HVAC

Efficient heating equipment can reduce electric energy use by 25-40%, compared to electric resistance heat. 

At a Glance: Heating Technologies

BPA offers incentives for ductless heat pumps, air source heat pumps, duct sealing and thermostats. For air source heat pumps, BPA offers incentives for standard compressors and variable speed compressors, with and without commissioning through Performance Tested Comfort Systems, or PTCS. BPA also offers incentives for duct sealing with and without PTCS. 

Ductless Heat Pumps 
Heat pumps work by extracting heat from outdoor air, concentrating it and delivering it to heat your home through ductwork or ductless systems. They also work in reverse to cool your home by extracting heat from indoor air and moving it outside. Similarly, ductless heat pumps — also known as mini-splits — collect heat from outside and delivers it inside when your home needs to be heated and does the opposite in the summer months to cool your home. However, they do not require ductwork to operate and deliver efficient heating and cooling. Instead, indoor air-handling units — referred to as heads — distribute air throughout the home. 

Benefits:

  • Reduce energy use by 25-40%, compared to electric resistance heat. 
  • Uniformly heats interior spaces, which eliminates hot and cold spots common with baseboard heat. 
  • Meets heating needs even when outdoor temperatures fall below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  • Can supplement existing heating systems. 

Thermostats
Heating and cooling is one of the most important aspects of a home and can also be the most expensive when not done efficiently. In addition to a right-sized HVAC system, a thermostat is essential to keeping your home comfortable all year long. BPA offers incentives for Advanced Smart Thermostats and Programmable Line Voltage Thermostats for homeowners and contractor/utility installations. 

Programmable Line Voltage Thermostats
Programmable Line Voltage Thermostats are typically used to control baseboard, ceiling and wall heaters. The thermostat saves energy by controlling set schedules and enabling the heater to be turned on or off when the room temperature is not within a set range. Improved thermostat accuracy also helps save energy and can help reduce heating and cooling costs.  

Benefits:

  • Turns your HVAC system on or off when the thermostat detects the room temperature is not within a certain set range. Includes a temperature-sensing device. 
  • Allows flexible programming to suit any type of schedule.

Advanced Smart Thermostats 
Smart Thermostats provide an affordable and easy way for homeowners to control their heating and cooling system — and lower the cost of their electric bills. Smart and Advanced Smart Thermostats can reduce electric use by 6-12%, compared to a standard thermostat, and offer features such as scheduling and control from a remote location. 

Benefits:

  • Occupancy sensors that can tell if a person is not at home.
  • Learning algorithms that avoid the need to program a set schedule.
  • Ability to control the heating and cooling system remotely through wireless apps on their phones or tablets.
  • Feedback notifications on the energy-saving potential of your thermostat set point and other efficient settings.
  • Ability to monitor previous electric-use data.
  • More control of your heating and cooling system when it’s not needed at full capacity.

Air Source and Ground Source Heat Pumps
Heat pumps work by extracting heat from outdoor air or the ground and delivering it to heat your home through ductwork or ductless systems. They also work in reverse to cool your home by extracting heat from indoor air and moving it outside. Air source heat pumps use an outdoor system — in addition to an internal forced air furnace — to distribute efficient heating and cooling throughout the home. Ground source heat pumps use an underground well or coils to collect heat and distribute efficient heating and cooling throughout the home.

For quick access to guides and best practices, forms, specifications, marketing materials and other resources, please click on the Program Essentials icon.


At a Glance: Performance Tested Comfort Systems

PTCS logo

    Performance Tested Comfort Systems: Air Source Heat Pumps, Ground Source Heat Pumps and Duct Sealing Installing high-efficiency equipment can help significantly reduce home heating and cooling costs. Commissioning the equipment ensures it operates in the most efficient way and delivers the rated efficiency. Performance Tested Comfort Systems, or PTCS, is a Northwest-regional program for utilities to improve HVAC-system comfort and increase energy savings. The program promotes quality installations of high-efficiency heat pumps and the proper sealing of ducts. PTCS specifications help ensure heat pumps and duct sealing work results in a more comfortable home and more reliable energy. The PTCS program includes classroom, field and webinar trainings, third-party quality assurance inspections and support for PTCS-certified contractor technicians. Data is captured in a regional PTCS Registry database. The PTCS and Prescriptive Programs aim to inspect at least 10% of all jobs for quality assurance. This is a voluntary part of the program with a goal to ensure technicians are performing quality work. Steps for remediation will be needed in cases where an inspection found work that was poor or failing. Measures include:

    PTCS Air Source Heat Pump (standard and variable speed).

    • Conversion from an electric forced-air furnace.
    • Upgrade from any electric heating system.
    Commissioning, Controls, and Sizing of heat pumps below 9.0 Heating Seasonal Performance Factor or HSPF.
    •  Any new ducted air source and variable speed heat pump.
    • Upgrade from any electric heating system.
    PTCS Ground Source Heat Pump (open and closed loop).
    • Conversion from an electric forced-air furnace.
    • Upgrade from any electric heating system.
    • Compressor-only replacement.
    PTCS Duct Sealing.
    • Existing ducts in existing single-family and manufactured homes.
    • Ducts must be connected to electric heat.
    • Pre-and post-duct leakage testing required.
    Contact ResHVAC@BPA.gov for more information about PTCS.
    Prescriptive Duct Sealing
    Prescriptive Duct sealing is offered in addition to PTCS duct sealing. Sealing gaps in ductwork and repairing or reconnecting older duct connections helps ensure conditioned heat or cooled air gets to the correct space, instead of being wasted in areas such as attics or crawl spaces. Prescriptive duct sealing is offered for existing Single-family and manufactured homes with ducts connected to electric heat. Prescriptive duct sealing work must be performed according to the Prescriptive Duct Sealing Specification by a certified contractor and documented on the Prescriptive Duct Sealing form.
    For more information about prescriptive duct sealing, please contact ResEEprogram@bpa.gov. 
    Air Source Heat Pump Conversion (without PTCS)
    BPA offers incentives for converting both non-variable speed and variable speed ducted heat pumps from existing forced air furnaces in existing site-built and manufactured homes. Non-variable speed systems typically operate in a simple on/ off mode, while variable speed units can operate more efficiently at variable stages between on and off. BPA relies on the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, or AHRI — a third-party testing entity — to certify the energy efficiency of equipment, using HSPF metrics for efficiency during the heating season and the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, or SEER, during cooling season. To qualify for this measure, all systems must be AHRI certified, the HSPF must be at least 9.0, and the SEER must be at least 14. Please note that there are no further installation requirements to commission the system.
    For quick access to guides and best practices, forms, specifications, marketing materials and other resources, please click on the Program Efficiency icon.
    For more information about air source heat pump conversions without PTCS, please contact ResEEprogram@bpa.gov

     

    HVAC Essentials

    PTCS Essentials