Heat Pumps and Electrification
September 25, 2024 | Online
If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all registrants for seven days after the event
In this course attendees will learn about their crucial role in driving down carbon emissions through electrification. In this dynamic course, the agenda will delve into the current landscape, policies, and environmental impacts, while tackling challenges like grid demand and infrastructure upgrades. Discover why heat pumps are game-changers, exploring their principles, cutting-edge advancements, and how they stack up against traditional heating methods.
Highlights include:
- Unpacking heat pump technology
- Debunking myths and addressing common concerns
- Setting and achieving sustainability targets
- Hands-on workshop to design your own local heat pump program
- Inspiring case studies and best practices
From carbon reduction goals to energy equity, this course will guide attendees through regional considerations and stakeholder engagement strategies and provide everyone with practical skills to design and implement impactful programs, ensuring a sustainable and equitable energy future.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be at the forefront and pave the way for a sustainable and equitable energy future.
Learning Outcomes
- Review the basics of heat pump technology and how they differ from other climate control equipment
- Dispel myths around heat pumps and understand how they function in different climates
- Discuss concerns from individuals and important talking points when engaging around heat pumps
- Evaluate how increased heat pump adoption impacts the electric power grid
- Identify key stakeholders and engagement strategies when developing a program for increased adoption
- Gain information and resources around successful programs and lessons learned
- Explore funding sources on a high level and how they can be stacked
Agenda
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Central Time
The Big Picture of Electrification & Heat Pump Technology
- Introduction to electrification
- Definitions
- Current landscape
- Policies
- Drivers
- Environmental impacts and benefits
- Challenges
- Increased demand on the grid
- Infrastructure adaptations
- The role of heat pumps in the electrification ecosystem
- How heat pumps work
- Basic principles
- Types of heat pumps
- Advances in technology that have addressed initial shortcomings
- Comparison with traditional heating and cooling methods – does it work for everyone?
Dispelling Heat Pump Myths
- History and evolution of heat pump technology over the past 30 years
- Common misconceptions about heat pump efficiency and performance
- Evidence-based responses to myths (e.g., functionality in cold climates)
- Real-world data and examples to support dispelled myths
- Customer concerns and hesitation around heat pumps (e.g., “my heat pump blows out cold air”)
Electric Grid Impact of Heat Pumps
- Stress points of the grid
- Peak Loading, Summer, and Winter
- How heat pump demand impacts loading curves and mitigation strategies
Benefits & Considerations for Heat Pump Program Design
- Meeting carbon reduction (or environmental stewardship) goals with heat pumps
- Regional considerations
- Weather
- Rate structures
- Infrastructure needs
- Enhancing energy equity for low and moderate-income households
- Administration
- Key considerations for effective program management
- Aligning with/leveraging existing funding sources
- IRA
- State energy offices
- Commentary from HVAC installers
- Impacts and adoptability for specific types of residences
Engaging Stakeholders, Building Support, & Incentives
- Importance of stakeholders
- Identifying and engaging local trade allies and partners
- Strategies for gaining support among various stakeholders
- Communication and marketing techniques to promote heat pump adoption
- Walkthrough of different types of incentive options to spur adoption
Workshop: Designing a Local Heat Pump Program
- Participants break into groups to outline a basic heat pump program
- Each group will work through
- Defining the goal of the program
- Carbon reduction? Lower bills?
- Supporting low- and moderate-income households?
- Regional needs
- Stakeholders for their area
- Who will support? Will there be pushback from anyone?
- Target audiences
- Logistical considerations
- Who is the project lead? Local utility, local government, the trades?
- Funding opportunities
- Additional barriers to adoption
- Identification of incentive strategies
- Group presentations and discussions; feedback from facilitators and peers
Case Studies and Best Practices
- Examination of successful heat pump program implementations
- Lessons learned, key outcomes, and metrics of success
- Interactive discussion on applicability to participants’ contexts