A heat pump brings comfort. And sometimes, that comfort comes from knowing your home is a little healthier, too. That’s certainly been the case for Denver resident Joyce Bundgaard.
For years, Joyce’s husband had dealt with chronic sinusitis. So when they qualified for a home improvement program through Energy Outreach Colorado, one of the first changes they made was installing a heat pump to fill the home with cleaner, healthier air. From there, it opened the door to even more improvements, such as replacing carpet with wood flooring, updating a window and sliding glass door, and addressing mold concerns throughout the home.
For Joyce, the decision felt straightforward. “It seemed like a no-brainer,” she says.
She had already been thinking about replacing their old furnace. It was loud, took too long to heat, and was inconveniently located just off the kitchen. Nonetheless, she didn’t want to swap it out for another noisy system that worked the same way. Around the same time she learned about Energy Outreach Colorado, she also learned about heat pumps. And from there, everything started to line up.
The process itself reinforced that feeling. From start to finish, it was simple and seamless. What stood out most to Joyce was the people behind the work. She noticed experienced installers guiding newer team members through the process, taking the time to teach and explain. To her, it felt like a system that worked—both for her home and the people building careers in the field.
Now, the difference in her home is immediate. Her new heat pump is quiet, whereas her old furnace was loud. It heats the home quickly, without the lag she was used to before. And for the first time, she has air conditioning. As Colorado summers continue to warm, that cooling has become more than a convenience. Before, hot summer nights made it difficult for Joyce to even sleep comfortably. Now, her home stays cool throughout the night, making it easier to rest during the hottest stretches of the year. “It just makes so much sense,” she says.
“Our house is so much cleaner. I feel healthier.”
But the impact goes beyond comfort. “Our house is so much cleaner. I feel healthier,” Joyce says. Better air quality, cooler indoor temperatures during hot summer stretches, and thoughtful upgrades throughout the home have made it a healthier place to live. The space feels lighter, more comfortable, and better equipped to support her family's well-being year-round.
“It’s healthy living. I feel good about how we are contributing.”
And then there’s the bigger picture. Joyce has long been aware of the role homes play in energy use and emissions. Being able to make a change that aligns with her values matters. “It’s healthy living,” she says. “I feel good about how we are contributing.” In fact, she’s been quick to share her experience with others. “I’ve been bragging about this since I got it, and a lot of people want it.”
For Joyce, a heat pump isn’t just a better way to heat and cool a home. It’s a solution that touches everything. Comfort, health, and the future. And thanks to Energy Outreach Colorado and Power Ahead Colorado’s “Comfort For All” program, these benefits are within reach regardless of income. And for Joyce, it all adds up to something simple in the end: It just makes sense.