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Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment
Clean Energy Extension
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Clean Heating and Cooling

Clean Heating and Cooling Resources

Clean heating and cooling (also known as renewable thermal) equipment can be used to reduce fossil fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs. Established technologies include air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, solar thermal and modern wood heating.

These technologies should be considered in new construction; for replacement of failing equipment; and as an upgrade to equipment that is inefficient or expensive to operate, such as electric resistance heating, older boilers and furnaces, or window air conditioners.

These are key resources to learn more:

  • To learn more about heat pump technology and municipal applications for heat pumps, see the slides and recording from our heat pump training
  • The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's Guide to Clean Home Heating and Cooling provides detailed information on residential applications

The following links provide additional information.

Overview of Clean Heating and Cooling Technologies

  • Air-Source Heat Pumps
  • Geothermal Heat Pumps
  • Solar Thermal
  • Modern Wood Heating
  • Biogas from Anaerobic Digestion
  • Biofuels

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Programs

  • Government and Non-Profit
  • Residential

Mass Save®

  • Commercial and Industrial Electric HVAC
  • Custom Upgrade Projects
  • New Construction and Major Renovations
  • Financing for Business
  • Residential

Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

  • Renewable and Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards

ENERGY STAR®

  • Air-Source Heat Pumps
  • Ductless Heating and Cooling
  • Geothermal Heat Pumps
  • Solar Water Heaters
  • Light Commercial Heating and Cooling
  • Solar Water Heaters
  • Verified HVAC Installation

Case Studies

  • Wood Pellet Boiler – Briggs Elementary School, Ashburnham
  • Wood Pellet Boilers – Amherst College Book Depository

Building Envelope and Weatherization

  • Residential
  • Commercial

General

  • Residential Heating and Cooling Overview
  • Commercial Heating and Cooling Tips
  • Commercial Water Heating Tips

Resources

  • Greening Municipal Fleets
  • Solar
  • For Residents
  • For Municipalities
  • For Farms, Businesses, and Institutions
  • Clean Heating and Cooling

Connect with UMass Clean Energy Extension Program:

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Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment

 

Stockbridge Hall,
80 Campus Center Way
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003-9246
Phone: (413) 545-4800
Fax: (413) 545-6555
ag [at] cns [dot] umass [dot] edu (ag[at]cns[dot]umass[dot]edu)

 

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