These guides follow the order a heat pump project should take in a Maryland, Washington DC or Northern Virginia home: measure the house with an energy assessment, seal the air leaks, bring the attic insulation up to the recommended level, then size and install the heat pump for the house you have after that work. Each guide cites the official sources behind it and links to the local companies that do that step.
If you only read one, start with the guide to choosing a heat pump installer. It turns the whole sequence into the questions to ask on the first call, from the load calculation to the license lookup.
All 9 foundational pillars
- Pillar 1Homeowner guide
What ZEHES Actually Is, and What It Does Not Require Yet
Maryland does not require homeowners to replace oil, propane or gas heating. ZEHES is a standard still being written for newly manufactured furnaces, boilers and water heaters, with the model rule's zero-emission date set at January 1, 2029. Proposed regulation, not yet in effect - Pillar 2Property manager guide
Montgomery County BEPS: Who Is Actually Covered
Montgomery County's Building Energy Performance Standards apply to most buildings 25,000 gross square feet and larger, with interim deadlines from 2028 to 2031. It is a large-building law, not a single-family homeowner mandate. Active, enforceable law - Pillar 4Homeowner guide
How Heat Pumps Work, and How They Actually Perform in the Cold
A heat pump moves heat rather than generating it, so ENERGY STAR says it can deliver up to three times more heat energy than the electricity it consumes. Cold-climate models are rated with low-temperature test points that older ratings never included. Established technology, documented by DOE, ENERGY STAR and NEEP - Pillar 5Homeowner guide
Is Your Home Ready for a Heat Pump? Insulation, Air Sealing and WAP Eligibility
A heat pump sized for a leaky house has to be bigger and runs longer. Sealing and insulating first is a defensible sequence, not a sales tactic, and income-qualified Maryland households can get that work free through WAP. Program details from DHCD and DOE; building science from DOE and ENERGY STAR - Pillar 6Homeowner guide
Air-Source vs. Geothermal Heat Pumps: Cost and Performance Trade-offs in Maryland
Geothermal heat pumps run more efficiently year-round than air-source units, but the ground loop makes installation substantially more expensive. Which one is defensible depends on the lot, the budget and how long you will stay. General technical comparison from DOE and ENERGY STAR; incentives cross-referenced to Pillar 3 - Pillar 7Homeowner guide
Data Center Load Growth in the DMV: What Is Verifiable and What Is Just Circulating
Northern Virginia's data center cluster is a documented driver of regional electricity demand growth in PJM's own forecasts. Many megawatt and dollar figures in blog posts are not sourced; treat any number you cannot trace to PJM or a rate filing as unverified. Trend documented by the grid operator; specific figures need a filing behind them - Pillar 8Homeowner guide
How Electricity Rates Actually Get Set in Maryland
Maryland electric utilities are regulated. They cannot raise delivery rates on their own; increases go through a formal rate case at the Maryland Public Service Commission, a public process with filed evidence and a final written order. Process-level description; check current rates with your utility and the PSC - Pillar 9Contractor reference
Contractor Licensing in Maryland: What to Actually Verify Before Hiring
Maryland requires HVACR work to be done by people licensed through the State Board of HVACR Contractors, and separately requires an MHIC license for any business contracting directly with homeowners. Both are verifiable online. Active licensing law, checked against the Maryland Department of Labor - Pillar 10Homeowner guide
Heat Pumps for Manufactured and Mobile Homes: The Rules and Programs That Apply
Manufactured homes are built to the federal HUD Code rather than local building codes, which affects installation and which programs apply. Maryland's WAP does work on manufactured homes; utility program terms should be confirmed directly. Federal construction standard is fixed; program eligibility needs direct confirmation
Guides
- Top Heat Pumps of 2026: An In-Depth Review Guide
- Air Sealing Before a Heat Pump: Where DMV Homes Leak and Why It Comes First
- Attic Insulation for DMV Homes: R-Values, Rebate Rules and the Right Order
- Heat Pump Sizing and Installation: Manual J, Manual S, Manual D and Commissioning
- Home Energy Assessments in the DMV: What a Blower Door Test Tells You
- How to Choose a Heat Pump Installer in the DC Area