Heat Pump Grants & Funding
Introduction
Heat pumps generally source hot or cold from the air outside, water, or the ground beneath a building, instead of converting the energy, and pumping heat outside during heat waves like traditional air conditioning does (which makes outside temperatures even more deadly).
Life Expectancy: "The underground piping associated with GHP systems often carry warranties of 25 to 50 years, and the heat pumps often last 20 years or more. In addition, the components in the living space are easily accessible, which increases the convenience factor and helps ensure that the upkeep is done on a timely basis." - https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/choosing-and-installing-geothermal-heat-pumps
Pro: These devices use 25-50% of the energy traditionally needed to heat or cool a space. A single device can replace both a heater and an A/C unit. Modern units can function down to temperatures of -15°C or 5°F.
Con: These can work less efficiently with extreme temperatures especially if using outside air. The intake duct can get iced up during snow and freezes.
Solution: It may be worth having a backup heating system in places with frequent and long sub-zero freezes.
Resources: There are several types of heat pumps:
Air Sourced - which takes air from outside the building.
Ground Sourced or Geothermal - which uses a bore hole or piles laid underground.
Water Sourced - which requires an adequate body of water to function.
Absorption Heat Pumps - are a newer form of the technology which can be powered by gas, propane, solar heated water/steam, or geothermal heated water.
The general design requires a small amount of electricity to help move warmth or cold from one location to another, instead of actively heating or cooling anything.
What are Heat Pumps? dives into the different types of underground heat pumps, plus advice on how to get the most benefit from switching to this century old technology.
More Homes Using Heat Pumps as Cheaper, Greener Alternative to Fossil Fuels
8:22 minute video"U.S. emissions fell during the height of the pandemic as people were stuck at home, but that changed as the pandemic eased. Many researchers, scientists and lawmakers argue that Americans need to reduce their use of fossil fuels much sooner than they may have planned. Miles O'Brien reports on an alternative for home heating that could reduce the use and costs of fossil fuels."
Grants & Schemes
Europe
Ireland
UK
Air Source Grants in the UK "If you live in England or Wales you can apply for £5,000 towards your new air source heat pump or £6,000 towards a ground source system. This is not a means-tested grant.
If you live in Scotland, you can apply for an interest-free loan to pay for energy efficiency improvements upfront, including air source heat pumps and more. There are also grants for low-income households in Scotland and in Wales."Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme after checking to see if you qualify for the Boilet Upgrade Scheme.
Scotland
Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan: Overview "Everything you need to know about the Scottish Government grant and interest-free loan that helps you create a warmer home that's cheaper to run."
North America
Canada
Canada Greener Homes Grant: How it works and who can apply Bottom of page includes a list of registered energy advisors by area.
Greener Homes Initiative: Eligible Retrofits & Grant Amounts "As part of the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, you have access to:
Grants from $125 to $5,000
To get a part of your costs back for eligible home retrofitsUp to $600
As a maximum contribution toward the total costs of your pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluationsInterest-free loans of up to $40,000, with a repayment term of 10 years to help you undertake major home retrofits"
Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Grant "Grant of up to $5,000 To cover costs for changing your oil heating to a heat pump including for:
the purchase and installation of an eligible cold climate air source heat pump
electrical upgrades required for the new heat pump
safe removal of the oil tank
Your grant money will be available before the installation of your new heat pump."
USA
Elevate: Green Financing "provides access to financial capital for multi-family building owners and contractors to support their growth in the clean energy economy."
Energy Star: Air Source Heat Pumps "Electric air-source heat pumps (ASHPs), often used in moderate climates, use the difference between outdoor air temperatures and indoor air temperatures to cool and heat your home. ASHPs that earn the ENERGY STAR label are independently certified to save energy, save money and protect the climate.
An ENERGY STAR certified ASHP provides highly efficient heating and cooling by extracting heat from outside, into your home in winter and pulling the heat out of your home in the summer. For some, it may be helpful to think of a ducted ASHP as a central air conditioner that also works in reverse to provide whole-house space heating in winter."Household Electrification Savings Calculator lets you get an estimate on how much money you can get from the government to help pay for eco-friendly upgrades to your home such as a heat pump, new electric vehicle, solar panels, insulation and more.
Power Forward Communities "is a coalition of some of the country’s most trusted housing, climate, and community investment groups dedicated to decarbonizing and transforming American housing. We’re saving homeowners and renters money, reinvesting in communities, and tackling the climate crisis."
Oceana
Australia
Australian Government: Rebates & Assistance "To find what’s available, fill in the search boxes with some information about yourself and where you are in Australia.
You can add more information about the topic you’re interested in (like solar PV or energy efficiency) and what type of help (like support, grants, rebates or apps)."Australian Government: Solar & Heat Pump Hot Water System Rebate
ACT
ActewAGL: Energy-efficient electric water heater upgrade "Enjoy the power of a hot shower."
Related Topics
Air Source Heat Pump Installers
Click the Air Source Heat Pump Installers button to see our growing directory of Installers around the world.
Ground Source Heat Pump Installers
Installers are in huge demand as the need to install these units can help us meet climate goals, but not nearly enough people are trained in this technology to meet that goal yet.
Click the Ground Source Heat Pump button to find an installer near you.
Groups
The Renewable Thermal Collaborative (RTC) "serves as the leading coalition for organizations that are committed to scaling up renewable heating and cooling at their facilities and dramatically cutting carbon emissions. RTC members recognize the growing demand and necessity for renewable heating and cooling and the urgent need to meet this demand in a manner that delivers sustainable, cost-competitive options at scale.
The RTC members include manufacturers and state and local governments. The RTC sponsors are renewable thermal suppliers, producers, and professional service firms that provide important institutional support for the RTC’s work to advance renewable thermal solutions for large customers"
North America
USA
Relay Network " is a national network of energy efficiency implementors who promote knowledge sharing, facilitate collaborative partnerships, and encourage joint innovation. As an alliance of mission-based non-profit organizations, we leverage each other’s expertise to extend our collective reach to the buildings, residents and communities that we serve. By working together, we create partnerships that enable us to better respond to and deliver on our missions and serve as a resource to each other to increase our capacity."