Heat pumps have been common in many parts of the world but are just now being made to work efficiently in cold climates. AGH supports heat pumps because over the next decade, they will be fueled more and more by renewable electricity and because they are so efficient they are also lower carbon than heating with gas. Heat pumps also work very well with wood and pellet stoves. Heat pumps are now a leading low-carbon way to heat water in homes. Check out heat pump water heaters - and heat pump clothes dryers. For now, the upfront costs of these are higher but they pay themselves back in the long run and often get state incentives.

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As the country and the world moves toward electrification, heat pumps are taking a starring role. With an increasingly decarbonized electric system, the technology holds great potential for both cost savings and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Annual cost savings associated with switching to a heat pump can be anywhere between 20-70% on households’ heating and cooling bills (Bloc Power, 2022). Rewiring America contends that electric heat pumps hold the best position for long-term saving solutions in residential heating and cooling (Canary Media, 2022). While this depends on how large the area you are heating and cooling is and the climate specifications of where you live, it is enticing many people to make the switch. Heat pumps reduce greenhouse gasses by heating and cooling with one-third to one-fifth of the electricity used by conventional electric equipment (International Energy Agency, 2022) and can reduce energy use by 30%-60% depending on the type of heat pump (U.S. Department of Energy). Heat pumps are over 100% efficient in a variety of temperate climates, beating out even high-efficiency gas furnaces (Trane, 2020). These kinds of stats explain why heat pumps are in the spotlight right now.