A new WCEC report explores affordable strategies to accelerate adoption of low-global-warming-potential (low-GWP) heat pumps in California homes. Led by WCEC Director Vinod Narayanan, Co-Director of Engineering Curtis Harrington, and Market Transformation Research Director Sarah Outcault, the project evaluated both near- and medium-term solutions through lab testing, field demonstrations, and performance modeling.
Findings show that the heat pumps reduced greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 90 percent compared to the gas systems they replaced. The team also advanced a novel polymer heat exchanger design to support long-term market transformation as refrigerant standards tighten.
