Climate love
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DIPANJANA MAULIK

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We Don't Have Time

Climate love

Bringing the cool facts about heat pumps in table for hot discussion

An attempt has been made in this webinar today around 5 am on 15th January 2025 (IST) to show case an clean energy solution which has a potential to reduce significant amount of Green House Gas from domestic sector. The webinar inaugurated by Martin Heinrich, Senator, who pointed out about the severe health cost of current dirty fuel fired heating or cooling equipment. Harmful and toxic gases are emitted if dirty fuels are burnt to heat the home. The toxic fumes pollute indoor air, which causes serious diseases ranging from Asthma to Cardiac or Renal fatalities among the residents. Use of electric fired heat pumps can help citizens to breathe cleaner air inside their home. However, a suitable technological alternative (i.e. a electric fired heat pump) should be available in scalable supply for this energy transition at domestic front.

WDHT in this webinar showcased one technological solution, which has won the "Cool Climate Heat Pump" Challenge of DOE (Department of Energy). It is reported that the challenge was to develop a heat pump which shall function at 5 Degree F at 100 % efficiency. 100 percent efficiency means if X amount of energy which is provided as input for heating, then equal amount of energy shall be obtained from the equipment. This energy specification is "super high efficiency" in US standard. But it is surely going to save the energy bills of the common citizens. J. LeRoy, who spoke on behalf of technology provider Trane Technology and the DOE challenge winner proudly shared that their product performed at 240 percent efficiency at that level. These heat pumps can also be operated 90 % of time resulting into 15% energy savings and can operate at - 20-degree F temperature. The energy efficiencies are also expressed in COP (Coefficient of Performance) , when COP is ratio of energy obtained as output divided by energy provided in input. In other words, COP 1 means 100 percent efficiency, COP 2.4 means 240% efficiency. J. LeRoy clarified that these heat pumps can even operate at a COP of 3. These pumps are equipped to cool the air as well as heat the air by reversal of flow of refrigerant inside the pump.

New technological solutions often face other challenges. Non-availability of financing is one of these barriers. Linsy enlightened the webinar attendees about GGRF (Green House Gas Reduction Funding) of US EPA, which has US$ 27 billion and US$ 6.97 billion for new high-performance buildings. The high-performance buildings mean the budlings, which aligned with government policies for waste reduction and improving energy efficiency. California Energy Commission, California Air Research Board (CARB) is facilitating energy efficient heat pumps for protection of human health.

The webinar mentions that many heating systems are now very old and needs changes, retrofitting, maintenance, which involves huge cost. Installation of these types of pumps may be found cheaper in long term.

Another challenge is to ensure adequate supply of the equipment. Ted Tiffany clarified that although this is an plug and play installation but development of support services for maintenance etc is required. Kristy with smiling positivity expressed her hope for mobilizing adequate work force, who shall opt for this new green job opportunity.

Upfront cost of these heat pumps apparently looks high if it is compared with cost of air conditioners, but the cost is in price competitive zone if the cost of these cooling cum heating pumps are compared with cost of air conditioners plus cost of dirty fuel fired heating arrangements. The payback for these pumps is also expected to be fast as COP is higher than one for this equipment, while the COP for oil or gas fired heat pumps are less than 1.

Climate change is pushing us to survive in an unstable weather and areas which earlier never needed air conditioner now urgently need cooling option to cope up with steep temperature rise. Poorer section of the society is now, therefore, facing energy poverty as often then cannot afford higher energy bills. This energy poverty map is expanding. These pumps may be suitable option for those economically challenged housings with GGRF support and early pay back promises. Whether these two-way (heating and cooling) pumps shall be able to fulfil its promises or not that shall be testified by time. But reducing energy bill is always a hot topic among the citizens of all countries. WDHT has brought this new heat pumps in the discussion table. Its success shall result in tangible reduction in GHG emissions and meaningful participation of citizens towards a netzero housings.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUaBVeTYUjs&t=1467s



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