How one Tigard couple cut costs and boosted comfort with a heat pump upgrade

When Jeff and Erin Fitzpatrick-Bjorn moved into their Tigard home, one of their first upgrades was replacing their old air conditioner with a high-efficiency heat pump.

“We absolutely love it,” Erin said. “It keeps the house comfortable in every season, and it’s so much more efficient. I recommend heat pumps to anyone who’s thinking about replacing their air conditioner.”

That upgrade has delivered the comfort and savings they hoped for — and it’s why more Oregonians are looking at energy-efficient heat pump systems as the smarter choice.

With their heat pump keeping the house comfortable year-round, Jeff and Erin spend time enjoying their favorite activities at home.

From oil heat to energy efficiency

Jeff and Erin’s first experience with a heat pump was in their previous home. “We didn’t even know much about them at first,” Jeff said. “The house already had one installed. Once we saw how well it worked, it became an easy decision.”

That home also had an old oil furnace. “It was nice not to rely on it as much,” Erin said. “We weren’t burning as much heating oil, and that felt better for us and the environment.”

When they later moved to their current home in Tigard, they replaced the existing AC with a heat pump. “It’s been fantastic,” Jeff said. “We’ve only had to switch to the gas backup heat once — during a really cold week. The rest of the time, the heat pump handles everything.”

Because heat pumps move heat instead of generating it, they can be up to three times more efficient than traditional electric heating. “People are always surprised when I tell them a heat pump can cool the house too,” Jeff added. “Really, it should be called a heating-and-cooling pump.”

Homeowners can explore the latest PGE heat pump deals and take advantage of Energy Trust of Oregon heat pump rebates to lower the cost of upgrading.

And there’s still time to qualify for federal tax credits for installing a heat pump. These credits, available through the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit , are set to expire at the end of the year — making now a great time to act.

PGE's Smart Thermostat program adjusts the temperature automatically during Peak Time Events.

A smarter way to save

When Jeff and Erin installed their heat pump, it came with a smart thermostat, which they quickly enrolled in PGE’s Smart Thermostat program.

“That was a no-brainer,” Jeff said. “If PGE turns the temperature down a couple of degrees for a few hours during a peak event, that’s fine with us. We hardly even notice.”

The program offers seasonal bill credits for participating, and customers can opt out of any single event if they want. “We’ve never opted out,” Erin said. “It’s easy, and it works for us.”

Jeff and Erin’s heat pump outside their Tigard home.

Why it matters for Oregon homeowners

For Jeff and Erin, the benefits of switching to a heat pump go beyond comfort and savings. “It just feels good knowing we’re using less energy,” Jeff said. “That was a big part of the decision for us.”

That’s part of why heat pumps are quickly becoming a leading option for Oregon homeowners looking to cut costs and reduce energy use — especially with rebates available to make them more affordable.

Their advice: “They just work”

Jeff and Erin said they’d recommend heat pumps to anyone who’s thinking about upgrading. “They just work,” Erin said. “We don’t even think about it anymore — and that’s the best kind of heating and cooling system.”

Strategic landscaping helps camouflage the unit among other backyard features.

Ready to install a heat pump?

If you’re ready to make the switch, here’s what you can expect:

• Year-round comfort from one system for heating and cooling

• Lower energy costs with high efficiency

• Cash rebates through Energy Trust of Oregon

• Seasonal bill credits with PGE’s Smart Thermostat program

As Jeff put it, “It’s efficient, it’s comfortable — and it’s made a big difference for us.”