Heat pumps

Mass. regulator orders National Grid to set lower winter rate for heat pumps

The decision instructs the state’s second-largest utility to develop a more affordable wintertime electricity rate for customers who have a heat pump.

By Sarah Shemkus . 4 October 2024

A heat pump in Rangeley, Maine. (Kathryn Krawczyk / Energy News Network)

Emissions reduction

California could ban new gas heaters after 2030. The goal: Healthier air

Ditching fossil-gas furnaces and water heaters isn't just good for the climate. Research shows it's a smart move for human health.

By Jeff St. John . 20 September 2022
Guides and how-tos

Could you get home energy and EV incentives under the climate law?

Find out which tax credits and upfront discounts you can earn for heat pumps, solar, electric vehicles and more — and how much money they could save you.

By Alison F. Takemura . 30 August 2022
Heat pumps

Finally, a heat-pump water heater that plugs into a standard outlet

How a public-private collaboration brought a key climate-change-fighting tool to market: an efficient 120-volt water heater that can be easily installed in homes.

By Jeff St. John . 29 August 2022
Electrification

Climate law could spur ‘market transformation’ in home electrification

The Inflation Reduction Act has tax credits, rebates and loans to make homes more efficient and move them from fossil fuels to electricity.

By Jeff St. John . 16 August 2022
Heat pumps

Chart: Which states have the most heat pumps?

More than 17 million U.S. homes have central heat pumps. Most of them are in states you might not expect.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 12 August 2022
Guest essay

America's heat-pump market has a sugar-crash problem

Incentive programs for heat pumps offer big consumer rebates that cause demand to spike, then they run out of money and cause demand to plummet. Here’s a fix.

By Nate Kinsey . 9 August 2022
Heat pumps

Window heat pumps will help electrify New York City's apartments

A $70 million initiative will deploy 30,000 electric heat pumps to bring climate-friendly comfort to residents of NYC's aging public-housing units.

By Maria Gallucci . 3 August 2022
Heat pumps

Heat pumps perform well in below-freezing weather, new research finds

A study in Maine found that heat pumps without fossil-fueled backup can deliver comfort and cost savings — even in the state's subzero winter temperatures.

By Sarah Shemkus . 1 August 2022
Carbon-free buildings

How century-old 'district energy' networks can help decarbonize cities

Vicinity Energy aims to convert Boston's steam network to run on clean electricity, showing how some cities can move toward climate-friendly heating and cooling of buildings.

By Jeff St. John . 7 June 2022
Guest essay

A new bill could speed up American electrification by 20 years

The Senate proposal aimed at accelerating the adoption of heat pumps would save consumers money and boost domestic manufacturing, our guest authors say.

By Alexander Gard-Murray, Nate Adams . 23 May 2022