Massachusetts Clean Heating and Cooling (CH&C) Calculator
Calculate the potential savings from switching to a CH&C technology and your annual carbon savings with this easy-to-use tool.
HOW TO USE THIS TOOL
Use the tool below to estimate the potential cost savings and greenhouse gas emissions savings from switching all or a portion of your home’s heat from fuel oil, propane, natural gas, or electric baseboard to a CH&C solution. You can choose from a variety of CH&C technologies; the tool covers air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps (sometimes called geothermal systems), solar hot water, heat pump water heaters, and wood biomass pellet boilers.
The tool includes links for more information on the types of CH&C technologies and to heat distribution systems. However, we recommend that you visit this page [insert hyperlink to another page that we need to create with an overview of CH&C technologies] before using the calculator to learn more about each of the CH&C technologies covered by this tool.
This tool provides an estimated range of savings based on your inputs and using current energy rates by zip code. To get the most accurate estimate, you may want to have both a recent electric and fuel bill in hand. We provide both cost and emissions savings as an estimated range because there are many variables that can affect your actual savings such as the extent of your home’s insulation, the current cost of fuel, the layout of your home and the placement of your new CH&C system, the addition of cooling, and the severity of the winter.
TOOL RESULTS
The CH&C calculator results include available state-wide incentives. The annual cost savings reflect the difference between the annual fuel baseline and CH&C energy costs. Cost savings are presented as a value and as a percent. Note that a negative value means that the user will not realize any savings by switching to a CH&C technology.
The annual emissions savings reflect the difference between the current system’s greenhouse gas emissions and the emissions associated (if any) with the CH&C technology.
Simple payback reflects the capital cost of the new CH&C equipment divided by the annual fuel cost savings over time. Note that some CH&C projects can be financed so that there is no initial investment required and thus the payments are smaller than the value of the energy savings. A project financed under these conditions will begin recuperating pay back immediately.
HOW TO USE YOUR SUMMARY REPORT
The tool provides a downloadable summary report. Save this report for your records and then play around with the variables in the tool. How do the savings change if you increase the efficiency (i.e. weatherization improvements) of your home or if the price of fuel increases?
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
The tool is designed to give users an initial estimate of the potential cost savings and greenhouse gas emission savings of installing a Clean Heating and Cooling (CH&C) system. Actual savings will be determined by the design of the specific system, features of the specific home, residents’ energy use, and other variables.
We do not guarantee that the savings projected by the tool will be achieved by a specific CH&C installation.
Users should not rely on this tool alone when making purchase decisions.
This calculator is designed to be informational and educational only, and when used alone, does not constitute technical advice. We strongly recommend that you seek the advice of a professional before making any type of purchase decision. This model is provided as an initial estimate of potential cost and greenhouse gas emissions savings. The results presented by this calculator are hypothetical and may not reflect the actual savings and costs of your own specific situation, which may vary due to a variety of inputs such as building square footage and configuration, current heat load and system size, current heating system, location, climate zone, and incentives. The Clean Energy States Alliance, Connecticut Green Bank, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment, Avangrid, and their affiliates are not responsible for the consequences of any decisions or actions taken in reliance upon or because of the information provided by these tools. THE CALCULATOR IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT ANY EXPLICIT OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. YOUR USE OF THE CALCULATOR IS AT YOUR OWN RISK.
The Massachusetts CH&C Calculator was developed by the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) in partnership with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.