A homeowner in the Ohio River Valley said a heat pump kept their 2,160-square-foot house cool for just $61.32 in August, offering a real-world example of why more households are considering efficient electric HVAC upgrades.
Here's what to know
According to a post in Reddit's r/HeatPumps community, the homeowner's August cooling total for a 2-ton Daikin Fit ducted air-source heat pump was 292 kilowatt-hours. At $0.21 per kilowatt-hour, that came to $61.32.
The original poster then said the figure reflects cooling for the "whole 2,160 sf house." On August 16, the hottest day they tracked, temperatures ranged from 76 up to 97 degrees Fahrenheit and the system used 19 kWh.
The OP also compared their summer numbers with winter performance, noting: "The interesting difference between this summary and the one I did for January is the higher energy consumption per [degree day]. January was 0.21, versus 0.31 for August. This is best explained by the latent heat load, as it's pretty humid in the Ohio River Valley in the summer."
The top comment added another example, "I'll raise you a 3 ton Midea on 2,000 square feet… it's ridiculous how efficient these are," before showing that the home used 135kWh during the month of August. The same commenter wrote that they live in the Philadelphia suburbs and said shade and insulation upgrades have helped their 1980 colonial, noting, "But I'm convinced it's the shade doing the heavy lifting."
The OP echoed that point, replying, "Trees are great! I've recorded 20F lower ground temperatures in shade versus sun."
More background
Heat pumps tend to work best when paired with smart system sizing, solid insulation, air sealing, and thoughtful thermostat settings. For this home, the OP said their thermostat was set to 76 degrees during the day and 73 at night.
Clearly, upgrading your heating and cooling system is one of the best ways to save money on utility bills and protect yourself against rising energy prices. Homeowners who want help sorting through their options can use Palmetto's Comfort Plan network to find efficient heating and cooling solutions and connect with vetted installers.
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And if you're not ready to spend up front, the Comfort Plan also includes $0-down options that can lower your heating and cooling costs by up to 50%. It includes 12 years of free maintenance, which could make a high-efficiency upgrade more realistic for households trying to cut monthly bills without taking on a large initial payment.
Homeowners can also pair solar panels with electric appliances, like efficient HVACs, to drive their utility costs even lower. EnergySage makes it easy to find the best solar system and installer for your home and budget, and its free tools can save you up to $10,000 on installations.
Where can I learn more?
• Across Europe, heat pumps are cooling homes as heatwaves push electricity demand higher.
• Researchers say an innovative HVAC solution could shave $350 off homeowners' heating bills.
• In Maryland, state planners say one simple HVAC upgrade can slash energy bills by $1,670.
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