HEATING & COOLING

Heat pumps

A heat pump is a heating and cooling system that operates in an efficient and cost-saving way. It is a form of technology we have used for years in our home refrigerators involving refrigerant and compression of air.

Heat pumps and traditional air conditioning systems operate similarly when cooling the air. It’s the added ability to produce heat that makes heat pump systems stand out.

HEAT PUMP WATER HEATERS

Heat pump water heaters (HPWH) are electric appliances that heat water by absorbing heat from the air and moving it into a storage tank, as opposed to generating heat through burning fossil fuels or resistance heating.

GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMPS

Geothermal, or ground source heat pumps (GSHP), are electric appliances that provide heating and cooling by moving heat into a building (for heating) or out of a building (for cooling). Watch how it works.

AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS

Air source heat pumps (ASHP) are electric appliances that provide heating by moving heat into a building and cooling by moving heat out of a building. Watch how it works.

Learn more from our Partners at Heat Smart Capital Region.

Wood and wood-pellet stoves

A wood stove is a technology used for centuries, but more modern versions have improved technology to reduce indoor air pollution. Wood pellet stoves use pressurized sawdust byproduct in place of wood logs and can be set with a thermostat but do require electricity to ignite. ​​

While New York State incentives for cordwood stoves and boilers ended in the summer of 2021, income-eligible households can still get up to $2,500 off the cost of a qualifying stove through the EmPower+ program:

  • If you are Heap eligible, earning less than 60% of the state median income, you can receive $2,000 towards the purchase of a new pellet stove plus $500 if you recycle an existing wood, pellet or coal stove or insert.

  • For more moderate income households earning up to 80% of area median income, you can get 50% of the cost of the purchase of a new pellet stove up to $2,000 + $500 if you recycle an existing wood, pellet or coal stove or insert.

As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, there is a 30% federal tax credit (up to $2000) for wood and pellet stoves with a thermal efficiency rating of 75% or higher until the year 2032.