Royal River Heat Pumps of Freeport, a growing company, recently installed two heat pumps at the Freeport Town Hall that will, said company owner Scott Libby, provide heat in the winter and also will cool the building in the summer, in areas where cooling is especially needed.

“One was installed in the council chambers to make up for inadequacies in the central heating system and to assist with cooling during rare summer meetings,” Libby said. “A second heat pump was installed in the hallway to supplement the heating and to provide cooling in both the hallway and the large entrance foyer that has a very high domed ceiling with windows in the top. This area has an extremely high gain in the summer, so the placement of the heat pump will contribute to the overall comfort of the entire space.”

Libby said that Royal River Heat Pumps specializes in residential and small commercial heat pump installations, “so it was a perfect fit to do a project like this in the town where our business is located.”

Libby, 49, grew up in Portland and his lived in Yarmouth for the past 16 years. He is a married father of three children.

“In my free time, I enjoy working on my 1830s farmhouse, metal fabrication and blacksmithing, and can be found on boating on Casco Bay on summer weekends and skiing at Sugarloaf and Sunday River during the winter,” he said.

Libby answered questions on heat pumps and his business for the Tri-Town Weekly.

Q: Heat pumps are the rage. Why? How do they work?

A: Heat pumps are all the rage because the manufacturers have made technological advances in the last three to five years that make them highly efficient heating systems with ratings down to minus-13 degrees. This makes them viable heating solutions, even with cold Maine winters. They work very much like a refrigerator, in that they only transfer heat, rather than burning fossil fuels to create it. Creating heat can be very expensive, compared to transferring it. They are 400 percent more efficient than other forms of electric heat that most people are familiar with.

Q: What can a buyer expect from a heat pump, in terms of the size of the area they will heat? Is there a maximum temperature they can produce?

A: In a typical Maine home, with standard window and insulation, a single heat pump can heat somewhere between 800 and 1,000 square feet of open living space. If that same area is divided by walls, it is often best to install a couple of smaller units to ensure proper airflow and comfort throughout the space. Newer, “high performance” homes that use advanced insulation and window packages are often able to heat up to 1,800 square feet with a single unit. Because every home is different, there is no single solution that works for everyone. It is necessary to hire a contractor that understands homes, how they are built, and how air is going to flow through your space so that a solution can be tailored to fit your lifestyle.

Q: How did you happen to start up Royal River Heat Pumps, and when? Was it a risky concept at the time?

A: I started my career in heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) in 1985. Over the last 30 years, I have been involved in every aspect of the trade, including metal fabrication, installations, sales, design, project management, and managing a service department. Needless to say, I have learned a lot throughout my career. Experiencing all of these different aspects of the trade has given me a rather unique perspective on this business. I started Royal River Heat Pumps to bring everything that I have learned to the heat pump market. I have a very clear vision of how I want to run my business and how I will treat my employees and my customers. I figured that if I bring my knowledge and passion to serving others through this business that it would be no risk at all. Of course, that is pretty optimistic, but it seems to be working. I am very fortunate to have a fantastic group of employees that help ensure that our customers are well served. My employees really help to reduce the risk.

Q: How many employees do you have? What’s contributing to your company’s growth?

A: Currently there are seven of us, but I am looking for at least one more key person, two if they are the right fit. We have a very demanding but fun work environment. It is very important to me that I make sound hiring decisions. I have learned that if I take care of my employees and provide them with the best tools and resources for their jobs, they, in turn, will take care of our customers. This approach has led to an ever growing list of happy customers and continued business growth.

Q: Can you explain Efficiency Maine rebates?

A: We are among the top-ranked Efficiency Maine vendors and process rebate claims on a daily basis. An eligible homeowner can get a $500 rebate from Efficiency Maine if they install a qualifying heat pump unit. This rebate is in the form of a check that is sent directly to the homeowner. There is also an option to have the check go to the installing contractor, but I like the transparency of having it go the homeowner. It keeps it clean. The homeowner program is capped at $500 per address, so we always recommend that you confirm your eligibility. For businesses, the incentives are even better. It is $500 per single unit and can go up to $10,000 without pre-approval. More businesses are smart in taking advantage of this opportunity, like the Freeport Town Hall.

Q: You’re a Diamond Contractor for Mitsubishi. What does that mean?

A: The Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor program was put in place to separate companies that did a lot of training and installed a lot of heat pumps from the ones that only did them on occasion. With the heat pump market being as busy as it is, there are a lot of companies that are listed as Diamond Contractors. As a result, Mitsubishi is changing up their program on Jan. 1. They are creating a tiered program so that homeowners and business owners will see a distinct difference in the contractors that are listed on their website. The criteria will be based upon sales, training, customer feedback and a code of conduct. Royal River Heat Pumps will be one of only a few in Maine that will be listed in their top tier. This comes with great honor as it is a small measurement of how well I am running my business, ensuring that we will be here to serve the local area for years to come.

Scott Libby, who owns Royal River Heat Pumps in Freeport, says heat pumps are “400 percent more efficient than other forms of electric heat that most people are familiar with.”