Over the past five years, more Californians have recognized the benefits of electric vehicles, including zero tailpipe pollution, superior comfort, and greater fuel efficiency. Thanks to these advantages, more than 25% of new vehicles in the state are now all-electric. 

Heat pumps offer many of these same benefits. However, unlike electric vehicles, many people aren’t sure what they are or where they can be found. Commonplace in many parts of the world, these low-profile devices are usually at work behind the scenes, heating and cooling buildings of all sizes.

So, what’s a heat pump? 

In a nutshell, heat pumps transfer heat from one place to another. Air-source heat pumps move heat in the air, while ground-source, or geothermal, heat pumps transfer heat from the ground. In hotter months, a heat pump will pull heat out of the air inside a building to cool it. During cooler months, a heat pump reverses this approach and pulls heat from outdoor air and transfers it indoors.

Heat pumps are powered by electricity and transfer heat using refrigerants. Since they provide both heating and cooling, they eliminate the need for a separate air conditioning and heating system. This is especially significant in Southern California, where many homes lack access to air conditioning. Despite the growing number of days of extreme heat, California law only requires that landlords provide heating, not cooling. In Los Angeles, 32% of residents still lack air conditioning at home!

New Incentives for Heat Pumps in Southern California 

Recognizing the many benefits of heat pump technology, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is currently drafting clean air standards to support the transition to pollution-free heat pumps for furnaces and water heaters. The agency recently allocated $21 million to launch a new ‘Go Zero’ Program to support households switching to zero-emission technology. 75% of the initial funding will be reserved for overburdened communities to ensure that residents of all socio-economic backgrounds can benefit from the transition to pollution-free appliances.

The Go Zero incentives will also be "stackable" with other rebates and incentives, including those through TECH Clean California, the federal Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) program, and more. This can help bring down the cost of a new Heat Pump and Heat Pump Water Heater even more.

The ‘Go Zero’ incentive program is slated to launch in 2025, and the team at ActiveSGV will be sure to share more details as soon as they become available. Sign up for our newsletter for updates on healthier homes and other programs to realize a more livable SGV!

A few benefits of heat pumps:

• Improved Health and Safety: Gas water heaters and furnaces produce harmful pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and formaldehyde, which can contribute to respiratory problems and other health issues. Heat pumps, on the other hand, do not burn fuel and thus do not release any air pollutants, improving indoor and outdoor air quality and protecting residents' health. 

• Lower and More Predictable Costs: Heat pumps are extremely efficient, meaning they use less energy to heat or cool your home and can result in lower monthly utility bills. Their operation costs are also much more predictable. Unlike gas, the price of electricity remains relatively stable from one month to the next. In 2023, gas prices spiked, resulting in unexpectedly high bills that were a special hardship for households on a fixed income or with limited savings. While the upfront cost of installing a heat pump or heat pump water heater may be higher than its gas equivalent, the long-term savings on energy bills can be substantial.

• Reduced Climate Pollution: Heat pumps are ultra-energy-efficient, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping combat climate change. Methane, a greenhouse gas that is about 87 times more potent than CO2, is leaked in large quantities during the extraction and transport of natural gas. 

• Protection from Extreme Heat: California just had its hottest summer on record, and many families still lack access to central cooling. Heat pumps can provide this life-saving cooling that can help communities stay safe during increasing extreme heat events. In addition to providing consistent cooling, heat pumps can also help improve humidity levels, leading to a more comfortable living environment.