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Energy Use and Carbon Reduction Potentials from Residential Ground Source Heat Pumps Considering Spatial and Economic Barriers

CSS Publication Number
CSS16-16
Full Publication Date
15 September 2016
Abstract

Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are significantly more energy efficient than conventional heating and cooling systems, but they have suffered from low market penetration. This study analyzes the implications of and barriers to nation-wide GSHP retrofits in U.S. single-family houses based on national databases of housing units and home energy use. Our model estimates maximum annual savings of 1.26 quads (1.33 EJ) of energy, $7.1 billion in energy costs, and abatement of 64.8 million tons of CO2eq. Economics is the major barrier as typical GSHPs cost $164 less to operate annually but cost $8990 more to install than the conventional alternative HVAC systems. Spatial and economic constraints exclude 7.7% and 89% of homes respectively, leaving only 10% of homes suitable for retrofit. Applying these two constraints, savings reduce to 0.15 quads (0.16 EJ), $3.0 billion in energy costs, and abatement of 12.1 million tons of CO2eq. A 30% federal tax credit helps increase the percentage of GSHP-suitable homes from 10% to 30% while reducing the average payback period from 9.1 to 4.8 years among those homes. More effective policies to lower high cost premiums would be needed to promote large-scale GSHP implementations.

Research Areas
Consumer Products & Packaging
Food Systems and Consumer Products
Keywords
Energy efficiency, GHG abatement, Heat pump, HVAC, Market penetration, Residential building, Retrofit
Publication Type
Journal Article
Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.06.060
Full Citation
Lim, Tae Hwan, Robert D. De Kleine and Gregory A. Keoleian. (2016) “Energy Use and Carbon Reduction Potentials from Residential Ground Source Heat Pumps Considering Spatial and Economic Barriers.” Energy and Buildings 128: 287-304