DETROIT – Contrary to popular belief, air-source heat pumps can work very well in cold climates. They’re now the best choice for energy efficiency and reducing heating bills, and that’s why their adoption is going to grow quickly in colder countries.
Even when it’s below zero, there is still heat in the air, so during colder months, heat pumps extract outdoor air and move it to the inside of a home. In warmer months, the heat pump acts like an air conditioner, removing heat from the air inside a home and transferring it outside.
A regular heat pump running on electricity may lose efficiency and performance when the outside temperature is below freezing, but a cold-climate heat pump achieves better heating performance than a conventional one. (A heat pump installer here in Vermont told me that they work efficiently to -15F.)
However, no clear guidelines or standards exist for cold-climate heat pumps, and many installers are not yet fully aware of the distinction between a regular heat pump and a cold-climate heat pump. So, the generic heat pump is still being installed in colder areas. This gives the cold-climate heat pump substantial growth potential, and manufacturers will need to take advantage of market opportunities by educating stakeholders.
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