Across the United States, heat pumps are rapidly becoming the standard heating and cooling equipment in new homes. A recent report from the nonprofit Building Decarbonization Coalition shows that heat pump shipments in the first quarter of 2026 outpaced shipments of fossil‑fuel furnaces by 32%, and the trend has continued for four consecutive years.
Why Builders Are Choosing Heat Pumps
Three‑quarters of new apartments are now heated electrically, and developers are increasingly pairing electric stoves with heat pumps. “It’s becoming a common‑sense measure to build all‑electric homes,” said Kristin George Bagdanov, associate director of research at the coalition. Electric appliances avoid the cost of installing natural‑gas piping and deliver higher efficiency.
Resistance heating such as baseboard heaters, which simply convert electricity to heat at a one‑to‑one ratio, is being replaced by heat pumps that move heat rather than generate it. Heat pumps achieve a coefficient of performance (COP) between 2 and 4, meaning they deliver two to four units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed.
Growth in Multifamily Buildings
Historically, multifamily construction relied on resistance heating, but that is changing. In the Northwest, 18% of new apartment buildings built since 2010 include heat pumps, according to the Sightline Institute. Nationwide, heat pumps were installed in nearly half of all new housing in 2024, including single‑family homes.
Utility‑Scale Innovations
Utilities are testing networked geothermal systems that circulate liquid through underground pipes, using the earth’s relatively constant temperature as a heat source. This method can be seven to eight times more efficient than traditional gas furnaces, further reducing electricity demand for climate control.
Kevin Carbonnier, associate director of analytics for the coalition, noted that the same skills used to install gas pipelines are applicable to these electric infrastructure projects, easing the transition for workers.
Impact on Energy Bills and the Grid
Lower heating and cooling loads translate into reduced electricity consumption, which can help keep utility rates from climbing as the grid incorporates more solar, wind, and battery storage. As data centers and electric vehicles increase overall electricity demand, the efficiency gains from heat pumps become increasingly valuable for ratepayers.
Consumers are also becoming more aware of how public utility commissions set rates and the costs associated with expanding fossil‑fuel infrastructure. “We’re seeing a shift from blaming individual behavior to understanding the broader system that drives bills,” Bagdanov said.
Looking Ahead
With heat pump shipments consistently outpacing those of fossil‑fuel furnaces, industry experts believe the market has reached a tipping point. Continued adoption could play a significant role in national decarbonization goals while offering homeowners lower operating costs and greater comfort year‑round.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
