We installed a Carrier Infinity series heat pump about 4 years ago. It works seamlessly with our natural gas heat, and the air conditioning in summer is super efficient and very comfortable. The heat pump makes very little noise. The electricity cost is very low because we have solar.

Our Carrier GreenSpeed central air and heat pump system heats and cools the main living space in our house. We now use oil for hot water and to supplement the heat pump in cold weather. The high performance air filtering system reduces dust and pollen. The system is efficient, quiet and comfortable.

The air handler is located in the attic, with short ducting runs to the bedrooms and the main living space. By insulating the attic roof (not the attic floor), the air handler is protected from temperature extremes, thus improving the overall comfort and efficiency.

We don't use temperature setbacks much. We find that whatever energy savings occur with a lower temperature overnight is exceeded by having the system run at full tilt to restore the higher room temperature in the morning. It is better to keep a steady temperature.

Our 24 panel system generates about 5 kW maximum, and as much as 35 kWh on the best of days. This has really tamed our summer AC bill, and winter heat pump heating bills, when it is not covered with snow.

The solar panels may sometimes suddenly drop snow onto our driveway. Perhaps in hindsight, we should have installed the panels on another portion of the roof so we wouldn't have to clear the driveway twice. We may eventually find some way to prevent it from sliding all at once. The bottom line is that we sometimes get very little solar production in February.

I installed solar panels on my new house in 2011, which is heated by heat pumps. Most of the time I almost forget they are there because they don't require any attention. But I am reminded of them every month when I get my electric bills, which are really low. My house is almost net zero though, of course, I use more energy than I generate in the winter. and make far more than in need in the summer so that in the hot months I supply renewable energy to others.

As part of Concord's Green-Your-Heat program which ran in 2015, we got a home energy assessment and a rebate for cellulose blown into exposed, overhanging sections of the house. This has made the bedrooms more comfortable, and is saving heat.

Earlier in the decade, we installed spray foam on the roof of the attic. This has drastically reduced heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the hot summer sun. We love it. Since we implemented the roof insulation as part of a transition to electric heating, we were able to utilize a light plant rebate that helped to pay for a part of this project.

Going back further, we replaced old, inefficient windows and glass with high performance ones. The common understanding is that projects like these are usually not cost effective, but I can say it was worth it, in terms of comfort. We did not apply for rebates or other subsidies for this work. We may have gotten some tax breaks for adding foam board when we resided.

I recommend you schedule a home energy assessment to see what projects may be effective and if your home qualifies for rebates.

I’ve never been one to care that much about cars, but I make an exception for my Chevy Bolt. I purchased the Bolt in 2017 and it is easily the most fun car that I’ve ever driven. It has great acceleration, is very quiet, and has enough range to get from Concord to the Cape and back on one charge. We charge it at home with a 240 volt “Level 2” charger which takes 8-10 hours to fully charge the battery, and with our low electricity rates it costs less than half what a gas car costs per mile. I’ve never had to worry about running out of juice, since there are plenty of places to charge up.

A year ago we replaced our gas stove with an LG induction stove.  There are so many things we like about it:

First, it heats up a pan really fast, boiling water in about 30 seconds on the highest setting.  You do need to be there to turn it down or it will boil over.

Next - the settibility is very accurate, compared with a lot of gas stoves which are quite coarse and don't all have a very low setting.  Unlike gas you don't see the flame to get a visual indicator, but once you get used to the settings it is very predictable.

If you take the pan off without turning off the stove, it detects that and turns it off for you with a friendly beep.  That is a feature, and if it does it accidentally you can turn it back on very quickly.

Super quick to clean, and the burner doesn't get hot  - just the pan does.

It seems the pans are less damaged by high heat, particularly the non-stick ones.

And you don't need to breath the fumes.  

Two of our air conditioning zones went out this summer.  We decided to replace them with heat pumps. We couldn't be happier. In addition to the energy savings, they are much quieter than the air conditioning systems we had before, and the temperature control is much more precise. Also, while the installation cost was slightly higher than a conventional system,  because they use less electricity, and the relevant rebates, the increased cost will pay for itself in just a few years. 

If you do go this route, we would strongly suggest you look at a system like Bosch or Daikan that uses an inverter technology. As I understand it these systems, vary the level of the heating and cooling depending on the situation, rather than just being "on or off" like more traditional systems. These account for greater energy savings, more precise temperature control, and quieter operation.   

My oil heated home has four heating zones. A few years ago, Muirfield Mechanics installed an Air Source Heat Pump in the central living space which is the most used zone. To my delight, the system heats the central living space and travels up the stairs to partially warm that space as well-an added bonus.
Soon, I will consult the Abode coaches who have been hired to consult on heat pumps by our light plant. It may take me a few years, but I'd like to know what the best and most affordable strategy is for moving forward on using heat pumps throughout my home. My family and I will feel better knowing that our heating and cooling is all electric, running on renewable energy, and not contributing fossil fuels to the climate emergency.