ACEEE: Electric heat pumps deliver cheapest clean heating choice for most U.S. houses

According to research released last week by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), electric heat pumps are the cheapest clean option for heating and cooling most single-family homes.

Currently, the world is dealing with the serious effects of climate change, and at the same time, much of the United States is trying to transition to cleaner energy sources. ACEEE stepped in to find the most cost-effective heating and cooling route for clean energy, evaluating various options based on the energy use of several thousand homes nationwide. Life-cycle costs for equipment and energy were consequently considered through a scenario wherein the electric grid and heating fuels are largely decarbonized as of 2030.

Electric heat pumps led the pack, with up to four units providing minimized heating and cooling costs for those places generally considered warmer than Detroit, which is to say, locations with fewer than 6,000 heating degree days (HDD). That measurement is used to determine how much seasonal temperatures fall below 65 degrees. Even in colder areas, electric heat pumps could still work when combined with backup fuel during frigid periods for minimal costs.

“Our findings are good news for consumers and for the climate,” ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel, co-author of the report, said. “Electric heat pumps, which heat and cool, are the cheapest clean heating option for many houses, especially now that we have cold-climate models. We need to accelerate the use of electric heat pumps, emphasizing cold-climate models in places colder than Maryland.”

Maryland, for reference, has about 4,000 HDD.

Electric heat pumps manage their energy efficiency due to their method of operation. Rather than creating heat by burning fuels, electric pumps move heat when warm from a cold outdoor environment to the indoors. For cold climate versions, they operate in temperatures as low as 5 degrees but need that alternative fuel back up to keep costs down for long periods. Preliminary data showed that the pumps are even effective in apartments with furnaces for generally lower costs.

Still, these pumps come with a cost. Accordingly, the report recommended incentives or other assistance for low and moderate-income households to decarbonize and reduce the costs of heat pump acquisition. As is, higher-income households tend to get the most benefit from electric heat pumps because they have newer homes with air-conditioning and improved energy efficiency alike.

In the meantime, the report warned that the United States continues to warm, and finding locations with more than 6,000 HDD will become harder. Cooling needs are likely to increase, making electric heat pumps more attractive.