Heat pumps are a viable, money-saving alternative to oil heat in Juneau yet the transition is complex and requires action by individual homeowners. How does a homeowner know whether to get a multihead unit, a minisplit or a ducted system? What should the capacity be? Just how long is the payback period? That’s where Alaska Heat Smart’s heat pump assessment program comes in. With funding from the federal department of Housing and Urban Development, Alaska Heat Smart contracts with Kempy Energetics and others to provide heat pump assessments. We’ll spend about half an hour at each home, talking with the homeowner, learning about their concerns and interests, then run a few numbers to estimate costs and annual savings for different heat pump options. The homeowners get a report back within a week laying out their options and recommendations. We strive to provide actionable information so that homeowners can decide whether or not to pursue a heat pump installation and be informed as they work with contractors to develop a final plan and complete the project. Alaska Heat Smart gives some more details about the program here.
With residential electricity prices in Juneau stable around 12 cents/kWh, available local hydropower capacity, and temperatures that rarely dip below 0˚F, Juneau is a fantastic place for heat pumps. Back in 2011, the Southeast Alaska Integrated Resource Plan (SEAIRP) stated, “Typical air source heat pump systems lose efficiency rapidly at temperatures below 30˚F.” Since then, heat pump technology has matured significantly. Off-the-shelf units boast efficient operation to -13˚F (for example, the Daikin Aurora), and peer reviewed studies document efficiencies nearly two times greater than electric resistance heaters at 0˚F (Wu et al). An Alaskan heat pump performance calculator suggests annual heat pump efficiency in Juneau will be more than 2.5 times better than resistance heaters (heat pump calculator). Given that upwards of 15% of Juneau’s total energy demand is met with fuel oil for heating (Juneau Renewable Energy Strategy), retrofitting homes with alternative heating systems is essential to meeting Juneau’s climate goals (Juneau’s Changing Climate and Community Response).
The heat pump assessment program brings the national scale climate and housing objectives represented by federal investment in Alaska Heat Smart all the way to individual homeowners in Juneau. Kempy Energetics is grateful for the chance to support a local solution to global challenges through engagement, communication, and quantitative analysis.