A geothermal heat pump has an efficiency of 500%. You may be wondering how that’s possible, even confused about the idea of the rarity of something even being 100% efficient, but it’s the truth.

Design professionals face a significant challenge when adapting to new industry goals. Transitioning from traditional combustion furnaces, boilers and combined heat and power systems to all-electric heat pumps for new and retrofitted buildings can seem overwhelming. Modular chillers and heat recovery equipment introduce new obstacles in the design process.

However, as ‘beneficial electrification’ becomes the new standard, it’s vital that everyone has a firm understanding of not only how beneficial electrification works, but why it’s being so widely adopted.

Jay Egg, President of Egg Geo LLC. says that: “The topic of beneficial electrification has been contentious since I began writing in 2009. One of my first articles for National Geographic discussed heat pump efficiency, using the Coefficient of Performance (COP) as a measure.”

He goes on to explain the difficulties of convincing others that the results of beneficial electrification weren’t too good to be true.

Beneficial Electrification

Beneficial electrification refers to the need to electrify buildings to reduce emissions from combustion heating. Heating homes and commercial buildings generate more emissions than internal combustion engines in transportation, especially in areas with cold winters and high populations.

Public perception poses a challenge. Some people oppose reducing fossil fuel combustion, but many are open to electrification if it can lower their energy bills.

Educating the public on heat pump benefits is crucial. A useful analogy is a kitchen refrigerator, which pumps heat out of the refrigerator and into the kitchen, similar to how a heat pump can transfer heat into a building. This example is useful because it’s relatable. People can walk to their fridge and feel the heat being expelled down at their feet in real-time, this makes it tangible and comprehensible for people who are trying to grasp this concept on a basic level.

Another educational hurdle is demonstrating that CO₂ emissions stem from combustion, whether from coal, oil, natural gas or propane. The classic image of being warmed by a fireplace is hard to reconcile with the need to reduce emissions. Yet, combustion heating contributes to CO₂ emissions, hindering our emissions reduction goals. People worry about heating failures, but electric heat pumps with emergency and backup resistance heat can provide ease.

When it comes to the general public’s education regarding the impact of natural gas many people don’t know that methane (natural gas) is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO₂, with 84 times the impact. Consequently, unburnt natural gas is significantly more harmful than combusted natural gas. So, with 45% of emissions coming from burning fossil fuels for energy, transitioning to a fully electric society and eradicating combustion heating is essential. Air-source and geothermal heat pumps are critical to achieving no on-site emissions and harnessing energy from the ambient air and the earth.

While the goal of an all-electric society is clear, reaching it requires considerable effort. Many people believe that purchasing an electric car and installing solar panels is sufficient for environmental responsibility. However, further consumer education is needed to emphasize the importance of converting furnaces, stoves, cooktops, and hot water tanks to electric systems. This implies a need for more accessible education on these topics and an emphasis on introducing them to the general public whenever possible.

Additionally, the aging natural gas infrastructure in the U.S. requires costly advancements. This presents an opportunity for beneficial electrification, as geothermal micro-districts can replace aging natural gas pipelines, providing long-term, renewable energy solutions without becoming “stranded assets.”

A stranded asset refers to an investment that becomes obsolete or illegal before the end of its useful life. Many state laws, for example, will prohibit combustion heating in buildings after 2050. An example of a stranded asset may be installing a brand-new natural gas pipeline with a 60-year lifespan. Instead, geothermal micro-districts, which have a similar footprint and cost, provide a sustainable solution. 

Not a New Concept

Building electrification is not a new concept. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association once promoted all-electric homes for safety and simplicity. This effort may regain traction, similar to the “LEED” rating for environmentally friendly buildings.

Electric utilities must manage grid load profiles. In heating-dominant areas, utilities currently provide both electricity and natural gas, resulting in peak electricity demand in summer and peak natural gas demand in winter. Introducing heat pumps would balance these peaks, reducing the need for new power generation facilities and optimizing resource use.

Beyond financial benefits, building electrification reduces reliance on fossil fuels and stabilizes energy prices. Natural gas prices fluctuate, while electricity prices remain relatively stable. Electricity can be generated from various sources, including hydroelectric, photovoltaic, wind, nuclear, and natural gas power plants. Using natural gas to generate electricity is its most efficient application, with a higher COP than other uses.

The New York State Electric Research and Development Authority has highlighted the benefits of building electrification, including more comfortable homes, less maintenance, increased safety, and lower operating costs. Natural gas distribution companies are aware of the benefits of geothermal districts. Both natural gas and geothermal distribution systems require pipelines, but geothermal systems offer renewable energy without the need for a constant fuel supply and provide both heating and cooling.

Cross-trained Contractors

As we develop building electrification technology, the workforce must adapt. Replacing natural gas pipelines with geothermal systems involves similar materials and installation methods. Cross-trained plumbers and heating contractors can install geothermal heat pumps, which can be as straightforward as installing household appliances.

Most utilities now recognize energy in BTUs rather than kilowatt-hours. Electrifying transportation and buildings reduces total energy consumption and peak demand, attaining nearly 50% energy savings. Heat pumps’ efficiency, using one unit of electricity to create 3-5 units of heating or cooling, is key to deep decarbonization and building electrification. This is the direction we are headed.

When we explain that a geothermal heat pump has an efficiency of 500%, this is what we mean. The results are clear and supported, all we need to do is continue to educate on the topic and support implementation in any way possible, and that is how geothermal heat pumps are beneficial to electrification.