The heat pump which, not so very long ago, was more of an afterthought than a go-to solution for heating and cooling residences and businesses, is rapidly moving into the mainstream thanks to the technology’s ability to improve energy efficiency while reducing carbon outputs.
In the U.S. the number of homes using heat pumps has more than doubled over the past 20 years, and Europe recently set a record with sales growing by roughly 40 percent.
Today heat pumps provide services to 10 percent of buildings globally. But for nations to achieve energy efficiency and climate pledges by 2030, that figure needs to reach 20 percent. Furthermore, the world’s 20250 net zero emissions goal will require heat pump sales to expand by more than 15% per year.
To facilitate that process, many governments and utilities are introducing tax credits, rebates, and other incentives to persuade homeowners and property managers to switch to heat pump technology. In the U.S. the Inflation Reduction Act includes rebates and tax credits to boost adoption of heat pumps.
While the share of U.S. homes with heat pumps is just 14 percent, a number of southern states are moving more aggressively to adopt the technology.
Top states using residential heat pumps. – Courtesy Atlas Buildings Hub
The Push for Electrification
It’s worth noting many of the states with high levels of heat pump penetration aren’t necessarily climate-focused.
Despite stringent climate-friendly policies, for example, only 4 percent of the homes in heavily populated California use the technology. States like Massachusetts, Washington, and New York don’e fare much better.
The problem? Many regions have longstanding dependencies (aka infrastructure) dedicated to other energy sources.
Indeed, one of the biggest challenges facing policymakers and utilities alike is electrification – e.g., transitioning the roughly two-thirds of U.S. homes that currently use polluting, inefficient fuel oil, gas, and other non-electric resources for heating and cooling purposes.
The good news is that a number of states – particularly those lagging behind the national average – recently inked a memorandum of understanding to ensure a whopping 90 percent of homes are using heat pumps by 2040. make heat pumps commonplace in their states by 2040.
The MOU was signed by California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Rhode Island. Although non-binding, the MOU nevertheless demonstrates the serious commitment by public leaders to make heat pumps a mainstay of their energy efficiency and decarbonization efforts.
And there are signs the tax incentives and rebates are succeeding. Sales of heat pumps exceeded those of gas and oil furnaces in 2022. A good sign for energy efficiency and carbon reduction goals.
