Rick Bressler is a mobile homeowner living in Tompkins County who was able to have a heat pump installed through Sustainable Finger Lakes’ Mobile Home Pilot Project. Prior to the heat pump installation, Rick was using a propane furnace that was over 25 years old. With the propane furnace, he experienced inconsistent temperatures in his home. Rick also has a wood stove, which he kept after the heat pump installation. Though he enjoys having the wood stove, he is glad to have the heat pump as a backup if the wood stove ever breaks or carrying the wood becomes too difficult for him. On top of getting a heat pump installed, Rick also got new insulation. “I noticed that it made a big difference with the heat during the winter.” Rick is now experiencing warmer home temperatures during the cold winter months, for which he’s grateful. Since his heat pump installation, Rick has also seen a significant improvement in home cooling. With the heat pump’s combination of heating and cooling, he can stay comfortable year-round. He also appreciates how quiet the heat pump is. Thanks to Halco and Sustainable Finger Lakes, Rick is able to live more comfortably and reduce his carbon footprint. Rick’s energy upgrade keeps 186 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere!
Author: Kitty Gifford
Chester Salustri
Chester Salustri is a mobile homeowner in Tompkins County who recently had a heat pump installed through Sustainable Finger Lakes’ Mobile Home Pilot Project. Chester was previously on a propane furnace and wood stove. With the installation of the heat pump, he had his propane furnace removed; however, he decided to keep the wood stove. While Chester is still using the wood stove, he is pleased to have the heat pump for when he needs it, especially with the difficulty of maintaining a wood stove as he ages. Halco worked on Chester’s home, installing the heat pump and other renovations. “Halco insulated under my mobile home… I’m very pleased, and I noticed a big difference immediately with the new insulation.” Chester can have consistent temperatures in his home and keep heat in more efficiently. Thanks to Halco and Sustainable Finger Lakes, Chester can live more comfortably! Chester’s energy upgrade keeps 198 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere!
Donna and Mason Gilbert
The Gilbert family had been uncomfortable in their home for quite a while. In the winter, half the house was too cold; in the summer, half the house was too hot. The fact that fuel oil costs were sky-high did not help matters. They knew they needed to do something. Their contractor, Halco, reached out to the Sustainable Finger Lakes Mobile Home Pilot Project for additional grant funding for the Gilberts. This allowed the family to afford an energy upgrade that included repairing and cleaning the ductwork, insulation, and installation of a heat pump system. The Gilberts said that the Halco team “worked so efficiently. They were very professional and very respectful of us and our dignity. They answered all our questions.” Once the family got the new heat pump system, it felt “unbelievable!” “It’s outstanding!” Donna said. “To go in the bathroom and not have the floor cold…it’s like going to Hawaii!” The energy upgrades to their home have improved their quality of life. “We feel like we are safe in our home and comfortable. The heat is so even and consistent. Everybody is sleeping better.” Donna has even noticed she does not have any allergies since their ducts were cleaned and the heat pump was installed. Donna and Mason are so appreciative of these improvements to their home. “We feel blessed,” they say. The Gilberts are also helping the community. Their home energy upgrade keeps 62 tons of carbon out of the atmosphere.
Saw Thu Ka Ee
After the first winter with a new heat pump, Saw Thu Ka Ee said the best part is “it keeps the house warm!” His family enjoyed the consistent temperatures, with no cold spots. aw has also noticed that the air quality in the home is better, which is especially good for his 3-year-old daughter. As a bonus, the new high-efficiency system is very quiet—their old furnace was loud! Saw worked with Halco to receive insulation and a heat pump installation for his home. The Halco Energy Advisor, Trevor, was very responsive to Saw’s questions, and they worked well together. Saw says the heat pump installation was “tidy and clean.” Halco even changed the light bulbs to LEDs and sealed the back door tight. Saw hoped the family would continue to be comfortable when summer arrived, and he has not been disappointed. ” e new system keeps the whole house cold, nice, and super comfortable. My daughter enjoys playing inside the house whenever there is a heat wave, and we all love it so much,” he says. Saw said, “Huge thanks to everyone who made this support available to my family!” By upgrading his home, Saw is keeping 131 tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Ma thanks Saw and his family for their commitment to the climate!
Penny Calderazzo
Penny and her brand-new puppy are enjoying keeping cool in the summer heat. Penny, a mobile homeowner in Tompkins County, recently got a heat pump installed through the Sustainable Finger Lakes Mobile Home Pilot Project. Penny’s main draw to this program was being able to reduce her carbon emissions. She enjoys knowing she’s not using fossil fuels and is having a positive impact on the environment. She has also noticed a large improvement in her home cooling. She previously had two window air conditioning units and has noticed her home is more consistently cool with the heat pump. Thanks to Halco and Sustainable Finger Lakes, Penny has peace of mind about not using fossil fuels and keeping her home at consistent temperatures! Penny’s home energy upgrade keeps 34 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere.
Pierce Family
Sharleena and Daniel Pierce live in a mobile home in Tompkins County with their daughter and two huskies. Before their home energy upgrade, the Pierce family had a high kerosene bill and experienced extreme heat in the summer and cold in the winter. Now, after their heat pump was installed by Halco, the Pierce family has noticed more consistent temperatures and a huge improvement in the summer with home cooling. The cooling that comes with the heat pump was especially important to them because of their two huskies, which require cooler temperatures. The Pierce family has also noticed a much cheaper utility bill. The Pierce family can live more comfortably and affordably thanks to Halco and Sustainable Finger Lakes! Due to their energy upgrade, the Pierce family keeps 56 tons of carbon out of the atmosphere.
Rosemary Liske
Rosemary Liske is all too familiar with the summer heat in Tompkins County and the woes of not having air conditioning. Rosemary lives in a mobile home in Freeville and was on a propane furnace before being upgraded to an air source heat pump through the Sustainable Finger Lakes Mobile Home Pilot Project. Before the work was done on her home, Rosemary’s bedroom would get up to 108℉ during the summer months. After installing a heat pump in her home in December 2023, Rosemary has had the pleasure of experiencing her heat pump during the warmer and cooler months. She’s especially thrilled about the cooling aspect of the heat pump, which has decreased the temperatures in her home immensely during the summer and given her a more enjoyable and healthy living environment. Rosemary initially wasn’t sure if she would qualify for the program. Still, after encouragement and help from her granddaughter, who also had a heat pump installed in her home, she reached out to Sustainable Finger Lakes and got a price point for the energy upgrade from Halco that was within her budget. “I appreciate the affordability of having it done,” she exclaimed. Thanks to Sustainable Finger Lakes and Halco, Rosemary can stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer without out-of-budget expenses on her energy bill. Rosemary’s home energy upgrade keeps 39 tons of carbon out of the atmosphere.
