With the push to electrification underway across America, heat pumps are an increasingly popular choice for home heating and cooling with good reason: they are more efficient than electric resistance heating, reducing electricity needed for heating up to 50 percent.

More homeowners are considering heat pumps because of the financial incentives available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), including up to $8,000 in tax credits for installing a heat pump. And while there are significant benefits to installing a heat pump, doing so without first tackling the building envelope has some serious limitations.

This guide details the key actions homeowners should take prior to upgrading their homes with a high-efficiency heat pump. Homeowners who conduct this work will require a smaller heat pump, thereby saving money and upfront costs.