By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES— Brenda Leo hopes residents will warm up to the idea of putting heat pumps in the Naples Museum.  

Leo is the director of the Naples Information Center, which has a summer-time presence in the community. She is also the treasurer of the Naples Historical Society and Museum. The society’s members hold meetings year-round.

On Jan. 10, Leo came before the Naples Board of Selectmen, explaining the need to invest in heat pumps to protectthe items in the museum. 

Late last year, she had appeared before the board, promoting an upgrade in the heat source for the museum. In particular, a heat source that reduced the humidity was needed to preserve the museum’s inventory, she said.  

In January, Leo was accompanied by Nick Moore, a heat pump sales representative from Dave’s World.

The heat pump units take care of two temperature issues: heating and cooling, Moore said.

Meanwhile, the cost includes the equipment and the installation.

“We do everything. We do the electrical. We do the contract work,” he said. 

Currently, the museumbuilding has an oil-burning furnace, and forced hot water into radiant flooring, Moore said. He suggested using the heat pumps in unison with the forced hot-water heating. In fact, the heat pumps would become the primary source of heat, he said. 

Selectman Ted Shane asked about the set up. 

“So, I am familiar with heat pumps. I am familiar with radiant heat,” Shane said. “I’m not familiar with all of them together. What happens to radiant in floor?”

Moore said that the radiant flooring becomes the supplemental heat.

“We turn the radiant flooring down about 10 degrees below the heat pumps. We set it 10 degrees below that. When it gets that cold, the radiant heat kicks in,” Moore said. “The heat pumps would do most the work.”

Selectman Shane asked: “Would the floor stay warm enough?”

Moore answered,“Yes, they would keep all of that space comfortable.”

Selectman Kevin Rogers spoke to the humidity component. He said he recognized that temperature is an important factor. However, in purchasing a system for the museum, the reduction of humidity had to come into play, too. Humidity is what has the potential to damage artifacts in the museum, he said.  

“Heat pumps have dry mode. They are taking moisture out,” Moore said. 

“The biggest concern is the humidity. That that system has to be designed to preserve artifacts. That is our objective,” Rogers said.  

Chairman Jim Grattelo agreed, “We need to make sure that if we go this route that it resolves the problem with the humidity.”

The salesman downplayed the product’s ability to reduce humidity. 

“With the heat pumps, any time I am in front of towns, businesses or home owners, I stress that heat pumps should never be sold as a dehumidifiers,” Moore said. “The dehumidifying component is a happy accident.”

Then, he bragged up the product. 

“These things are going to be four to five times better than a dehumidifier,” he said. 

The heat pump proposal will go before the Naples Budget Committee, which has begun meeting to prepared the 2022-23 budget. 

To view images of the items in the museum, go to the Town of Naples webpage, click on the green box at the left-hand top of the page that says “About.” The Historical Society Museum is the last entry under in that column.