Heat Pumps Outsell Traditional HVAC in 46% of New US Homes

Nearly half of every new home built in America last year came equipped with a heat pump, marking a stunning shift in how we heat and cool our living spaces.

Heat pumps appeared in 46% of new homes in 2023, just one percentage point behind traditional systems like gas furnaces, water boilers, and air conditioners combined. By early this year, heat pump sales jumped 32% higher than older heating systems, according to the Building Decarbonization Coalition.

The technology works by converting liquid to gas and back again, moving heat in or out of your home depending on the season. Unlike gas furnaces or oil burners, heat pumps run on electricity and produce far fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Modern heat pumps have also ditched the old refrigerants that were 2,000 times worse for climate change than carbon dioxide. New EPA regulations now require cleaner alternatives with lower global warming potential, including simple propane in some models.

Sales have doubled over the past 15 years, and these versatile units nearly outsold standalone air conditioning systems this year. The appeal is simple: you get heating and cooling in one appliance.

"It's not just that heat pumps are better, more comfortable, more efficient than furnaces," Kevin Carbonnier from the Building Decarbonization Coalition told Grist. "You also get the two-in-one appliance."

The shift makes economic sense for builders and buyers alike. When paired with electric stoves, homes with heat pumps don't need gas lines at all, cutting construction costs and keeping final home prices down.

Higher energy prices and ambitious climate goals have pushed both consumers and developers to seek efficient solutions. Electric cooking and heating means lower utility bills and simpler home systems.

The Ripple Effect

This heating revolution extends beyond individual comfort and savings. As more homes switch to electric heating that can run on renewable energy, entire neighborhoods reduce their carbon footprint without homeowners thinking twice about it.

Builders are making the sustainable choice the default choice, embedding climate solutions into everyday American life one new home at a time.

The trends point toward heat pumps becoming the new normal, transforming how millions of Americans will stay comfortable for generations to come.