Need more info on heat pump grant

To the Editor;

I’ve learned in the paper recently that there is a $450 million grant to put heat pumps in low-income homes. Maine’s goal is 15,000 homes. With the earth suffering the consequences of human habitation and human habits, I’m wondering if the BDN would like to explore the down side.

One is, what role did the heat pump industry play in fashioning this grant?

Two, with a heat pump life span of 10-20 years (average of 15) — and the lifespan of refrigerators is around the same — has the waste stream impact been taken into account when calculating the carbon footprint of heat pumps? Will people have to pay to take their heat pump to the transfer station? If so, I think we’re going to see too many of these units dumped, and we’ve all come across illegal dumping.

In other words, I’d like to see the BDN dig a little deeper.

Mary Offutt

Little Deer Isle