Heat Pumps

Howard County government has a new program to help residents save money by upgrading to more efficient, modern heat pump systems.

Heat Pumps – The Sustainable HVAC Choice

A heat pump keeps your home warm in winter and cool in summer, all with one energy-efficient system. Instead of burning fuel on-site, it uses electricity to move heat in or out of your home, making it cleaner, healthier, and more efficient than a traditional furnace.

  • Heat pumps reduce health risks compared to other systems with cleaner indoor air and no carbon monoxide risk.
  • 19% of Maryland homes have electric heat pumps. Maryland’s climate is very suitable for heat pumps. Modern heat pumps can also handle colder climates and are becoming more popular in states with colder winters as well.
  • Many times, heating and air conditioning systems are only upgraded when they are broken. This leads to a lack of choice and time to consider the best options and price. It is advantageous to begin researching replacement systems once a system is reaching the end of its lifespan.
  • Oil and propane heat have the highest amounts of pollution, so converting from these to a heat pump has the most potential to save homeowners money and reduce emissions in our community.
  • Rebates and tax incentives exist, but a federal tax credit ended in 2025.

Switch Together Heat Pump Co-op

To help residents increase home comfort and savings while increasing their energy efficiency, Howard County’s Office of Community Sustainability created the Howard County Switch Together: Heat Pump Co-op. The program is focused on helping residents upgrade to more efficient heating and cooling systems. Residents switching from oil or propane to an energy-efficient heat pump can expect the highest savings, but the program is open to all homes, including those switching from natural gas or electric furnaces.

Switch Together is designed to leverage group buying power to secure a discount from the most qualified contractors who also understand how to apply existing incentives to maximize resident savings. It is a “win-win” because the contractors get help in customer acquisition, reducing their costs, while homeowners benefit from having vetted contractors and lower pricing.

More details about heat pumps and the Switch Together program can be found at Heat Pumps | Switch Together.

Here’s how it works:

1. Register: Complete a brief survey at switchtogether.com/howardcounty/register. The questions focus on your home and current heating system to assess your eligibility. You will be asked to answer a few questions, including address, property type, current heating system, home size, insulation quality, and whether there is adequate outdoor space. This information will be used to determine if your home is a good fit for a heat pump system. Residents have until May 27 to sign up but are strongly encouraged to sign up as soon as possible to get the process started.

2. Personal Offer: You will receive a personal offer via email, based on your registration details. This offer will include your estimated costs, group savings, and information about your selected contractor.

3. You Decide: You decide if you want to move forward with the offer and pay a $150 refundable deposit.

4. Installation: After the deposit, your assigned, vetted contractor will contact you for a site survey, finalize your proposal, and set an installation date. The deadline to accept the proposal is May 27, 2026.

While Howard County Government supports energy efficiency upgrades, it does not endorse any specific vendor or contractor.

Costs and Incentives

Homeowners can save an average of $1,000 per year in energy costs by switching from inefficient heating and cooling systems that run on oil or propane, plus thousands in savings from utility rebates. Upgrading from natural gas or old heat pumps to new ones will also have significant annual savings.

This program takes the guesswork out of complicated rebates and tax credits and offers flexible financing options to make upgrading to a heat pump easier and more affordable.

Incentives include:

  • Utility rebates through BGE or Potomac Edison can reduce the cost of a new air conditioning and heating system by $4,000 – $15,000. Your contractor can walk you through the options and submit the application for you.
  • Maryland Clean Energy Center offers 0% financing for 2 years and low interest rates after that through the Clean Energy Advantage Loan Program for residential energy improvements.
  • The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit provided as much as $2,000 in tax savings for improvements made through December 31, 2025.

Community Action Council

Low- and moderate-income households may qualify for further incentives or even free upgrades. Howard County has partnered with the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) to fund the Climate Forward Homes program to cover the full cost of switching from oil or propane to a heat pump for income-qualifying households. In addition, CAC can provide free weatherization services such as insulation and other energy-saving upgrades to income eligible households. Find more details and income eligibility guidelines at cac-hc.org/climate-forward.

Questions

Questions specific to your home or your Switch Together registration should be directed to support@switchtogether.com or 1-888-691-7415. Feel free to contact the Office of Community Sustainability for general questions about the program, OCS@howardcountymd.gov, 410-313-0700.