energy audit before converting to heat pumps (maybe)
We are reducing our carbon footprint on a 2 family row house in Bed-Stuy. So far, we have installed solar panels and insulated the outside walls in the basement (it has a party wall on one side only. the other side, not.)
We currently have a heat system of heated water through baseboards powered by gas. The heat system is relatively new – about 5 or 6 years old. For AC, we use window units.
Eventually we want to replace it and thinking of heat pumps. We also want to replace it to reduce the carbon footprint AND to use up the electricity we are generating through the solar panels. RN we don’t even come close.
First step is energy audit. Would NYSERDA energy audit give us what we need? We will probably do it anyway as it is free.
Also, any websites or vendors that deal with row houses? Most of my internet research seems to deal with single family detached houses, which is not my situation.
lafayetteloruren
in General Discussion 2 years ago
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lafayetteloruren
in General Discussion 2 years ago
Putnamdenizen – yes, it is looking like we would replace the gas heating system sooner than the life of the system. OTOH, for our unit, it struggles in the colder winter days to maintain temperature. We feel that it is worth it. The only thing stopping us from doing it rn is $.
lafayetteloruren
in General Discussion 2 years ago
Sorry for the wacky grammar/spelling. Not so good at thumb typing
lafayetteloruren
in General Discussion 2 years ago
Yes, that was the idea – It will cost more to switch to electricity. We didn’t know when when would switch from gas to electric, but to have it in place when we did. We installed the maximum panels our roof could manage. So now we researching for the next steps. In NYC, as Lurker says – you get credit. We have had an electric bill of about $20 (the ConEd connection charge) and the credit adding up.
Lurker | 2 years ago
Depends on the locality. In some places you get a check from your utility for excess production. In NYC you get a credit to your electric bill. We regularly overproduce which is great IMO–it gives you room for changing your systems in the future, which we planned for, but also if the city/locality change policies you may be able to sell that excess.
Putnamdenizen | 2 years ago
It is unusual to install a solar system that overproduces – was this on purpose to allow for future expanded use of electricity? One thing that people are considering more carefully now are the carbon footprint of construction materials, cost of discarding still functional systems etc. Maybe this is part of your process?