Wondering whether a heat pump would be right for your home? The folks at heat pump installers BOXT answer the most Googled questions.
Electrek heard from Andy Pattison, head of renewables at BOXT, who answered four of the most frequently asked questions about heat pumps on Google:
What is a heat pump? (370,000 searches)
Andy Pattison: “A heat pump is an energy-efficient system that can heat your home by transferring heat from one location to another. Unlike traditional heating systems that generate heat, heat pumps extract heat from the air, ground, or water outside your home and move it indoors to warm your space through a water-based heating system like radiators or underfloor heating. This makes heat pumps a versatile and environmentally friendly option for maintaining a comfortable indoor climate during colder months.”
How does a heat pump work? (386,700 searches)
Andy Pattison: “A heat pump works by transferring heat from one place to another using electricity. In the winter, an air-to-water heat pump extracts heat from the outside air and transfers it indoors to warm your home through your water-based heating system, such as radiators or underfloor heating. This efficient system provides heating without generating heat directly, making it an energy-efficient alternative to traditional systems.
“Air-to-air heat pumps, more commonly known as air conditioning or HVAC systems, can provide both heating and cooling, making it an energy-efficient alternative to keep your home comfortable all year round.”
Are heat pumps efficient? (7,950 searches)
Andy Pattison: “Yes, heat pumps are highly efficient. They can deliver up to three times more energy than they consume by transferring rather than generating heat, making them significantly more efficient than traditional heating systems like boilers or electric heaters.
“However, their efficiency can be influenced by factors such as how well the home is insulated, the size of the radiators, and the overall design of the heating system. These elements affect how hard the heat pump needs to work to reach the desired temperature. Heat pumps can operate effectively throughout the year, offering substantial savings on energy bills and reducing carbon footprints.”
What is the average lifespan of a heat pump? (1,180 searches)
Andy Pattison: “The average lifespan of a heat pump is typically between 15 and 20 years, depending on the type of heat pump and how well it is maintained. Regular servicing and maintenance can help extend the life of the system, ensuring it operates efficiently and effectively over the years. With proper care, some heat pumps can even last beyond the 20-year mark, making them a durable and reliable option for home heating and cooling.”
The Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) provides a 30% tax credit (up to $2,000) for heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. Learn more here on Rewiring America’s rebates and credits page.
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Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.
Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.
At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).
The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.
Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.
XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?
Easy in, easy out
XCMG battery swap crane; via Etrucks New Zealand.
The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.
As “extreme” weather events become more commonplace, the demand for reliable and portable energy continues to rise. In response to that growing demand for dependable off-grid power, Volvo has developed the new PU500 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) designed to take electrical power when it’s needed most.
Designed to be deployable in a number of environments at a moment’s notice, the Volvo Energy PU500 BESS is equipped with approximately 500 kWh of usable battery capacity (up to 540 kWh total). More than enough juice, in other words, to power a remote construction site, disaster response effort, or even a music festival – anything that needs access to reliable electricity beyond a grid connection.
That’s great, but what sets the PU500 apart from other battery storage solutions is its integrated 240 kW DC fast charger.
“With an integrated CCS2 charger, the PU500 is designed to work with all brands of electric equipment, trucks, and passenger cars,” says Niklas Thulin, Head of BESS Product Offer at Volvo Energy. “This ensures that no matter what type of electric vehicle or machinery you rely on, the PU500 can provide the power you need, making it a truly flexible solution for any grid constrained site or location.”
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The integrated charger in the PU500 has the impressive ability to charge a heavy equipment asset (be that an electric semi truck or something like a wheel loader) in under two hours. Its on-board capacity allows to fully recharge up to 3 electric HD trucks or 20 electric cars per day, making it an incredibly versatile disaster response asset.