How Building Decarbonization Can Transform HVAC

By the end of 2050, 12 states and 160 cities have official goals to get 100% of their electricity from clean sources.(1) California cities are leading the nation in building electrification legislation, with 28 cities having adopted all-electric requirements for new construction; 50 additional cities and counties have pending electrification legislation as of this writing.(2) Much of the southeast U.S., where heating loads are light, already uses electric sources of heating. And, in moderate and cold climates a surge of interest exists in heat pump systems, which provide an efficient alternative to electric resistance for heating. This article explores heat pump systems as one way building decarbonization can transform HVAC.