REGION – More than 130 Vermont heating contractors and installers gathered Wednesday, March 4, at the Vermont Construction Academy in Winooski, Vt., for a training on the next generation of air to water heat pump (AWHP) technology, an ultra-efficient and money-saving heating solution designed for buildings in Vermont’s cold climate.
The summit featured hands-on demonstrations from leading AWHP manufacturers like Mitsubishi, Arctic Heat Pumps, and NTI. AWHPs are an ideal fit for Vermont homes and buildings that rely on conventional boilers for heating. Boilers deliver heat via hot water, piped through the building, called hydronic (water-based) heating systems. AWHPs provide hydronic heating and cooling, providing year-round comfort.
The AWHP summit was led by John Siegenthaler, a licensed professional engineer with more than 36 years of experience designing hydronic heating systems. Author of multiple textbooks and featured in numerous professional publications, Siegenthaler’s expertise will help Vermont installers integrate AWHPs into existing designs and retrofits, as well as design efficient new heating systems.
Experts and installers attending the summit included Andrew Boutin of Pellergy LLC, offering renewable heating and cooling solutions across New England, based in Montpelier, Vt.; Jeffrey Grenier of Master Plumbing & Heating, based in Ludlow, Vt.; Tim Jeffers of Al Jeffers & Sons Plumbing & Heating, based in Townshend, Vt.; Dave Korn of Ridgeline Energy Analytics, an energy analytics and consulting firm based in Stow, Mass.; Associated Builders & Contractors of New Hampshire/Vermont chapter leaders Joshua Reap, president and CEO, Matt Musgrave, Vermont regional director, and Ross Lavoie, of Vermont Construction Academy, manager and instructor, based in Winooski, Vt.
A total of 14 sponsors of the AWHP summit had equipment onsite, including live demos of working AWHP equipment from Mitsubishi, Arctic Heat Pumps, and NTI. Equipment from companies like LG, Samsung, and SpacePak were also on site.
Efficiency Vermont offers up to $6,500 in rebates for AWHP systems. Currently, there are more than 50 installers in the statewide Efficiency Excellence Network trained in AWHP technology.
In addition to advancing the latest in heat pump technology, Efficiency Vermont also promotes multiple ways for Vermont households and businesses to more effectively heat their homes with heat pumps. This includes weatherization rebates and financing support, which help lower energy costs and increase energy efficiency. Additional support includes technology like smart controls for heat pump systems, customer and contractor outreach, and other complementary actions that can help Vermonters get the most out of heat pump technology.