Whether you are building a new home or updating an existing home with a ducted or ductless heating and cooling system, Minnesota Power and participating municipal utilities offer rebates on a variety of heating and cooling systems to meet your needs or requirements. We also recommend that you look at your home as an energy-efficient system that can be optimized through thermal integrity improvements—insulation and air sealing. This will complement the value of installing an energy-efficient heating and cooling system. If you are building a new home, we recommend you participate in our Triple E New Construction Program. If you are updating your existing home, we recommend you air seal and insulate your existing home—you can identify air leaks through a Home Energy Analysis with Building Diagnostics.

Work with a product and program trained participating contractor to help determine the type of heating and cooling system that is the "right fit" for your home and also meets your job requirements. These energy-efficient heating and cooling options include the following:

• Forced air furnace with integrated electronically-commutated motor (ECM) for energy efficient heating and cooling and Replacement ECM motor in existing furnace or heat pump.
  
  
• Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP)—heating and cooling in one integrated system for both ducted and ductless distribution systems. It requires a supplemental electric heating source during cold winter months. Electricity must be the primary heating source.
  
  
• Ground Source Heat Pump—heating and cooling in one system using the earth as a heat source and heat sink. It is applicable to both forced air systems and radiant floor heating. No backup heating source is required.

Beyond the installation of a heating and cooling system, you should include some of the following activities:

• Turn down the temperature in the winter, and turn up the temperature in the summer. As a rule of thumb, you can save about two or more percent on heating usage for every degree you reduce the temperature in your home, so if you keep your temperature at 70 degrees rather than 72 degrees, you could save about 4 percent on your heating usage. There is a similar relationship for cooling your home. If you keep your home at 78 degrees rather than 76 degrees, you can save about 4 percent on your cooling costs. Note: Heat pumps should be set at a constant temperature and not turned up and down during the day.
  
  
• Make sure your installer shows you how to properly operate the heating and cooling system. How you operate your system can impact energy usage by as much as 50 percent.
  
  
• Make sure your heating and cooling system is properly installed. This would include proper sizing, duct assessment, and refrigerant charge and air flow analysis. This is a requirement for contractors participating in Minnesota Power's rebate program.
  
  
• Consider installing a drain water heat recovery (DWHR) system to enhance the efficiency of your electric water heater and optimize the use of water in your home.
  
  
• Complete an online home energy assessment and participate in the Power of One® Portal to develop a customized action plan for getting the most for your energy dollar and to measure your progress toward your energy-saving goals.
  
  
• Review Building Up newsletters for more information on energy efficient building practices and products.

When you ask the question, "Where do I begin to start saving energy and dollars, enhance comfort, reduce waste, and benefit the environment?" our response is, "It begins with you." You have the power to determine how you use energy. We can provide you the tools to develop a Power of One® Home Action Plan to help you achieve your goals based on your personal needs and home requirements. Power of One® … it begins with you.