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
In ‘Victory for Voters,’ Supreme Court Rejects Trump-GOP Attack on Mailed Ballots
Take Action Now “At a time when the Roberts Court has too often made it harder for Americans to exercise their rights, today’s decision is an…
Billionaire Wealth Tax Headed to the California Ballot
Take Action Now Gov. Gavin Newsom, who opposes the tax, tried to intimidate proponents into pulling the measure. It didn’t work.By David Dayen,…
The World Cup is undressing the myth of Trump’s American homogeneity
Take Action Now The 2026 World Cup has become a rebuke to Trump’s homogeneous vision of America, revealing a tournament – and a US team – shaped by…
The Fight Against AI Data Centers Is the Newest Frontier of Global Class Warfare
Take Action Now AI is deepening worldwide webs of accumulation, ushering in new class and power relations.By William I. Robinson, Truthout The…