5 cool rentals with energy-efficient heat pumps

From one-bedroom apartments in Arlington and Lexington to a three-bedroom home in Needham.

This Newton rental comes with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and heat via a heat pump. MLS

October 23, 2023

Greater Boston may be in for a warm and wet winter, but renters are looking to be as green as an arboretum in June.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, released their 2023-2024 winter outlook on Thursday, and the forecasters are predicting that New England will see above-normal temperatures.

Still, winter, regardless of how mild, brings its challenges, and one of them is cutting your use of fossil fuels while still staying warm.

One way to combat this issue is with heat pumps. Heat pumps are powered by electricity and move heat from the outdoors to inside a home. “Today’s cold climate heat pumps can be up to 400% efficient and many provide efficient heating at outdoor temperatures as low as -15°F,” according to Mass Save.

Here are five rentals in Massachusetts that utilize heat pumps:

One-bedroom apartments

882 Massachusetts Ave., Unit 4E, Arlington

Modern kitchen with white cabinets and wood flooring. The unit uses heat pumps to heat and cool the complex. — *-MLS*

Empty bedroom with gray walls, and gray wood flooring. — *-MLS*

Bathroom with tile flooring and gray cabinets. — *-MLS*

$2,695

1 bedroom, 1 full bath

496 square feet

This Arlington apartment is still under construction. The top-floor corner unit will come with stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, laminate hardwood flooring, and recessed lighting. The units get heat and AC via ground-source heat pumps. Parking is $50 a month for an assigned spot in this pet-friendly building.

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186 Bedford St., Unit 200, Lexington

Kitchen with tall white cabinets and wood flooring, heated from a heat pump. — *-MLS*

Hallway in Lexington rental with a bathroom on one side, and an empty bedroom on the other. — *-MLS*

$2,800

1 bedroom, 1 full bath, 1 half bath

756 square feet

This Lexington town house offers a kitchen with white quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances, as well as an in-unit laundry setup, an open layout, a walk-in closet, an off-street parking spot, and storage. Heat pumps warm and cool the unit.

Two-bedroom apartments

68 Los Angeles St., Unit 207, Newton

Furnished apartment in Newton, MA with white kitchen, and blue accents. The unit uses heat pumps to heat the unit. — *-MLS*

White marble bathroom in Newton apartment. — *-MLS*

Office space in Newton apartment with piano and desk. — *-MLS*

$3,350

2 bedrooms, 2 full baths

970 square feet

Housed in The Gateway luxury living community, this new corner unit boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, two Juliet balconies, a walk-in closet with custom shelving, a a primary bath with a double vanity, an in-unit laundry setup, a reserved garage parking space that’s heated, and a kitchen with stainless steel appliances, white cabinets, and quartz countertops. The unit is warmed via heat pump.

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511 Hancock St., Unit 407, Quincy

Quincy rental with wood flooring, and white cabinets. — *-Rendering via MLS*

Bedroom with wood floors, and a bed with mirror overtop. — *-Rendering via MLS*

Bathroom with two sinks, white cabinets, and glass shower in Quincy rental. — *– Rendering via MLS*

$3,000

2 bedrooms, 2 full baths

1,039 square feet

This new-build was designed to have two primary suites with walk-in closets and double sink vanities. The kitchen offers two-toned cabinetry and quartz countertops. This unit also comes with high ceilings, stainless steel appliances, and unassigned covered parking. Heating is via a heat pump system.

Three-bedroom home

277 Webster St., Needham

Needham rental with brick and white siding. — *-MLS*

Empty bedroom with mini-split unit for a heat pump in Needham rental. — *-MLS*

Needham kitchen and living room with open-concept and a heat pump. — *-MLS*

$3,800

3 bedrooms, 1 full bath, and 1 half bath

This Needham rental has fresh paint, refinished flooring, and a kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. The renovations also included the addition of a mini-split heat pump system, which makes heating and cooling energy efficient. There’s bonus space downstairs.