Wondering how heat pumps and energy efficiency can work in your own home? Scroll through the page to see videos, case studies and articles about how local homeowners are saving money and energy with clean energy upgrade projects.
- PBS News Hour Features Local Scarsdale Geothermal Project
- Year-Round Comfort in the Family Room
- Taking Climate Action in Sleepy Hollow with an Air Source Heat Pump
- Air Source Heat Pumps in Charming Katonah Cottage
- Short Term Project for Long Term Savings with Ductless Mini Splits
- Air Source Heat Pump In 100 Year Old Home
- Geothermal Sings on this Pleasantville Community TV Spotlight
- Katie and John’s Renewable Energy Garden
- Active Savings with a Passive House!
- Energy Upgrades Help the Tarrytown Historical Society Preserve Its History
- Mike and Amy Harnessed the Heat Beneath Their Feet
- Geothermal Upgrade in Tarrytown on Channel 4 Today New York
- Air Source Heat Pumps in Sleepy Hollow
- Heatpump Hotwater Heater in Tarrytown
- Geothermal Upgrade in Pelham
- The Power of Geothermal + Energy Efficiency in Hastings
- Ductless Mini Split Air Source Heat Pumps in Hastings
- LEED Silver Home in Scarsdale
- Case Studies
- In the News
PBS News Hour Features Local Scarsdale Geothermal Project
Watch the PBS News Hour feature on how more homes are using heat pumps as cheaper, greener alternative to fossil fuels. See how Scarsdale resident Elaine Weir got rid of her old gas furnace and air conditioning system at her home in Scarsdale, New York. All of it was replaced with two heat pumps in her basement attached to closed-loop geothermal wells.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/more-homes-using-heat-pumps-as-cheaper-greener-alternative-to-fossil-fuels
Year-Round Comfort in the Family Room
When Padma Sridhar and her family decided to renovate their home and build an addition in 2018, they knew next to nothing about air source heat pumps. However, when their contractor suggested using one to heat and cool the addition, the Sridhars took a leap of faith and decided to install the new system. Ever since, the family has noticed that the air-source heat pump keeps the room comfortable year-round, making for a great family space. The family has also enjoyed the ability to adjust the temperature of the room by remote control. As for energy savings, the energy bills for the new addition have risen by nearly 40% less than the expected amount. In the future, the Sridhars are hoping to transition their entire house to an air-source heat pump system, keeping them cool for years to come.
For further information on home energy efficiency and clean heating & cooling solutions please visit https://sustainablewestchester.org/energysmarthomes
Taking Climate Action in Sleepy Hollow with an Air Source Heat Pump
Alison and her family live in Sleepy Hollow. When their air conditioning system dating back to the 1990’s broke, they had to make a decision. Replace with the same system or upgrade to air source heat pumps. They felt this opportunity was a turning point in being prepared for the future and that it was the right thing to do. Alison said “if we want climate action to happen we need to start with ourselves and do what we can within our own household.”
Air Source Heat Pumps in Charming Katonah Cottage
Mark and his family have been experiencing the benefits of a whole-house air source heat pump for nearly two decades. In 2020 he upgraded his almost twenty year old air source heat pump to a newer model of a cold climate air source heat pump. The family uses air source heat pumps to provide air conditioning and dehumidification more efficiently than window units and most central air conditioning systems. They love the customized heating and cooling control the unit can provide to their guests staying in the cottage.
Short Term Project for Long Term Savings with Ductless Mini Splits
Tom and his family moved into their New Rochelle home in 2018, drawn in by its historic charm. However, like many other older buildings in Westchester, their new home lacked central air conditioning or proper insulation, instead using a wasteful and inefficient oil heating system. When friends in the neighborhood introduced the family to Sustainable Westchester’s programs, Tom knew it was time for a change. The family has since re-insulated their house and installed air-source heat pumps on the ground floor of their house. These high-tech heat pumps use sensors to heat and cool the home as efficiently as possible, reducing the family’s heating bills – and usage of fossil fuels – by a huge margin.
Air Source Heat Pump In 100 Year Old Home
LoHud reporter David Wilson speaks with a Pelham resident who installed heat pumps at his home. The technology provides both heating and cooling. Click the image to access the video on the LoHud website. Produced by Seth Harrison/lohud, Rockland/Westchester Journal News.
Geothermal Sings on this Pleasantville Community TV Spotlight
Host of What’s Up Pleasantville, Joanna VanTrees, learns about geothermal home heating and cooling from Frank Shiner who recently made the switch in his home. Frank’s house was consuming 1,000 gallons of oil a year and is now fossil fuel free + comfortable and efficient. Then Joanna talks to Pleasantville Village Building Inspector, Robert Hughes. Click the image to access the video on the PCTV website. Thank you to PCTV for producing this video.
Katie and John’s Renewable Energy Garden
Katie Alberte and John Bell have a long history of making their Ossining home as sustainable as possible, from installing energy efficient insulation to cultivating a fruit and vegetable garden in their backyard. So when their air conditioning compressor began to break down last year, they knew it was time to make another eco-friendly upgrade. Katie scheduled a home energy assessment with Dandelion Geothermal, who helped them to install new geothermal heating and cooling systems. The couple also decided to install a new heat pump hot water heater, as well as solar panels to power their home. With the help of government incentives and tax credits, Katie and John ended up paying less than half of the original price for the entire project. Today, the couple’s new systems have drastically lowered their energy bills and their fossil fuel emissions, making their home more efficient and comfortable than ever.
For further information on home energy efficiency and clean heating & cooling solutions please visit https://sustainablewestchester.org/energysmarthomes
Active Savings with a Passive House!
When Emily Sack and Bob Schloss decided to purchase a fixer-upper home in Ossining a few years ago, they saw the opportunity to not just re-design the house, but to completely transform it. In just under a year, Emily and Bob renovated their home to meet the standards for a Passive House. These types of buildings are designed to reach net-zero energy usage, and Emily and Bob’s home is only the fifth Passive House in all of Westchester. The couple worked with Sustainable Westchester to install air-source heat pumps throughout the house, providing a low-impact way to heat and cool their home. They also installed countless other pieces of green technology, from state-of-the-art solar panels and insulation to their rooftop garden. Emily and Bob’s home is now more comfortable and sustainable than ever, showing how eco-friendly houses may provide a bright future for homeowners everywhere.
For further information on home energy efficiency and clean heating & cooling solutions please visit https://sustainablewestchester.org/energysmarthomes
Energy Upgrades Help the Tarrytown Historical Society Preserve Its History
“The Historical Society serving Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown is heating and cooling with air source heat pumps, also known as ductless mini-splits.
Read more here: https://thehudsonindependent.com/energy-upgrades-help-the-tarrytown-historical-society-preserve-its-history/“
For further information on home energy efficiency and clean heating & cooling solutions please visit https://sustainablewestchester.org/energysmarthomes
Mike and Amy Harnessed the Heat Beneath Their Feet
Mike and Amy wanted to make their Pelham residence the perfect place to raise their two children – despite the lack of air conditioning, disruptive oil heating system, and improper insulation in the 105-year-old home. When they set out to make upgrades to the historic house, they contacted Dandelion Geothermal and quickly discovered how these upgrades could benefit both their home and their wallet. Not only have their heating bills become far more affordable, but their home has also become much more comfortable.
For further information on home energy efficiency and clean heating & cooling solutions please visit https://sustainablewestchester.org/energysmarthomes
Geothermal Upgrade in Tarrytown on Channel 4 Today New York
Environmental consciousness and energy savings caused this family to renovate their house with a geothermal heat pump in 2019. Rebates from Con Edison and NYSERDA significantly reduced the install cost and the family now saves $1,500 a year in heating and cooling costs.
Air Source Heat Pumps + An Induction Stove in Sleepy Hollow
The Arons family moved to Sleepy Hollow in November 2019 and set out to renovate their home’s insulation and air-conditioning systems. Thanks to New York State’s EmPower program, the family was able to pursue these energy-efficient upgrades. The program provides funding for eligible customers looking to make home energy upgrades, and helped the Arons family schedule a free home energy assessment. The family has since installed four air-source heat pumps, and uses solar panels for electricity. These new systems have not only made the Arons’ heating bills more consistent and affordable; they have also helped to build a better, more sustainable future for the family’s children.
Geothermal Upgrade in Pelham
Mike and Amy wanted to make their Pelham residence the perfect place to raise their two children – despite the lack of air conditioning, disruptive oil heating system, and improper insulation in the 105-year-old home. When they set out to make upgrades to the historic house, they contacted Dandelion Geothermal and quickly discovered how these upgrades could benefit both their home and their wallet. Not only have their heating bills become far more affordable, but their home has also become much more comfortable.
The Power of Geothermal + Energy Efficiency in Hastings
Hastings-on-Hudson homeowners Haven and Don explored ground source heat pumps as a possible home heating and cooling option two years ago, as their furnace clearly reached the end of its life. Already determined to wean themselves from fossil fuels, they worked with Sustainable Westchester to line up Dandelion, a Google company that was just beginning its operations in the Hudson Valley. “Dandelion helped us get credits to bring our $40,000 quote way down, even below what we would have spent to install a new furnace,” says Haven.
LEED Silver Home in Scarsdale
This craftsman-built colonial-style home, with the latest environmental features, maximizes comfort for sustainable and energy-efficient family living! (featured in Westchester Magazine, March 2021
Testimonials
“We installed an air source heat pump that provides both heating and cooling for our entire first floor about 4 years ago. It is our main source of heating in the cold season and cooling in the warm season. It’s quiet and very energy efficient, saves us a lot of money on heating oil and provides an enjoyably cool and dry environment in the summer!”
– Kevin G., Pelham
“If you care about climate change, there’s something you can actually do.”
– Haven C., Hastings-on-Hudson
“I have both ducted and ductless mini splits, best thing I ever spent money on.”
– Charles V. Minozzi Jr., Building Inspector, Village of Hastings-on-Hudson
We installed an air source heat pump that provides both heating and cooling
“We installed an air source heat pump that provides both heating and cooling for our entire first floor about 4 years ago. It is our main source of heating in the cold season and cooling in the warm season. It’s quiet and very energy efficient, saves us a lot of money on heating oil and provides an enjoyably cool and dry environment in the summer!”
– Kevin G., Pelham
A win-win for us!
“A win-win for us!”
– Renato D., Dobbs Ferry
Adding the heat pumps was one
“Adding the heat pumps was one our best investments!”
– Kathy D., Dobbs Ferry
If you care about climate change
“If you care about climate change, there’s something you can actually do.”
– Haven C., Hastings-on-Hudson
I have both ducted and ductless mini splits
“I have both ducted and ductless mini splits, best thing I ever spent money on.”
– Charles V. Minozzi Jr., Building Inspector, Village of Hastings-on-Hudson
Our cottage was warmed up with
“Our cottage was warmed up with the heat pumps, we love it!”
– Dan W., Lewisboro
Pairing our new heat pumps
“Pairing our new heat pumps with energy efficiency upgrades made sense.”
– Sarah S., Sleepy Hollow
We love how quiet our geothermal
“We love how quiet our geothermal heating and cooling system is”
– Michele R., Pound Ridge
Case Studies
Explore the EnergySmart Homes Case Studies for detailed descriptions of clean energy upgrade projects. Find out the specifics behind your Westchester neighbor’s air source heat pump, geothermal and energy efficiency projects here.
Geothermal Heat Pump, Heat Pump Hot Water Heater, and more – Pelham
Geothermal + Heat Pump Hot Water Heater – Ossining
Insulation and Air Sealing – Ossining
For More Information
Contact Lauren Brois
lauren@sustainablewestchester.org
914-242-4725 x122
Email inquires to
energysmarthomes@sustainablewestchester.org
energysmarthomes@sustainablewest
chester.org
