) $35,752