Here is exactly where the money goes, and what changes the day a cold-climate heat pump takes over.
AFUE — Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency — is the share of a fuel's energy your furnace turns into usable heat over a season. An 80% AFUE kerosene furnace sends roughly one out of every five gallons you pay for straight out the flue as waste heat and combustion loss. A furnace that has been running for fifteen Maine winters usually performs below its original rating, so the real number is often worse.
| Measure | 80% AFUE kerosene furnace | Cold-climate heat pump |
|---|---|---|
| How it makes heat | Burns fuel on-site | Moves existing heat from outdoor air |
| Efficiency | ~80% of fuel, minus flue losses | 300%+ (COP around 3, up to 30 BTU/watt) |
| Cold-weather rating | n/a | HSPF2-rated for Maine winters |
| Air conditioning | None | Built in |
| Fuel deliveries | Ongoing, price-volatile | None — runs on electricity |
| Indoor air | Combustion byproducts, fumes | No on-site combustion |
| Rebates available | None | Up to $9,000 (low-income) + HEAR |
COP = coefficient of performance. HSPF2 = the current cold-climate heating efficiency standard. Exact BTU/watt and HSPF2 vary by model and outdoor temperature.
Moving heat instead of burning fuel means you buy far fewer units of energy for the same warmth — and you stop riding the winter oil-market rollercoaster.
The same unit that heats you in January cools and dehumidifies you in July. A kerosene furnace can't do that.
No flame, no fuel smell, no combustion byproducts inside the home. Cold-climate heat pumps run quietly on the wall.
Because mobile homes are a targeted housing type in Maine, the rebate stack is deeper here than for a standard single-family house.
Get a free, no-obligation estimate from a registered Maine installer and find out exactly which rebates you qualify for.
Get a quote from BRF Services Maine Energy Services