By Laurence U. Buxbaum, MD-PhD, Member, Southeastern Pennsylvania Group; Volunteer, Pennsylvania Chapter Advocacy Team
Recent newspaper articles on tax incentives for cleaner energy confirm my household’s experience. We replaced our broken central air conditioner with a heat pump. A heat pump is an air conditioner in summer, and can provide most of our winter heating. When we got it tuned well, we saved 296 gallons (59%) of heating oil. Consequently, we used 3,300 more kilowatt-hours (69%) of electricity—but since electricity is cheaper than heating oil, we saved $535, not even counting decreases in the oil furnace’s cleaning costs. Because we purchase renewable electricity, we also decreased our CO2 emissions by 6,630 pounds—like a gas-powered car’s driving almost 7,400 miles!
Heat pumps cost slightly more than efficient air conditioners ($1000-2000 more). We got a $350 PECO rebate and $2000 federal tax credit (program expires December 31). Heat pump systems vary based on whether you have forced air (easy to exchange an A/C with a heat pump) or radiators (mini-split heat pumps comparable to window air conditioners are needed). Installing a heat pump when you need a new A/C is a win-win, with money savings and greatly reduced greenhouse gas emissions! You can calculate how much money a heat pump saves here.
This blog was included as part of the November 2025 Sylvanian newsletter. Please click here to check out more articles from this edition!