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Research & Programs

Heat Pump Planner: Clean Heating, Cooling, and Water Heating Options for Homes

A comprehensive end-user guide to help the public learn more about heat pump technology, the types available, installation and operation costs, and questions to ask an installer.

Highlights

Introduction to heat pumps for homeowners
Key considerations for using heat pumps in your home
Cost considerations and questions to ask installers
Scenario-based approaches to selecting systems

Team

Funded by NYSERDA
Developed by Steven Winter Associates and the Building Energy Exchange

Resources

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Snow-covered sidewalk in Brooklyn lined with brownstone buildings. Steps and railings are dusted with snow, and snow piles line the sidewalk edges. A bicycle is partially buried in snow near one building, evoking a quiet, serene winter day in the city.

Research & Programs

Snow-covered sidewalk in Brooklyn lined with brownstone buildings. Steps and railings are dusted with snow, and snow piles line the sidewalk edges. A bicycle is partially buried in snow near one building, evoking a quiet, serene winter day in the city.

No Backup Needed: Right-Sized Packaged Terminal Heat Pumps (PTHPs) Can Reliably Heat NYC Apartments All Winter

A recent NYSERDA-supported study conducted by SWA shows that right-sized cold-climate packaged terminal heat pumps (PTHPs) can reliably heat New York City apartments, even with outdoor temperatures as low as 15°F, without backup systems. This study also reinforces that accurate…

Aerial view of New York City looking downtown, featuring a dense cityscape of skyscrapers with One World Trade Center prominently visible in the distance.

Research & Programs

Aerial view of New York City looking downtown, featuring a dense cityscape of skyscrapers with One World Trade Center prominently visible in the distance.

The Consequences of Under-Predicting Energy Use and Oversizing Systems in Multifamily Buildings

Passive House design can result in efficient, cost-effective, comfortable, and resilient multifamily buildings—as long as it’s based on accurate data.

New York City buildings at sunset

Research & Programs

New York City buildings at sunset

Oversizing VRF Systems Will Cost You in Equipment and Energy

In a DOE-sponsored study, SWA uncovered why one VRF system used six times less electricity per square foot than another across two similar high-rise apartment buildings in New York City.