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Effectiveness of electric resistance space heaters

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Electric resistance heaters are 100% efficient. This statement is true but also somewhat confusing. The efficiency of turning electricity into heat is indeed 100% efficient. Often when systems have efficiencies <100% it is because there is some heat generated as an un-intentional byproduct. An electric motor in an EV for example might be 85% efficient, which means that 85% of the electric energy consumed by the motor is moving the car, the other 15% is heat. Since our electric resistance space heaters are only trying to make heat, they are 100% efficient.  Heat pumps on the other hand can be 300-400% efficient, because they use electricity to transfer heat from outside to inside your home. This efficiency is also called the Coefficient of Performance (COP). Another way to think about the performance of an electric resistance space heater is to look at how effective it is in warming up a room or a person. UC Berkeley's Center for the Build Environment has done decades of research...

Tools for heat pump mini split installs

 Here is a list of tools that I found helpful for the installation of heat pump mini splits. I will follow-up with more information about each tool and why I purchased it, as well as alternatives. Fieldpiece MG44 - Wireless Vacuum Gauge CPS Products VP4S Pro-Set Single Stage Vacuum Pump, 3 cfm, 10 Micron Yellow Jacket 60295 Flaring Tool with Eccentric Cone, 45 DEG, 3/16 to 3/4 in Appion MGABAS Mega Flow Basics 1/2" Hose Evacuation Kit Fieldpiece JL3PR Job Link Pressure Probe with Remote Data Logging Uniweld RHP800 Nitrogen Regulator with 0-800 psi Delivery Pressure, 2" Pro-Set TLTWSM Metric Multi-Head Click Torque Wrench Set 17mm to 29mm Jaw Sizes Appion MGAVCT 1/4" MegaFlow Vacuum-Rated Valve Core Removal Tool As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Welcome

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  Welcome to this blog. Here we will share resources about how to decarbonize your home. Decarbonizing means reducing your fossil fuel consumption for cooking, heating, clothes drying etc. Below you see a picture of a mini split heat pump that I just installed to heat and cool our bedroom. It is a small 6,000 Btu/hr (1/2 ton) unit, but this is plenty of capacity for one room. I will post a detailed list of the parts and tools I purchased to complete this install. These tools will be available to rent from us. I will also post reviews of the various tools. Mitsubishi Cold Climate Heat Pump