- Home
- Government
- Departments
- Sustainability
- Sustainability at Home
- Heat Pump Case Studies
Heat Pump Case Studies
Are you ready to join Concord residents who have made the switch to climate-friendly heat pump technology?
Watch testimonial videos and read case studies to learn more.
Have heat pump questions? Learn more about how the Concord Clean Comfort program and heating/ cooling coaches can help.
CASE STUDIES
Thanks to Concord's Comprehensive Sustainability and Energy Committee, we have a number of case studies about Concord residents who have transitioned their homes to climate-friendly heat pumps for heating and cooling. The case studies cover a range of home sizes and styles, new construction and retrofits, and everything from partial conversions to whole-home transitions to electric. Explore these case studies to learn from your neighbors about how a heat pump transition could work for you.
The Van de Wilden Home - Choosing Electric for a New Concord Home
For MaryWren and Philip van de Wilden, going electric with their new build was a top priority. When their boys grew up and moved out, longtime Concord residents, the van der Wildens knew it was time for a differently configured home. The answer was a custom-designed new build where part of the house could be closed off when not needed, thereby saving on bills and energy use. Click to read the case study.
The Miller Home - Living in a new construction net-zero ready home
When Janet was looking for a house in Concord in 2011, she wanted to be in walking distance of shops and public transport. She found that and far more in Concord Riverwalk, an energy-efficient housing development that was under construction. She has always been an environmentalist and this was perfect to her. Janet is happy to report that she now been happily ensconced in her comfortable, energy-efficient house for almost a decade! Click here to read the case study.
The Sharpe Home - Installing heat pumps, one floor at a time
Doug and Ann Sharpe installed a partial house heat pump system in 2020 when an air conditioning unit needed replacement. They are prioritizing replacing fossil fuel equipment with heat pumps when their heating and cooling equipment reach end of life. Click here to read the case study.
The Jones Home - From oil to ground-source heat pumps
After living in her Concord home for over 25 years, Sharon Jones made the decision to transition off fossil fuels to heat and cool her home. Now with a ground-source heat pump, she has seen an enormous increase in comfort level. “It’s perfect all the time,” she says. “It’s like being in the lobby of a nice hotel. It’s always perfect and you don’t even think about it.” Click here to read the case study.
The Mueller Home - Striving for net zero with solar and heat pumps
Josef and Linda moved to Concord in 2010. They studied their energy needs for their new home for the first year and developed a goal to try to make their home net zero energy. In 2011 they started making energy improvements. Click here to read the case study.
The Moriarty Home - Weatherization and heat pumps provide savings
Brad & Allison Moriarty retrofitted their Concord home in 2015. At the time, it was heated with oil and electric resistance, and poorly insulated, resulting in high heating costs. They made a decision to retrofit for efficiency by improving the home's weatherization and installing a new heat pump system. Click here to read the case study.
The Hubbard-Nelson Home - Transition from gas to heat pumps in stages
The Hubbard-Nelsons are working to move their home from gas to air-source heat pumps. Andrea and Brad have been in their Nashawtuc Rd home since 2014, and have been slowly transitioning their home to electric in an effort to get off fossil fuels. The heat pumps have made the home more comfortable in winter and especially summer, with low energy costs thanks to a Solar PV array on the roof. Click here to read the case study.
The Benjamin Home - Taking advantage of HeatSmart to transition to air-source heat pumps
The Benjamins moved to their home on Sudbury Road in 2012 and it was during the 2018 HeatSmart campaign that they made the decision to replace their oil heat. The decision was based on improving home comfort and the desire to get off fossil fuels, and they did it in a big way, including deep weatherization, solar PV and air-source heat pumps. Click here to read the case study.
The Aley Home - All-electric new home to cut carbon
Over their family’s 25 or so years in Concord, the Aleys have built two other homes from the ground up. But this one, newly built and bordering lovely Warners Pond in West Concord, was going to be different. This one would be electric! Click here to read the case study.
The Terry Home - Transitioning from oil to ground-source heat pumps
The Terrys installed solar in 2012 and in 2018 transitioned to a ground-source heat pump system. They are very happy with the improved level of comfort as well as having done the right thing for the environment. Click here to read the case study.
The Tritsch Home – Heat pump provides half the noise and twice the comfort
When the Tritsch’s oil-fired, forced hot air furnace gave up the ghost, it was the ideal time to address many of the HVAC problems that had plagued the 1951 mid-century modern house. Despite an ongoing campaign to improve insulation and weatherization, the old HVAC system was noisy, the lower level was always cold, and the air flow was inconsistent. A new ducted air source heat pump, using the existing ductwork and fitted with “smart vents” to control the air flow, provides year-round comfort and savings. Click here to read the case study.
The Slack Home - Heat Pumps Provide Comfort to 0°F in Older Home
When the Slack family moved to Concord in 2018, they chose to remove a 40-year old oil boiler and tank and use air source heat pumps to heat and cool their 1955 Cape-style home. They sought to reduce their carbon emissions and chose to live in Concord in part because of the community’s commitment to a low-carbon future. Even when temperatures have been near 0°F, their home has been comfortable. Click here to read the case study.