Summer’s getting closer. Which makes this a perfect time to talk about heat pumps.

OK, that might sound a little strange. After all, heat pumps are often touted as a cleaner, safer alternative to gas furnaces, able to keep a building warm in winter while reducing carbon pollution and avoiding the risk of a gas leak.

But they’re also good to have in the summertime. That’s because a heat pump basically combines the benefits of a very efficient air-conditioner and a furnace into one unit. In a hot July, they pull the hot air out of your home to cool things down – the same process your refrigerator uses to keep the milk cold. Come December, the pump reverses the cycle to pull heat from outside into your home and keep everything toasty.

So by putting a heat pump in, you can potentially take a gas furnace out, a useful step in making your home or building all electric. You can find out more on our handy electrification page, but here’s a few quick bits to pump you up:

• How do heat pumps work? There are two main kinds. Air-source heat pumps work like an air-conditioner, transferring heat between your building and the outside air. Ground-source heat pumps move that heat between an indoor space and the ground, or a nearby water source.
• How well do heat pumps work? Because heat pumps move heat instead of burning fuel to generate it, they typically require less energy than a furnace. And yes, they can even keep up with a Colorado winter.
• How can I save on installing one? Our own Efficiency Works program offers rebates for upgrading your HVAC system to a heat pump, including a $500 bonus rebate when you bundle it with a qualifying insulation, air sealing, window, or door improvement. There’s also a state tax credit and sales tax exemption along with advice and contractor information from Boulder County’s EnergySmart program.

It all adds up to a solution that should be warmly welcomed.

And that’s cool, man. Real cool.