2023 Trends in Home Heating and Cooling - Bend, Oregon
Author: Bill Hoelzer / Published: October 2022 / Read Time: Four Minutes
Since GreenSavers started back in 2007, we’ve seen plenty of changes in Bend and across Central Oregon.
The pace of change will only pick up in the coming years and decades. This week, we give an overview of the biggest trends that we’re seeing in our area of expertise - home heating and cooling in Bend, Oregon.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your HVAC system, start by giving us a call at 541.330.8767, or schedule a free estimate online:
How will the climate change in Bend and across Central Oregon?
According to the Third National Climate Assessment, the Northwest (Washington, Oregon, and Idaho) will rise in temperature by 3.3°F to 9.7°F by 2070, when compared to the 1970-1999 period.
Higher temperatures will cause the dry season to last longer and become more severe. In particular, summers will become especially hot with little rain.
Winter will arrive earlier, with more precipitation over a shorter period. Precipitation will gradually turn to rain, which will reduce snowpack and water supply during the hotter months.
According to the Deschutes County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, the greatest dangers that Bend is most vulnerable to are wildfires, extreme winter storms, reduced snowpack, and drought are likely to occur.
Learn more about the expected changes to the climate in our region and how the City of Bend plans to respond: Bend Community Climate Action Plan: Climate Mitigation Strategies and Actions 2020 - 2025.
#1. Trend for home heating and cooling in Bend: Prioritizing air quality
Whole-Home Air Filters Will Become a Necessity
As the prevalence of wildfire smoke increases across Central Oregon, it will become even more important to filter the air that you breathe at home.
A whole-home air filter - like the AprilAire 5000 - operates invisibly 24 hours a day or on demand. A few features of the whole-home air filters we install:
Removes 95% of smoke and smog-sized particles
Eliminates 99% of airborne particles such as viruses, pollen, mold, and spores can be up to 120 times smaller than a human hair.
Extends the lifespan of your HVAC system and reduces energy bills by keeping your HVAC system clean.
Control How Air Enters Your Home
If you have a crawlspace that hasn’t been air-sealed by GreenSavers, then there’s a good chance that 50% of the air that you breathe on the first floor originated down in the crawlspace (source).
To have more control over where air enters their homes, more homeowners are installing energy recovery ventilators (ERVs). An ERV replaces stale air in the home with fresh, filtered air, while also transferring heat and moisture to maintain the optimal temperature and humidity.
Schedule an appointment to learn more about how to improve the indoor air quality at your home in Central Oregon:
#2. Trend in Bend heating and cooling: Electrifying everything
California is on track to phase out gas furnaces in homes by 2030.
In both California and Oregon, there’s a strong push to replace gas furnaces with electric heat pumps.
Heat pumps operate much more efficiently than furnaces, and unlike a gas furnace, which burns natural gas, a heat pump runs on electricity. It has no direct carbon emissions.
In the past, there were concerns that heat pumps and ductless heat pumps wouldn’t operate efficiently in cold-weather climates like Central Oregon. That may have been a valid concern for older models, but heat pump technology has advanced significantly over the past couple decades.
Mitsubishi heat pumps are efficient even in cold weather. They operate at full capacity down to -5 degrees, then at reduced efficiency down to -13 degrees.
#3. Trend for heating and cooling Bend, OR: Investing in cooling
The average temperatures in Central Oregon are only expected to increase. To keep your home from overheating, you have two options:
Install a heat pump for efficient heating and cooling
Keep your gas furnace and add central AC
In addition to the potential for a ban at the state or county level, there are a couple other reasons that more homeowners are opting for heat pumps over the traditional furnace / AC combo.
Keep your energy bills low over time
Compared to an air conditioning system, a heat pump operates so much more efficiently that you save big on your energy bills over time.
An average U.S. homeowner will save 48% on their cooling bills when they replace an older SEER 10 air conditioner with an energy efficient SEER 19 heat pump. That’s an estimated savings of $770 over 5-years or $2,310 over 15-years.
Get consistent air filtration with a heat pump
Continuous air filtration is the key to clean air.
In contrast to central AC, which fires on and off, a heat pump operates continuously. A heat pump system cycles the air in your home through a high performance filter 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
What heating and cooling system makes sense for your home in Central Oregon? We’re happy to talk. Give us a call at 541.330.8767, or schedule a free estimate online.
Learn More About Heating and Cooling
Start by visiting our heating and cooling resource pages for homeowners in Portland or Bend, Oregon. You can also keep reading our latest blog articles about energy efficient heating and cooling.
