Harvest is an innovative combined system that uses a heat pump for for heating, cooling, and hot water in your home.
Harvest uses a heat pump to extract heat from the air, stores it in an insulated hot water tank acting as a thermal battery, and intelligently distributes this energy for heating, cooling, and hot water in the home, all managed by a smart controller that optimizes efficiency and cost.
It is built on the extremely efficient SANCO2 air-to-water heat pump, which produces hot water and stores it in a large tank. For heating the home, it uses a loop off the tank that runs to a special hydronic air handler that replaces the furnace and connects to the home's ductwork. (It is also compatible with some types of hydronic radiant floor heat.)
Because the tank acts as a form of energy storage, the system can be programmed to run at optimal times -- when you're producing rooftop solar, or when electricity rates are least expensive or have the lowest carbon pollution.
Image via Harvest
Are there different types of Harvest systems?
Harvest offers three different configurations depending on your home’s needs and existing HVAC infrastructure. All systems include the core smart thermal battery: the Harvest Pod, a water tank, and a high-performance air-to-water heat pump.
Harvest Classic is the flagship heating and hot water offering, serving up top-tier comfort and exceptional efficiency for homes with ducting that don’t require cooling.
Harvest Open pairs the thermal battery (large tank of hot water!) with an air-source heat pump for ducted homes that require cooling or have higher heating loads.
Harvest Radiant brings the efficiency of the thermal battery to homes with existing or new radiant heating, working with a wide range of modern hydronic systems.
QuitCarbon always keeps the applicable federal, state, and local rebates up-to-date in our clients' Home Profiles. Sign up for QuitCarbon and review your home's Insights to see which rebates you could qualify for!
More questions?
It's understandable to have questions about "new" technology. But new doesn't necessarily mean risky. Here's why we continue to recommend Harvest to homeowners:
-
Hundreds of Harvest Thermal systems have been installed already.
-
The technology is positioned as the future of home and water heating and cooling. We expect it to become more established and popular over time.
-
If your Harvest Thermal system has an issue, it reverts to an operational mode that continues to provide heating, cooling, and hot water - but with less energy savings.
- If the internet is down or Wi-Fi connection is lost, the system will use its internal clock and continue to function based on its last settings. Some advanced functions may be lost, but physical controls can still be used.
-
All the components are off the shelf, so anyone can maintain and service your Harvest Thermal system.
Although Harvest's control technology is relatively new, the underlying components -- the heat pump water heater and the hydronic air handler -- have been in use for decades and have high durability and reliability. In particular, the SANCO2 heat pump water heater uses CO2 as its refrigerant, which is far less harmful for the climate than the high global warming potential refrigerants used in conventional heat pump systems. The SANCO2 heat pump is sealed at the factory, reducing the risk of leaks to essentially zero, and simplifying installation in the home.
Harvest maintains an excellent FAQ - though this is a significant investment, and you shouldn't make this decision alone...
Please consult with QuitCarbon to discover if the Harvest system is a great option for your home.
As part of that consultation, we may introduce you to a technical advisor at Harvest to ensure your questions are fully answered and to ensure that Harvest is a great fit for your home.
Then, if this all sounds good, QuitCarbon will connect you with a vetted, Harvest-skilled contractor - and we'll benchmark their bid to give you the clarity you need to make an informed decision.
