On one of the coldest days Michiganders have felt in years, Lori and Mitch Coleman invited Sierra Club members and supporters to tour their all-electric home in West Michigan. The temperature average on the day we visited their home was 5°F, which was a true test of whether a heat pump can keep up with heating a Michigan home on a cold day.
What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is an alternative device to gas, oil or propane furnaces. It uses electricity to move heat from a colder place to a warmer place. So, in winter it heats your home and during summer it cools your home. Heat pumps are available as either an air-, ground- or water-source. Air sources are the most common because they’re easier and less expensive to install. The other thing to know is heat pumps can connect to ductwork or be ductless and connect to mini-split heads which allow control of heat and cooling in each room.
You might wonder why someone would want to replace their fossil fuel furnace with a heat pump. For the Colemans, their main motivation was their desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and live sustainably. Secondly, they want to save money on their energy bills.
[credit: Lori Coleman, Carrier Performance Multi-zone High-heat Heat Pump - 48,000 BTU]
The Tour
We started the tour in the main living area, where one of the mini-split heads is located. The single unit heats and cools the entire main living space most of the year.
Their lower level is heated by a second mini-split head. The home has a third mini-split to heat and cool the master bedroom and bathroom.
[photo credit: Tamara Horne, mini-split heads in living room and bedroom]
On the day we visited, the Colemans had a fire in their high-efficiency, wood-burning fireplace on the main level. Lori Coleman explained, “The fire isn’t necessary to heat our home unless the power is out, which happens a few times a year.” Additionally, the home has electric baseboard heaters in two bedrooms for when the doors are closed to the main room. The baseboard heaters weren’t running or needed on the day we visited. Considering we visited on such a cold day, everyone found the indoor temperature to be comfy!
Suggestions to Electrify Your Home Energy
- Start by requesting a home energy audit. This creates a list of items to change or replace.
- Before making a change or replacing your fossil fuel appliances, check if there are residential tax incentives you can apply using IRS form 5695. A good place to start is Rewiring America’s personal electrification planner.
- Make a plan and start making energy efficiency changes bit by bit. Changes may include adding insulation to your home, sealing windows, swapping light bulbs, and replacing old appliances with Energy Star-certified electric appliances.
Coleman home specifications
- 1955 ranch home
- 1200 square feet
- Electric panel upgraded from 200 to 400 amp service
- Carrier Performance Multi-zone High-heat Heat Pump - 48,000 BTU
- 3 Mini-split Heads