2023 is on track to be one of the hottest years across the globe. Warming occurs at double the global rate in Arctic regions, necessitating the need for viable decarbonization options that help move away from dependence on fossil fuels. This summer, one of the eScience Institute’s Data Science for Social Good (DSSG) teams at the University of Washington has been researching heat pumps for heating and cooling use across Alaska, and how to measure their efficiency.

There are a number of different types of heat pumps, but essentially they move hot or cold air either into or out of a building. Heat pumps use electricity to move cool air inside a building (and warm air outside) during the summer, or vice versa during the winter. Unlike air conditioners or furnaces that generate their own temperature-controlled air and circulate it, heat pumps merely transfer existing heat and have the potential to be an incredibly energy-efficient and economical option in the right situations. The DSSG group is exploring whether heat pumps are feasible and practical in places like Alaska that experience extreme cold temperatures.

Read the full article here.