The revitalization of Legacy House has continued this fall, moving the building ever closer to becoming an energy efficient, electrically heated and cooled home for future Ecolibrium3 VISTA members. We have installed an HVAC system and removed the house’s gas pipeline, allowing us to showcase the positive effects electrifying a home has.
HVAC system installation
As we work to electrify our community’s residential buildings through home energy assessments, weatherization, and heating system retrofits, the home electrification at Legacy House allows us to show what is possible.
In place of natural gas, the cold-climate air-source heat pump HVAC system currently being installed in Legacy House will heat and cool the house using an electrified forced air system that pulls air from the outside and circulates it through the home at a regulated temperature. The heat pump installed in Legacy House is a highly efficient form of heating and cooling technology designed specifically for cold climates.
Heat pumps have come a long way as a technology, with significant efficiency improvements in recent years. While older models only effectively heated in mild temperatures, the average heat pump on the market now can heat well into the negatives, perfect for Duluth’s cold climate!
Heat pumps are more efficient than other heating sources because they don’t actually generate heat. They draw heat energy from the outside air and amplify it with a compressor and refrigerants. This warm air is then circulated throughout the home, providing it with efficient and clean heat. This process is essentially the same for cooling, but in reverse.
The installation of the HVAC system is now 80 percent complete, thanks to planning and financing assistance from Minnesota Power and a design-build collaboration with Carlson Duluth. The HVAC system will likely be fully installed by the end of the calendar year and is contingent on other renovations, including finishing the dry wall.
Natural gas line removal
With the installation of the heat pump, the house’s natural gas line was also able to be disconnected. ComfortSystems successfully removed numerous components of the gas line connected to Legacy House on August 28, extracting the meter bar, gas pipe, and gas pipe plug from the house. The gas line located in the building’s back alley is now completely shut off by the City. The removal of the underground gas pipe located in the house’s alleyway will occur this coming spring.
As we continue to finish the work on Legacy House, we encourage you to consider how you could take the next step to electrify your own home and move toward a fossil free community. A home energy assessment is the best place to start. Reach out at energy@ecolibrium3.org or 218-203-0464 to get started.
