A Purdue University study led by Kevin Kircher examined heat loss calculations given to about 75 US homeowners and found they frequently overestimated design heat loads by a factor of two or more, leading to oversized systems. Some homeowners reported paying over $1,000, and in one case $2,500, just for the heat loss survey. Industry figures also warn that AI chatbots are spreading unreliable advice on heat pump sizing, prompting companies like Cool Calc to plan improved AI integration.
bbc.co.uk
· 2026-11-13
Pascal, co-founded by Adam Slavney and Jinyoung Seo, has raised $8.5 million in a follow-on seed round co-led by Sazze Partners and LB Investment, with KDB Silicon Valley also participating. The company says appliances built with its newly discovered material could run about 20% more efficiently than current refrigerators and heat pumps, and it has signed a pilot contract with a multinational beverage company. Pascal expects to deliver a first prototype in early 2026 and more refined refrigerator units by 2028.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-21
Seven-month data on the US grid through July 2026 shows electricity use rising about 2 percent year over year, down from 3 percent growth over the same period last year, despite rising data-center and EV/heat-pump demand. Solar power generation, which had been growing more than 30 percent annually in many quarters, is showing a smaller increase so far this year.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-09-25
Researchers identified more than 1,400 local policies across 157 cities addressing clean energy, building efficiency and extreme heat preparedness, according to a new study. The findings come as the Trump administration has restricted states from using Inflation Reduction Act rebates to help homeowners replace fossil fuel appliances with heat pumps.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-22
Google is backing a new initiative in parts of the Bay Area that subsidizes homeowners installing heat pumps, with incentives reaching as much as $10,000 per household. The program frames residential energy upgrades as part of broader grid infrastructure rather than isolated consumer purchases.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-04
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