Heat pumps have almost become household names in recent times as homeowners and commercial property owners embrace the technology as a more environmentally friendly and cost-saving way to heat and cool spaces than traditional systems. It is not a new concept, and it works in much the same way as an air conditioner, using the same process to heat and cool a space. Recent advances in technology, increased government incentives, and growing awareness of the technology have made heat pumps even more mainstream. This is a positive development, as heat pumps are expected to play a key role in the decarbonization efforts taking place around the world. Recent breakthroughs address some of the key challenges of installing heat pumps, a development that could help overturn the persistent view that heat pumps cannot work in cold climates.
The enthusiasm for heat pumps in commercial real estate is not unfounded. Recent studies have found that these heating and cooling systems can reduce the emissions associated with heating and cooling commercial buildings by up to 20 percent, significantly reducing long-term costs. Because most systems do not rely on fossil fuels to operate, they play a vital role in the rapidly growing net-zero pledges being made by cities, states, and countries around the world. According to a study by the World Green Building Council, 28 percent of global carbon emissions come from building operations, and 15 percent come directly from heating and cooling buildings. To achieve net-zero targets, buildings will ultimately need to run on 100 percent renewable energy, which makes heat pumps even more attractive to building owners.
One of the most common drawbacks of heat pumps is that they don’t work well in cold climates. Historically, this has been true in some cases. Traditional air-source heat pumps become less efficient when temperatures drop below freezing. This is because they typically become less efficient when temperatures drop near or below freezing. However, as heat pumps have grown in popularity over the past decade, advances in engineering and technology have made it possible for heat pumps to work in all climates. Maine, with its long, cold winters, has the highest rate of heat pumps in the country. And Nordic countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Finland have some of the highest rates in the world.
Cold climates often require a geothermal or ground source heat pump system, which uses an underground pipe system 10 feet below the surface to extract heat from the earth during cold months. In warmer months, the process is reversed to provide cooling. Advances in technology have also increased the capabilities and versatility of heat pumps. This includes features previously unavailable to users, such as variable speed, inverter-driven compressor technology, and improved defrost cycle control. Studies have shown that heat pumps used in cold climates can function in even the coldest temperatures.
Geothermal heat pump systems have already garnered attention in places like Brooklyn, New York, where two different multifamily housing projects powered by geothermal energy are currently underway. Australian development company Lendlease is behind 1 Java Street, a mixed-use residential project along the waterfront in the borough’s Greenpoint neighborhood. When complete, the development will consist of more than 800 units, 30 percent of which will be designated as affordable housing. Lendlease partnered with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to build the geothermal heat exchange system. When complete, the all-electric building will be the largest residential project in the state to use a geothermal heat exchange system. It is expected to reduce annual carbon emissions from heating and cooling by 53 percent compared to traditional systems.
Just south of Coney Island, a two-building waterfront development at 1515 Surf Avenue is nearing completion. According to project designer Studio V Architecture, the development will be home to 139 affordable housing units and will feature the city’s largest geothermal heating and cooling system. Underground wells developed by LCOR help power the geothermal system, which is expected to reduce the project’s carbon footprint by more than 60%. Projects like this one in Brooklyn are especially important given that the city’s landmark Local Law 97, which went into effect this year, requires the carbon footprint of certain buildings to be reduced by 40% by 2030.
Among the newest products on the market is the Bosch heat pump, announced earlier this year. The system is designed to heat buildings in cold climates down to -13 degrees Celsius. Bosch says the new heat pump system meets the requirements of the Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge, a program launched by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to encourage further advances in heat pump technology that will increase the adoption of cleaner energy systems. The goal is for manufacturers to create a heat pump that can meet 100% of a building’s heating needs in sub-freezing temperatures without relying on supplemental heat. The challenge will begin with a product prototype phase in late 2021 and end with a deployment program this year. For homeowners, the innovative cold climate heat pump could save more than $500 in energy bills each year, while also significantly reducing carbon emissions, according to the DOE.
Another innovative heat pump system is being tested at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The new system, developed by SeaWarm in partnership with the university, uses water sources such as oceans, rivers, ponds and even mine water to heat and cool homes and commercial buildings. These water-source heat pumps extract thermal energy stored in bodies of water through a heat exchanger and transfer it to a heat pump, which compresses it to a high temperature suitable for heating spaces. The university is currently testing the system in various buildings across Scotland, including an affordable housing project, a commercial greenhouse and a gold mining museum. One of the main components used in the SeaWarm system is glycol, a liquid used as an antifreeze. This substance is able to absorb thermal energy from water sources as it circulates through tubes in a heat exchanger.
Heat pumps are gaining more and more momentum both nationally and globally. The latest technological advances, focused on systems designed for cold climates, could mean a significant increase in adoption rates, given the long-standing perception that heat pumps are ineffective in cold climates. The impetus to adopt electric systems that significantly reduce carbon emissions comes from rapidly expanding decarbonization mandates and, in many cases, the environmental goals of real estate companies and tenants themselves. Just recently, nine U.S. states committed to promoting heat pumps to account for 90% of residential heating, air conditioning, and water heating sales by 2040. Even with recent technological advances, it will likely take some time for heat pumps to change their reputation. And while awareness of the system seems to be at an all-time high, the percentage of buildings in the U.S. that use heat pumps is relatively low. But the latest innovations will no doubt help the movement toward greater heat pump adoption continue to grow nationally and around the world.
