A Building Electrification Roadmap to Promote Decarbonization

The report examines the status of 38 different technologies for residential, commercial, and institutional applications. Although its focus is on California, the report assesses technology availability throughout North America for the following end uses:

• Space heating—Heat pumps are a mature technology, well known and widely available. Roadblocks include cold-climate underperformance.
• Water heating—Heat-pump water heaters are widely available for some applications. Barriers include the difficulty of retrofit installations.
• Cooking—Induction appliances are viable and available for both residential and commercial kitchens. The major sticking point is the consumer and chef preference for gas.
• Clothes drying—Both heat-pump and condensing dryers are available for residential use, but commercial products lag.

Given its emphasis on heat pumps, the report addresses the issue of current refrigerants, which have high global warming potential (GWP). “Despite these challenges, moving from gas technology to heat pumps containing HFC refrigerants remains a smart and critical step toward building electrification and decarbonization,” the report authors claim. This is because emissions from heat pumps can be less than those from combustion technologies. “As more mid-to-low-GWP products become available, heat pumps will become even more attractive.”

More on building electrification

Can Commercial Kitchens Go Electric?

Meet the People Preparing to Amp Up Building Electrification

Get to Know Your Grid

For more information:

New Buildings Institute
newbuildings.org