Natural Gas Bans for New Construction and the Heat Pump Alternative: What Builders Need to Know

The writing may be on the wall when it comes to municipal and state rules that disallow gas furnaces in new construction. Headlines tell the story: 

• “Lexington set to become one of the first MA towns to ban fossil fuels in new construction.” 
• “New York to ban fossil fuels in new buildings” 
• “Battle Begins to Ban Natural Gas in New Chicago Homes and Businesses to Fight Climate Change” 

In 2021, the International Energy Agency recommended that global policymakers ban the sale of fossil fuel furnaces by 2025 and phase out natural gas use. The recommendations didn’t sit well with many in the building industry. They let policymakers know. In the U.S., 22 states responded by preempting municipalities from prohibiting natural gas bans.   

The waters remain muddy as headlines tell a mixed story: 

• “Natural gas bans gain traction across the U.S.”   
• “Efforts to Block Gas Bans Across the Nation Are Growing.”  
• “The Push and Pull of Municipal Fossil Fuel Bans” 
• “Climate and Construction: Fossil fuel ban resistance in North America leaves developers in a quandary” 

If you’re among the builders and developers puzzling this all out, now may be the time to open that door to the electrical heat pump world and sneak a peek.  

HEAT PUMPS 3X MORE EFFICIENT THAN GAS AND OIL 

Heat pumps have earned a myriad of names, like the Swiss Army knife of the HVAC industry and a “hot” technology. 

• They heat, cool, and—with certain accessories—produce domestic hot water.  
• They allow precise temperature control and can be paired with smart technologies.  
• They run circles around conventional HVAC systems in terms of energy efficiency and monthly cost savings. 

Heat pumps do all this by transferring energy rather than creating it through combustion. Tech upgrades in recent years have made them super-efficient. Until now, heat pumps have had a stronger foothold in Europe than in the U.S., but sales of heat pumps in the U.S. are coming around.  

There are two kinds of air source heat pumps (ASHPs). Both have outside components and inside components. Both extract heat from the outside air.  

• Air-to-air heat pumps transfer outside air inside to warm your home.  
• Air-to-water heat pumps transfer outside air to water that heating applications use to supply warmth via flooring and radiators.  

Both kinds of ASHPs reverse the air exchange process to cool living spaces in the summer. 

UNCOMMON VALUE FOR HOMEOWNERS 

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a correctly sized heat pump system can deliver up to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes. They provide value to homeowners on several fronts:

1. Efficiency in colder climates – The Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) reports that the newest generation of ASHPs operates down to -13°.  
2. Variable-speed technology – Today’s compressors modulate speed based on the heating or cooling demand of the space. This precise temperature control saves energy and money. 
3. Long life – Heat pumps have fewer mechanical components than conventional HVAC systems. This means longer lives and fewer repairs. 
4. Zoning capabilities - ASHPs equipped with zoning capabilities allow homeowners to control temperature according to how they use spaces.    
5. Integration with smart home technology – Homeowners can control their systems remotely via smartphone apps or voice commands.  
6. Noise levels – ASHPs run more quietly than conventional HVAC systems.  

ADVANTAGE OF AIR-TO-WATER HEAT PUMPS 

Air-to-water heat pumps increase efficiencies in other ways, too. They can provide 100% of a home’s hot water needs.   

Enertech’s Advantage Air-to-Water heat pump was the first U.S. manufactured all-in-one unit, capable of heating, cooling, and fully supplying hot water. The Advantage Air-to-Water system:

1. Accommodates retrofits in existing radiant heat installations. 
2. Supports both radiant and forced air delivery.  
3. Provides an energy-efficient option when limited space prohibits installation of a ground source heat pump system.  
4. Operates without bringing refrigerant into the home. 
5. Supports EPIC connected controls. 

BUILDING AFFORDABLE “ZERO ENERGY READY” HOMES  

While state and municipal policies work their way through the courts, some builders have found a way to move forward by building “zero energy ready” homes. These homes are built to facilitate the eventual addition of energy savers like solar panels and heat pumps. They allow homebuyers to afford a new home today yet position themselves for the benefits of energy efficiency and cost savings tomorrow.  

To learn more about air-to-water heat pumps visit Renewable Advantages in Albany and Trenton Efficiency Home. 

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Resources: 

“An Overview of Natural Gas Bans in the U.S.,” Institute for Energy Research, https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Natural-Gas-Ban-Report_Updated.pdf 

Emily Waltz, “Heat Pumps Take on Cold Climates  - Eight companies aim to prove that their heat pumps are viable in subzero temps,” IEEE Spectrum, https://spectrum.ieee.org/cold-climate-heat-pump 

“Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pump Field Assessment,” CEE - Center for Energy and Environment, https://www.mncee.org/cold-climate-air-source-heat-pump-field-assessment-closed 

“DOE Releases Zero Energy Ready Home Multifamily Version 2,” Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/articles/doe-releases-zero-energy-ready-home-multifamily-version-2