However, the Hallowell Acadia new heat pump costs 40% less to use than other above ground heat pumps, and provides heat for less than one third of conventional electric resistance heat (that is, any heating system without a heat pump attached). This puts the new heat pump well within range of geothermal savings without the need to actually install a geothermal system. The Hallowell Acadia heat pump also uses a specially developed 410A refrigerant that does not damage or degrade the ozone layer, so it is environmentally friendly over and above its energy savings. The new heat pump created by Hallowell has another advantage over geothermal beyond the more affordable installation costs. A major drawback of geothermal heating and cooling systems has always been that they work better in the winter in areas in which the temperature does not fall below 30 degrees. The new heat pump designed by Hallowell includes a second compressor built that kicks in at very low temperatures to make the refrigerant inside much colder and more able to absorb very cold air. This means that the Acadia, the new heat pump by Hallowell, is actually 200% efficient down to temperatures as low as 15 below zero!
Only recently have a few different manufacturers began to distribute air source heat pumps made specifically for in-floor hot water heating systems. These units are often called or reverse cycle chillers. The second name refers to their technological resemblance to water cooling machines, but they can now run in reverse to heat water also. Note that these units can only be used with in-floor heating systems. No type of heat pump can be used with baseboard heating systems because they require higher water temperatures that only a boiler can provide. In an air to water heat pump, the heated refrigerant does not enter the house. Instead, it is used to heat water inside the outdoor unit. The heated water is then pumped into the home, where it enters a second heat exchanger. In this heat exchanger, the water from the outdoor unit transfers its heat to the water flowing through the distribution system. If it is a very cold day, the heat pump may act as a pre-heater before the water enters the boiler. On mildly cool days, the boiler will be bypassed.
Only recently have a few different manufacturers began to distribute air source heat pumps made specifically for in-floor hot water heating systems. These units are often called or reverse cycle chillers. The second name refers to their technological resemblance to water cooling machines, but they can now run in reverse to heat water also. Note that these units can only be used with in-floor heating systems. No type of heat pump can be used with baseboard heating systems because they require higher water temperatures that only a boiler can provide. In an air to water heat pump, the heated refrigerant does not enter the house. Instead, it is used to heat water inside the outdoor unit. The heated water is then pumped into the home, where it enters a second heat exchanger. In this heat exchanger, the water from the outdoor unit transfers its heat to the water flowing through the distribution system. If it is a very cold day, the heat pump may act as a pre-heater before the water enters the boiler. On mildly cool days, the boiler will be bypassed.
The good news then is that cost of the new cold-air heat pumps is about one third that of installing a comparable geothermal system in an existing home. The bad news is that the new heat pump is about twice as expensive a conventional high-efficiency above ground heat pump. To calculate the cost-effectiveness of installing a new heat pump like the Hallowell Acadia, take 30% of current heating and cooling costs and subtract that from what you are paying for heating and cooling now, then divide the cost of the new heat pump by that number. So for example, if you are currently paying $3000 per year to heat and cool your home, subtract the $900 (approximately) that you would pay with the new heat pump installed, for a projected savings of $2100 per year. If the new heat pump costs $4,000 (a new geothermal system costs between $10,000 and $15,000 on average so that$4,000 is an entry level cost), you will recoup your investment within only two years.
Clearly, over the long haul, such a system is much, much cheaper than installing a conventional heat pump that costs $2,000. The new heat pump designed by Hallowell is relatively new, but as more high-efficiency above ground models are developed and come on the market, the price will likely go down. Since heating and cooling are the two biggest energy demands a homeowner faces, this is definitely a welcome bit of good news.
Clearly, over the long haul, such a system is much, much cheaper than installing a conventional heat pump that costs $2,000. The new heat pump designed by Hallowell is relatively new, but as more high-efficiency above ground models are developed and come on the market, the price will likely go down. Since heating and cooling are the two biggest energy demands a homeowner faces, this is definitely a welcome bit of good news.
