Have you ever heard a song so infectious it changes your perspective? Meet Mike Roberts, a Berkeley-based musician and environmental advocate, who’s created just that with his viral “(I’m Your) Heat Pump” song. This isn’t just any tune; it’s a clever and humorous ballad designed to spotlight heat pumps as a key solution in our fight against climate change. Roberts, leveraging his musical talent and a dash of wit, is making waves by turning this vital technology into an earworm that’s hard to ignore.
Mike Roberts and his muse, a Mitsubishi heat pump, in his North Berkeley backyard.
Image: Mike Roberts, Berkeley musician, with his Mitsubishi heat pump in his backyard, showcasing the inspiration behind his “pump it song” advocating for eco-friendly home heating and cooling.
Heat pumps, praised as efficient electric devices for both heating and cooling homes, are gaining recognition as a powerful tool against climate change and a smart way to reduce energy bills. To amplify this message, Roberts channeled his passion into songwriting. “(I’m Your) Heat Pump” takes a playful approach, personifying the appliance as a suave crooner ready to offer “climatic healing” and “warm nights.” The lyrics, delivered with smooth guitar riffs, are both catchy and informative:
I’m your heat pump. When you want it hot, I’m hot for you. When you want it cool I’m cool with you, baby.
Roberts’ musical background is rich and varied. Holding a master’s degree in composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, he typically focuses on choral works. However, his roots are in rock, jazz, and funk guitar songwriting. This eclectic experience shines through in his heat pump anthem, which cleverly pays homage to R&B legends. The “climatic healing” line is a direct nod to Marvin Gaye’s iconic “Sexual Healing,” linking the feel-good vibes of the song to the environmental benefits of heat pumps. The song’s spoken intro, reminiscent of Barry White, further enhances its soulful, come-hither charm:
Baby, tell me what you want. Cool days, warm nights. Yeah, sometimes we all need a little help to make everything just right.
This DIY project is truly Roberts’ own, as he recorded and produced the song himself, playing all the instruments and singing backup vocals. For the lead vocal role, he enlisted Will Hammond Jr., a fellow musician and Berkeley resident known for co-writing the 90s hit “Hold You Tight.” Their collaboration, sparked by their children attending the same school, Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley, brought Hammond’s professional vocal talent to the forefront of the “Pump It Song” project.
The Radioactives, featuring Will Hammond Jr. at the microphone and Mike Roberts on electric bass, play a set at Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley’s Lantern Festival in December 2022.
Image: Performance by The Radioactives at Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley’s Lantern Festival in December 2022, featuring lead vocalist Will Hammond Jr. and Mike Roberts on electric bass, showcasing their musical synergy prior to the heat pump song collaboration.
Hammond, equally passionate about combating global warming, was immediately drawn to the project. Having recently installed solar panels at home, the song resonated with his commitment to sustainable living and inspired him to delve deeper into home electrification. He describes the heat pump in the song as a “cool and funky” character, capable of seducing listeners to switch to electric. He also points out the song’s clever use of suggestive lyrics to subtly incorporate the idea of consent, emphasizing that the heat pump only works when you “flip his ‘on’ switch.”
Beyond the catchy rhythm and suggestive lyrics, the “pump it song” cleverly educates listeners about the functionality of heat pumps. In between verses, the heat pump itself explains its technology:
I can move heat in or out ‘til you feel what you want to be feeling.
This lyric highlights the core mechanism of heat pumps – moving heat rather than generating it, which makes them incredibly energy efficient. Whether drawing warmth from the outside air into your home or expelling inside heat, heat pumps maintain your ideal temperature while conserving energy. The song further emphasizes the environmental benefits:
I’m switched on, sipping on electrons, never gonna burn fuel, ’cause I prefer to keep the planet cool.
By running on electricity instead of gas, heat pumps significantly reduce carbon emissions. While there are discussions around the pros and cons of heat pumps, their role in reducing carbon footprint is undeniable. Bay Area regulators are even set to require homeowners to switch to heat pumps for heating replacements starting in 2027, a move projected to improve air quality and prevent premature deaths. The song also addresses concerns about heat pump performance in colder climates:
Don’t matter if you’re living in the sun or snow, any place you go, I’ll be there for you.
Recent technological advancements have made heat pumps effective even in freezing temperatures, as evidenced by their growing popularity in colder states like Maine and Minnesota. While the average cost of heat pump installation can be around $7,000, numerous local, state, and federal incentives are available to offset these expenses.
Roberts explains that the “pump it song” was born from his desire to find more engaging ways to communicate environmental messages. As a volunteer for the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, he understands the need for effective communication to promote climate solutions like building electrification. He hopes his song, with its blend of music and humor, can break through to a wider audience and spark conversations about sustainable choices.
The “pump it song” is already gaining traction, attracting attention from organizations like the Building Decarbonization Coalition, which runs the The Switch Is On campaign. Friday Apaliski, the coalition’s spokesperson, praised the song’s catchiness and its potential to reach a broad audience. Plans are underway to create a video for the song, further amplifying its message.
Roberts aptly summarizes his approach: “Advocacy is hard work, and — let’s be honest — sometimes a little boring. We need fun, we need beauty, we need stories. We need to reframe our work in new and sometimes quirky ways. These are all tools we can use to rally the people for the planet. So why not an R&B tune sung by a heat pump, for starters?” This Earth Day, Roberts is collaborating with the Citizens’ Climate Lobby and the city to host an electrification fair at the Brower Center, offering information on heat pump rebates and the versatility of heat pumps for both HVAC and water heating.
As Mike Roberts and Will Hammond Jr. refine their “pump it song,” they are open to feedback and invite you to follow the song’s development on Roberts’ website. You can also share your suggestions by emailing him at [email protected]. This innovative approach to environmental advocacy proves that sometimes, the most effective way to spread a message is through a catchy tune that makes you want to “pump it up” for the planet.
