Installing a heat pump now is better for the climate, even if you run it on U.S. electricity generated mostly by fossil fuels. Here’s why.
By Alison F. Takemura, Canary Media
You might consider heat pumps to be a tantalizing climate solution (they are) and one you could adopt yourself (plenty have). But perhaps you’ve held off on getting one, wondering how much of a difference they really make if a dirty grid is supplying the electricity you’re using to power them — that is, a grid whose electricity is generated at least in part by fossil gas, coal or oil.
That’s certainly the case for most U.S. households: While the grid mix is improving, it’s still far from clean. In 2023, renewable energy sources provided just 21% of U.S. electricity generation, with carbon-free nuclear energy coming in at 19%. The other 60% of power came from burning fossil fuels.
So do electric heat pumps really lower emissions if they run on dirty grid power?
The answer is an emphatic yes. Even on a carbon-heavy diet, heat pumps eliminate tons of emissions annually compared to other heating systems.
Recent Posts
House Democrats are Finally Shifting on Israel. Party Leaders Must Listen
Take Action Now More than 100 Democratic lawmakers voted against arms for Israel. They’re listening to the people – their bosses are behindBy…
Mamdani Says He Is Examining Whether His Government Can Arrest Netanyahu During NYC Visit
Take Action Now The mayor said he is in “an active conversation with our legal department” on the matter.By Julia Conley, Common Dreams In a…
The Silver Lining of Trump’s Reheated Election Denialism
Take Action Now Take Trump seriously. Take him literally. But also see his speech for what it is: He knows he’s losing.By Brian Tyler Cohen, The…
Don’t Just Nationalize AI. Democratize It.
Take Action Now Public ownership of AI is no guarantee of democracy. We need democratic public ownership to prevent elites from maintaining control…