Going Electric: Dispelling 4 Common Myths About Heat Pumps And Decarbonization

As commercial real estate owners work toward decarbonization, they need to take a hard look at their heating, cooling and ventilation systems. 

The majority of CRE greenhouse gas emissions come from fossil fuels burned for heat and the use of gases for refrigeration and cooling. If owners want to get serious about reducing their emissions and meeting new sustainability regulations, it is time for them to move away from gas furnaces and toward more efficient heat pumps, said Boland Sales Engineer Ethan Gardner. 

“Heat pumps are not new technology, but they have recently come up a lot more in HVAC conversations with the continued push for the electrification of heat,” Gardner said. 

Even though they have been around since the 1960s, there are still some misconceptions about heat pumps and how they can help building owners reach their goals, Gardner said. He walked Bisnow through some of the myths and facts about heat pumps that owners should know to make an informed decision about what’s right for their building. 

Myth: Heat Pumps Are Outdated And Haven't Evolved Significantly In The Last Few Decades

Gardner said that while heat pumps aren't new, significant technical advancements have been made to this equipment. There are three main types of heat pumps: air-source heat pumps that transfer heat from the air to a building, water-source heat pumps that use a closed-loop condenser water system as a heat transfer mechanism, and ground-source heat pumps that transfer British thermal units from the ground to a building.

The most significant advancements can be seen in air-source pumps, Gardner said. Tenant comfort is a top priority for both owners and designers, and in the past, there was a concern that air-source pumps wouldn't effectively heat a building if outside temperatures got too low. With modern pumps, that is no longer an issue. 

“Cold climate air-source heat pumps have been proven to operate efficiently at almost subzero temperatures now,” he said. “This gives designers and building owners a lot more flexibility and assurance when they are implementing these electrification goals into their system.” 

Myth: Heat Pumps Don't Fit Into A Decarbonization Plan

Trane has four pillars of decarbonization: energy efficiency, electrification, refrigerant management and renewable energy, Gardner said, and heat pumps hit each of them. Electrified heat pumps are generally between three and five times more efficient than fossil fuel-burning gas furnaces because they circulate heat from the surrounding air rather than generating it from fuel.

“When we are using electricity as a source of cooling and heating, we are electrifying a building,” he said. “We're moving away from the use of fossil fuels, which helps eliminate on-site carbon emissions and paves the way for full decarbonization.”

It is important to note that using electricity from the grid capitalizes on the fact that the grid is being decarbonized by adding renewable energy and retiring power plants that use fossil fuels.

Air-to-water heat pumps, or AWHPs, like air-source heat pumps, extract heat from the outside air and transfer it to water used for space heating and hot water production. Modern AWHPs are designed to operate efficiently even in low temperatures, making them suitable for diverse climates. Their efficiency is impressive, delivering upward of three to four times the energy they consume, thanks to the thermodynamic process of extracting heat from the air, he said. 

Water-to-water heat pumps, or WWHPs, function by extracting heat from a water source and transferring it to water circulating within a building’s heating system, he said. Like AWHPs, WWHPs use electricity to transfer heat rather than generate it, offering significant energy-efficiency improvements over conventional heating methods.

Gardner said there has been a shift toward using lower global warming potential refrigerants, particularly since January when the Environmental Protection Agency mandated their use. While older heat pumps were using high-GWP refrigerants, these newer models have a low-GWP system, further reducing their carbon footprint.

Myth: There Are No Financial Benefits To Heat Pumps

Gardner said heat pumps have multiple financial benefits, starting with the fact that they are more efficient than gas furnaces, reducing monthly energy bills. Beyond that, government programs offer tax incentives and rebates to promote heat pump adoption. As of January, air-source heat pumps that are recognized as “Energy Star Most Efficient” are eligible for a tax credit that covers 30% of their installation cost. 

Heat pumps can also help owners meet local emission requirements so they can avoid a potentially hefty fine, Gardner said. In Maryland, building emissions legislation requires buildings to be fully net-zero by 2045. If buildings don't reduce their emissions in the next five years, they will be forced to pay penalties of $230 for every metric ton of carbon dioxide they emit over the set limit. Heat pumps can help owners reach that goal. 

Myth: When It Comes To Heat Pumps, One Size Fits All

There are three types of heat pumps for a reason, Gardner said, and that is because different pumps work for different properties. Boland works in partnership with clients to help them determine which type of pump is best for them, from a ground-source pump to a hybrid air-source pump that uses both electricity and gas for owners who are interested in electrification but aren’t ready to make the full switch. 

In the end, Gardner said, the most important thing to keep in mind is no matter which heat pump building owners choose, they all work toward the same goal: decarbonization. 

This article was produced in collaboration between Boland and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.