SACRAMENTO, CA Oct. 10, 2023 — Ten of the world’s largest manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of building heating and cooling equipment signed an agreement committing to actions aimed at achieving California’s goal to have six million electric heat pumps installed by 2030 (SEE https://bit.ly/californiahps). Under the agreement, the manufacturers will work to design heat pumps to be more compatible with the state's electric grids, that have routinely shown an inability to withstand the strain of normal and natural summer heat waves.
The announcement was made at a two-day summit hosted by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and EPRI. The event brought government leaders together
with industry, academic, community partners and others to explore affordable, reliable, and equitable pathways to electrifying buildings — a key part of California’splan to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century.
The manufacturers signing on include A. O. Smith Corporation, Carrier, Daikin, Fujitsu, Johnson Controls, Lennox International, LG Electronics, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US, Rheem Manufacturing Company, and Trane Technologies.
As part of the commitment, they agreed to:
- Create the manufacturing capacity to help achieve the state’s goal of installing six million heat pumps by 2030.
- Ensure heat pumps are good citizens of the electric grid by enhancing efficiency and incorporating load flexibility.
- Collaborate with the CEC to develop a public-private partnership to facilitate policy and market support to bring heat pumps into the mainstream.
“I applaud the vision and dedication of the 10 manufacturers who are stepping up to strengthen California’s ability to deliver on our goal to install six million heat pumps,” said CEC Commissioner J. Andrew McAllister, lead commissioner on energy efficiency. “Partnerships with industry are critical in aligning policy and reality. This new commitment will ensure grid-friendly heat pumps are widely available and help consumers understand why they’re the better choice for both comfort and the climate The pledge builds on policies and programs underway at the CEC, California Air Resources Board, California Public Utilities Commission, and Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. The activities are supported by the California Climate Commitment and Federal Inflation Reduction Act, which combined will provide $1.5 billion for efforts to reduce emissions from buildings.
About Heat Pumps
- Sources say heat pumps as a highly efficient electric technology for water and space heating that produce fewer emissions than traditional HVACs and water heaters.
- The 2022 Energy Code established heat pumps as the standard for new single-family homes.
- More than 1.5 million are currently installed throughout California.
- Current California market share for new single-family homes is 55 percent for heat pump space heaters and 16 percent for heat pump water heaters.
For information about rebates and loans for homeowners and renters, contractors, or local governments, visit the CEC’s Building and Home Energy Resource Hub.