Heat Pumps

              For the past few weeks I have been testing homes that are recent participants in TVA's Heat Pump Program. About half of the buildings have been double wide manufactured homes, usually around 2000 square feet with a 2 ton package unit. Installers generally removed the old furnace, disconnected any radiant, pulled the ancient (some were 20 years old!) A/C and stuck in a 15+ SEER Heat Pump. Without exception the duct systems are off the chart leakers, most of it LTO since the systems are primarily panned floor joists. Despite this, homeowners are claiming they are saving money on their utility bills and are comfortable compared to the previous set up. Imagine the savings if the duct systems were sealed up at the same time! In terms of ROI, I cannot fathom how a $6-8000 HVAC mechanical replacement cannot be improved by an additional $5-600 worth of duct sealing. These trailers are reasonably tight with so-so insulation, duct leakage should be up there on the priority list, but they don't address it at all? For several years I have been testing new homes built for the City of Knoxville by various groups that are HUD funded and require Energy Star certificates. These homes' ducts routinely test less than 30 CFM @ 25 Pa. I am seeing 250-300 CFM in these TVA Heat Pump homes. I think it is criminal to let all that potential performance go to waste. Homeowners are reluctant to do retrofits and usually don't until something breaks. If we could improve the retrofit model to include Weatherization, Duct Sealing and Insulation as well as the new Mechanicals the benefit would be double the savings we currently see. Most utility retrofit programs incentivize a more thorough approach. TVA has their Energy Right in Home Evaluation program but they make you wait a year between that and a Heat Pump, either or, but not both at once. From the "Whole House" perspective this doesn't allow for the home to get properly sealed and insulated before the HVAC is installed, the correct order of business. Why can't TVA get this together?