Accelerating Heat Pumps: בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב
Bringing Sustainable Heating and Cooling
to Congregations Soon and in our Time
MAY 20, 2020
7-9 PM
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
DONATIONS WELCOME
CLICK HERE TO REQUEST A COPY OF THIS WEBINAR
- Dramatic new developments in heat pump deployment are poised to reduce the largest part of our carbon footprint. Prepare your house of worship and lead your community away from fossil-fuel heating and cooling. Attendees will leave empowered to organize, both for the congregation's physical plant and for congregants’ homes and neighborhoods
PROGRAM
"Brilliant Solution: GeoMicroDistricts" Audrey Schulman (HEET). Eversource Gas is trying to pilot a method to rapidly transform existing fossil-fuel HVAC into networked ground-source heat-pumps systems, a neighborhood at a time. What we need to do to encourage and hasten the ramp-up.
"Heat Pump Community Coaching: Become the Scout" Steve Breit (HeatSmart Alliance). Community Coaching is seeding and accelerating the uptake of residential HP technology. Become a Coach, or a Scout, to encourage your fellow congregants
“Heatpumps in Real-World Homes and Buildings” Experienced contractors in moderated discussion:
- Rachel White, CEO, Byggmeister Sustainable Design & Build
- Joel Boucher, Boucher Energy Systems
- Matt Wenzel, Bill Wenzel Heating & Air Conditioning
Sponsored by Jewish Climate Action Network, Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light, and Synagogue Council of Massachusetts
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Q. “Accelerating ” – why is that the first word in the title?
A. This program has an emphasis on increasing deployment. The first two great speakers showcase innovative, but very different pathways to accelerating heatpump conversions. What do we need for this to happen “soon and in our time!”
A. This program has an emphasis on increasing deployment. The first two great speakers showcase innovative, but very different pathways to accelerating heatpump conversions. What do we need for this to happen “soon and in our time!”
Q. Ok, but I don’t know even what to know about heatpumps...
A. The overriding concern: widespread conversion to heat pump heating is absolutely essential to any path to reducing carbon pollution, especially in cooler climates. Anyone who wants to be part of the climate solution should attend.
A. The overriding concern: widespread conversion to heat pump heating is absolutely essential to any path to reducing carbon pollution, especially in cooler climates. Anyone who wants to be part of the climate solution should attend.
Q. So this will teach me the basics about heatpumps?
A. No. We mention basics, but good heatpump training can be found elsewhere. This is about increasing deployment, and your role; you don’t need to be the engineer.
A. No. We mention basics, but good heatpump training can be found elsewhere. This is about increasing deployment, and your role; you don’t need to be the engineer.
Q. One building's heating system is such a small part of the picture; why don’t we advocate for systemic change?
A. False choice. Every known path to “systemic change” includes extensive implementation of heatpump heating. That means conversions in many many homes, in many houses of worship, in any building where heating happens. Today, this means thousands of choices
A. False choice. Every known path to “systemic change” includes extensive implementation of heatpump heating. That means conversions in many many homes, in many houses of worship, in any building where heating happens. Today, this means thousands of choices
Q. Don’t I have to start at the beginning?
A. Well, you do already have some familiarity with the technology: refrigerators and air-conditioners are heatpumps. Heatpumps-for-building-heating is the new aspect, but even that technology has been around for many years. You’ve probably been in a building that has them installed already. Engineers and contractors have been implementing them for quite a while.
A. Well, you do already have some familiarity with the technology: refrigerators and air-conditioners are heatpumps. Heatpumps-for-building-heating is the new aspect, but even that technology has been around for many years. You’ve probably been in a building that has them installed already. Engineers and contractors have been implementing them for quite a while.
Q. I’m not an engineer or a contractor...
A. Your role, using your skills, is what we want to focus on, in accelerating deployment. Community organizing can help move this field along. Tech-types and organizer-types are both needed to achieve sufficient deployment.
A. Your role, using your skills, is what we want to focus on, in accelerating deployment. Community organizing can help move this field along. Tech-types and organizer-types are both needed to achieve sufficient deployment.
Q. I heard heatpumps-for-heating were inefficient / inadequate for our climate / ineffective below a certain temperature …
A. No longer; those are old tropes and should be dropped. Heatpumps-for-heating improved dramatically. For years now, high-efficiency systems work well in cold (like New England) climates. Maine currently has much deeper deployment than Massachusetts. Our contractors' panel consists of experts who have been installing for years.
A. No longer; those are old tropes and should be dropped. Heatpumps-for-heating improved dramatically. For years now, high-efficiency systems work well in cold (like New England) climates. Maine currently has much deeper deployment than Massachusetts. Our contractors' panel consists of experts who have been installing for years.
Q. Why switch from heating-with-fossil-fuels to heating-with-electricity, if electricity is produced by fossil fuels?
A. Electric heatpumps provide a clear carbon advantage, it's a three-part answer. First, a new heatpump heating system immediately is much more energy-efficient than the old gas or oil combustion system. Second, electricity right now is a lot “greener” than we think; fossil fuels generally comprise less than half of the fuel mix (utilities in New England for instance). Third, this mix will (must) continue to improve: in addition to land-based solar, large-scale renewables (off-shore wind and/or Canadian hydro) will shift the fuel mix. In sum, a heatpump installed today will dramatically lower carbon footprint, and that footprint will continue to decrease over time.
A. Electric heatpumps provide a clear carbon advantage, it's a three-part answer. First, a new heatpump heating system immediately is much more energy-efficient than the old gas or oil combustion system. Second, electricity right now is a lot “greener” than we think; fossil fuels generally comprise less than half of the fuel mix (utilities in New England for instance). Third, this mix will (must) continue to improve: in addition to land-based solar, large-scale renewables (off-shore wind and/or Canadian hydro) will shift the fuel mix. In sum, a heatpump installed today will dramatically lower carbon footprint, and that footprint will continue to decrease over time.
Q. Yes but my building is drafty and the old heating system has a hard time maintaining comfort.
A. As our speakers demonstrate, that actually describes the ideal situation for comprehensive improvement! Heatpumps are not by themselves a panacea to all building issues, but when implemented together with serious deep-insulation-and-sealing, the combination can provide the financial ideal, the best all-around solution.
A. As our speakers demonstrate, that actually describes the ideal situation for comprehensive improvement! Heatpumps are not by themselves a panacea to all building issues, but when implemented together with serious deep-insulation-and-sealing, the combination can provide the financial ideal, the best all-around solution.
Q. So if heatpumps are so great – no technological barriers, and there are contractors – why the focus on accelerating?
A. The current market is far from ideal. Yes, the pieces are in place, and widespread implementation over the next decade is entirely possible. But currently, without carbon pricing, the “economic signals” – meaning price – do not at all reflect the significant carbon impact. Therefore, heatpump-conversion often doesn't make for a clear or quick payback. This calculus needs to shift. Advocacy for carbon pricing is essential; praying for it cannot hurt, and we can be planning for carbon pricing. In the meantime, there are serious financial incentives now available. Besides the financial questions, for any given decision-maker, the conversion is never "simple." A facility manager or homeowner needs significant help to navigate the technological and program process.
A. The current market is far from ideal. Yes, the pieces are in place, and widespread implementation over the next decade is entirely possible. But currently, without carbon pricing, the “economic signals” – meaning price – do not at all reflect the significant carbon impact. Therefore, heatpump-conversion often doesn't make for a clear or quick payback. This calculus needs to shift. Advocacy for carbon pricing is essential; praying for it cannot hurt, and we can be planning for carbon pricing. In the meantime, there are serious financial incentives now available. Besides the financial questions, for any given decision-maker, the conversion is never "simple." A facility manager or homeowner needs significant help to navigate the technological and program process.
Q. Yikes such obstacles, sounds complicated.
A. There is a path; actually we’ll actually learn about multiple paths to acceleration.
A. There is a path; actually we’ll actually learn about multiple paths to acceleration.
Q. But what can we do?
A. Watch the video. You will learn that it is not beyond us.
A. Watch the video. You will learn that it is not beyond us.