Heat pumps

Clean industry

How heat pumps can turn wasted energy into low-carbon whisky

A century-old Scottish distillery has halved its CO₂ emissions with waste-heat recovery tech. Others could follow suit — if regulations and economics align.

By Jeff St. John . 24 June 2024

glass of whisky — Tastes great, less CO₂. (haveseen)

Heat pumps

‘Heat-pump coaches’ help neighbors ditch fossil heat in Massachusetts

Since 2020, at least 14 heat-pump coaching programs have sprung up in the state, all with the aim of making it easier to adopt the increasingly popular appliance.

By Alison F. Takemura . 29 March 2023
Heat pumps

When it comes to heat pumps, bigger is not always better

A heat pump that's too big raises costs and reduces comfort. Here are some tips for sizing your system right.

By Alison F. Takemura . 22 March 2023
Heat pumps

Heat pumps are already ubiquitous in Asia. When will the US catch up?

A recent trip to East Asia prompted our correspondent to reframe his understanding of heat pumps, the crucial tool for cleaning up the heating and cooling of buildings.

By Julian Spector . 21 March 2023
Video

Video: Canary heads to The Weather Channel to talk about heat pumps

Watch reporter Julian Spector explain how heat pumps have gone big around the globe and are now set to take off in the U.S. thanks to federal incentives.

By Julian Spector . 13 March 2023
Heat pumps

Meet the heat pump: An old technology that's the future of home heating

Around since the 1850s, the appliances are riding a fresh wave of well-deserved hype as technological breakthroughs are making them even more versatile and efficient.

By Chris Baraniuk . 28 February 2023
Heat pumps

Chart: Americans bought more heat pumps than gas furnaces last year

Even before Inflation Reduction Act incentives kicked in, Americans bought more heat pumps than ever before last year — well over 4 million.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 10 February 2023
Heat pumps

10 questions to ask if you want to get a heat pump

Will you need to overhaul your electrical panel? What if you live in a cold climate? Will a heat pump save you money? We walk you through the basics.

By Julian Spector . 7 February 2023
Carbon-free buildings

Interactive: Turn this old house into your clean-energy dream home

How can you make a home more climate-friendly and more comfortable? Here's the technology you need, plus the steps to get you there.

By Alison F. Takemura . 6 February 2023
Geothermal

Here's a model for bringing geothermal to urban areas

Geothermal systems can cleanly heat and cool buildings, but they can be costly and complex to install, especially in cities. A Chicago building shows the way.

By Audrey Henderson . 20 December 2022
Energy efficiency

Leaky air ducts can undermine heat-pump performance. Aeroseal has a fix

After decades of steady growth, a tech that seals air ducts from the inside out may be poised to take off, thanks to new heat-pump and efficiency incentives.

By Jeff St. John . 9 December 2022