Department of Energy unveils resources for deploying heat pumps in commercial buildings

To accelerate adoption of heat pump technology in commercial buildings, the U.S. Department of Energy is offering resources and guidance for stakeholders.

DOE aims to help commercial building owners and operators reduce greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs by increasing the adoption of existing and emerging heat pump technologies. Building owners and operators can obtain resources and guidance to support both site-level and portfolio-level installations.

Technical assistance includes:
• Decision trees and guidance documents to support site-level and portfolio-level evaluations
• Estimates on the energy, economic, and emissions comparisons for different geographic and climate regions
• Case studies showcasing how building owners have successfully implemented heat pump RTUs to achieve their decarbonization goals
• Peer-to-peer learning through working groups on topic areas, including manufacturers' equipment specifications, validation activities, workforce challenges, utility engagement, and more

Heat pump rooftop units (RTUs) are estimated to reduce GHG emissions and energy costs by up to 50% compared with conventional RTUs (with natural gas heating). But fewer than 15% of commercial buildings in the U.S. currently have heat pumps, DOE says.