Heat Pumps are “Hot”
According to newly released industry stats, the AHRI (Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute) is reporting large increases of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for July 2008. The sales of these units are up 6.2% from the same period a year ago.
In the height of the cooling season, heat-pump shipments rallied posting a 17.3 percent increase totaling 198,686 units for the month of July.
Despite the fluctuations in the residential and commercial markets, homeowners are still looking to save energy and money, according to a report written by Kermit Baker, Ph.D., chief economist for the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
“Households are looking for new technologies, while interest in alternative energy generation techniques and energy management systems is growing,” this new interest and the political and economical green emphasis has heightened July heat-pump shipments.
In contrast, gas-fired, warm-air furnaces dropped 6 percent and oil-fired furnaces dropped 52 percent as compared to July 2007. Year-to-date gas furnaces, totaling 1.2 million, have experienced a 16 percent drop and oil furnaces, totaling 26,296, have experienced a 30 percent drop.
The drop in gas fired furnaces is a direct effect to the increase in Heat Pump installations, but the drastic drop in fuel oil furnaces is more a correlation to near doubling in cost of heating fuel oils, an industry that may be on its last leg.
Homeowners are getting serious about their money and making decisions that directly affects their financial health. Many are considering and putting into motion, plans to increase the efficiency of their home, and the above statistics are proof.
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