We first looked at a small 2-ton AC unit-typical for the historically mild Seattle climate-but it failed to maintain a safe indoor environment (cooling setpoint of 75☏) during the extreme heat event. Our results clearly show the heat pump is superior at maintaining a comfortable and consistent indoor air temperature and consumes less electricity than the high-capacity 4-ton AC unit. In addition, CO 2 emissions are reduced by around 25 percent for the entire home when it operates with the heat pump compared to the high-capacity AC and furnace. We found that the heat pump was not only capable of maintaining a comfortable and safe indoor air temperature during extreme heat, but it also costs $228 less per year to operate than a dual fuel cooling and heating system (AC unit + gas furnace). RMI modeled the performance of several cooling options for a Seattle home during the three-day heat wave in June 2021: an air-source heat pump (hereafter heat pump), a typical AC unit and a higher capacity AC unit. So how do we keep people safe and comfortable during dangerous heat waves and manage the increasing need for air conditioning in a climate-friendly and equitable way? Heat pumps are an attractive solution for both policymakers and residents alike, as they can keep a home cool and comfortable in an efficient manner in the summer while also heating the home without fossil fuels in the winter. In Seattle, where 46 percent of single-family homes do not have air conditioning, temperatures reached a scorching 108☏ on June 28, creating hazardous conditions inside homes. Scientists are clear that climate change will make these extreme heat events more common in the coming years, prompting people in areas like Seattle, Portland, and Northern California to add air conditioning (AC) to their homes. As a record-breaking heat wave scorched the Pacific Northwest earlier this summer and again this week, killing hundreds of people in the United States and Canada, many residents realized the predictably mild summers they knew no longer exist.
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