AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP

It’s the best of both worlds. Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) provide home cooling and supplemental heating with less electricity than conventional air conditioners and furnaces. You can switch between cooling and heating directly from the thermostat, putting you in complete control.

When you need to cool your home, ASHPs outperform standard central air conditioners by extracting the existing heat from inside your home and pumping it outside. An ASHP can also be controlled during periods of high demand on the EnergyWise® Cycled Air Conditioning Program.

The cooling process is reversed when you use an ASHP to provide supplemental heat. By extracting the existing warmth from the outdoor air and pumping it into your home, you’ll be able to run your furnace less. During the spring and fall, you may not need to run your furnace at all. In addition, an ASHP qualifies as an acceptable electric heat source for the EnergyWise® Dual Fuel Heating Program.

There are numerous ASHP resources available to homeowners here, including:

• FAQs
• Case Studies
• Buying Guides
• Product Finders
• News Articles

COST COMPARISON

This EnergyWise Cost Comparison Chart shows the benefit of cooling and heating a 2,000 square foot home with an air source heat pump rated at 250% efficient and operating on a Stearns Electric EnergyWise rate.

GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMP

Combining heating and cooling into one convenient, versatile unit, Ground-Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) offer ultimate home temperature control, operating with 300–400% energy efficiency.

Thanks to energy provided by the sun, there’s enough stored heat underground to heat an entire household—even during the harshest Minnesota winters. These pumps use this “free energy” by directing the heat indoors, using only small amounts of electricity, where it’s compressed into a higher temperature before being distributed throughout the home. In addition, when combined with an acceptable backup heating system, members can save nearly 50% on their home heating bill through the EnergyWise® Dual Fuel Program.

The process is reversed to provide home cooling. Indoor heat is transferred underground and dispersed into the cool earth. A GSHP can also be controlled during periods of high demand on the EnergyWise® Central Air Conditioning Program.

To learn more about Ground Source Heat Pumps,  download this brochure.

EnergyWise Rebates   Efficiency Loans

Air source heat pumps must be enrolled on the EnergyWise Cycled Air Conditioning and Dual Fuel Programs.

By enrolling in these programs, members receive nearly half price electricity for their heating and cooling. This savings can make a significant impact in your finances.