From Heatwaves to Heat Pumps: One Portlander’s Path to Relief

Many Oregonians spend fall, winter, and even spring counting down the days until the rain lets up and we can enjoy the sunshine again. But for households without efficient air conditioning, these higher temperatures can be unbearable, and even dangerous.

On a recent summer night, Diane, a longtime homeowner in the Portland area, felt the humidity creep up and her home start to feel muggy. Instead of going to the window AC unit like she had done since 1993, Diane reached for the remote to her mini split heat pump. She remembers thinking to herself, “I have this system – turn it on! You have this so you don’t have to suffer.”

Diane worked with Community Energy Project (CEP) in late 2024 to install a new mini split heat pump. “It is so nice to have one system for heating and cooling,” she shared. For the past 30 years, Diane relied on an aging window unit in the summer and an expensive oil system in the winter. She often paid $800 at a time just for heating oil – on top of rising electricity and maintenance costs.

Like many Portlanders, Diane received multiple quotes – each over $5,000 – for a heat pump. Living on a fixed income, that price was out of reach. But then she was referred to CEP’s programs. “Working with CEP was such a wonderful gift,” says Diane.

Since her installation, Diane has made it through both winter and summer with her heat pump, and appreciates it most in hot weather. “My window AC unit was so obnoxious, but it kept me alive,” she says. Now, she enjoys a quiet, efficient system and the ability to control her home’s temperature with ease. “This is only on low,” she laughs while showing friends. “You should feel it on high!”

Now in her 70s, Diane worries about other older adults who still face summer heat without reliable cooling. “Extreme heat is hard to deal with and every year just gets hotter. Our planet and our people are in a lot of trouble,” she says. “I tell everyone who might need help about CEP.”

During Multnomah County’s devastating heat dome in 2021, Portland lost 72 people due to heat-related causes. According to the Oregon Department of Energy’s 2023 Cooling Needs Study, 58% of our most vulnerable neighbors are living without adequate cooling equipment. Additionally, many Oregonians who do have cooling systems still don’t use them due to fear of increased energy bills. The study notes that heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States, even though most heat-related deaths are preventable through outreach and intervention.

When heatwaves strike, energy-efficient systems can mean the difference between safety and crisis – especially for frontline communities disproportionately exposed to the impacts of climate change. With help from CEP, Diane’s utility bills are lower and her home is much more comfortable, all year round. As for the rest of this summer? Diane’s enjoying her cool, comfortable home – maybe even wearing a sweater inside.

Diane is a pseudonym used to protect the privacy of the individual featured in this story.