A three-year study of heat pumps revealed how comfortable they can make homes in addition to a host of other advantages, including ease of use and massive energy savings.
Researchers from Cornell University studied a five-story, 10-unit apartment building in New York City before and after a fuel oil-based steam boiler system was replaced with electric heat pumps.
"The research could help speed adoption of a cleaner alternative to fossil fuel-based heating systems in existing buildings, and has already led directly to a heat pump installation project in public housing in Queens, implemented by the New York City Housing Authority," the Cornell Chronicle reported.
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Residents said that the heat pumps made their living spaces more comfortable than or as comfortable as the boiler system, per the Chronicle. They touted the ability to regulate the temperature in each room. During the study, the building's roof insulation was also upgraded, reducing heat consumption by 25-34% and peak heating power needs by over 10%.
Other benefits came from the removal of the radiators that distributed heat throughout the building: less noise, more available space, and the elimination of burn risk. The system was built around a cheap Internet of Things network rather than a cellular or broadband connection, a helpful setup in dense urban settings as well as rural areas, the Chronicle noted.
Some students who worked on the project were from New York City.
"This is consistent with our idea of community-engaged learning," senior author and engineering professor K. Max Zhang said. "It can improve belonging and show students that everybody can contribute to their community."
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It also signals further movement toward a cleaner, more affordable future in which all people can control the comfort of their living spaces.
"This study brings people to the center of decarbonization," Zhang told the Chronicle. "We're not just talking about it as a noble cause but as something that can bring tangible benefits to residents."
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