Can Heat Pumps Change Demand for Air Conditioners Into a Climate-Change Win?

The New York Times reports. Nate Adams, a home-performance consultant, suggested the idea to the Times in a paper he wrote with Harvard University CLASP experts. This non-profit, which used to be known as the Collaborative labeling and Appliance Standards Program, advises governments on energy efficiency. His co-authors and energy modelers estimated that if two-way heat pump became the standard option for central air-conditioning installation, 44% of American homes would have them by 2032. This is an increase from 11% today. These homes could reduce their use of fossil fuels during colder months by about one-third. As states work to improve their electricity grids through more wind and solar energy, climate benefits from electric heat pumps will increase." "Homes and offices contribute 13 percent of all annual greenhouse gas emissions. Most of this is due to oil and natural gas used in furnaces, hot-water heaters, ovens stoves, stoves, and dryers. Although the United States has made great strides in reducing power plant pollution, building emissions have not decreased since 2005.