The sky is the limit for new heat pump technology.
During the 2023 AHR Expo in Atlanta this past February, BDC staff got the chance to explore new heat pump technologies and meet innovators in the space. The team was able to see first hand the result of hard work from engineers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who are transitioning the market toward electrification technology.
BDC Executive Director Panama Bartholomy caught up with two of the leading building designers to talk about the legacy of change — Kent Peterson, CEO of P2S Engineering and Chair of the ASHRAE Decarbonization Task Force, and Stet Sanborn of Smithgroup and Vice Chair of the Decarbonization Task Force.
The Expo was a great reflection of the overall shift towards heat pump technology happening across the US. Last year was the first time that heat pump shipments outpaced gas furnaces, and that momentum was on full display at the conference. Nearly all of the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) presented at least one heat pump model and had staff on hand eager to discuss the technology with skeptics and enthusiasts alike. The pace and breadth of technology arriving in the next year includes impressive new systems from virtually every OEM, even from traditional fossil fuel equipment vendors.
Thanks to The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), in which upgrades to heat pumps for heating/cooling and heat pump water heaters are eligible for a tax credit of up to $2,000/year, this is the perfect, cost-effective time to make the switch to electric.
