The US may be hitting a tipping point for heat pumps

The humble heat pump is having a moment in America. Per Grist, heat pump sales have doubled over the past fifteen years and now outpace fossil-fuel furnaces—by thirty-two percent in the first quarter. These devices are significantly more efficient than gas furnaces and work as both heater and air conditioner. New construction is the main driver: three quarters of new apartments are wired for electric-only heating, eliminating the need for gas lines. A newer technology called networked geothermal pumps heated liquid underground to homes and could be eight times more efficient than traditional gas furnaces. The market has hit a tipping point.

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