New York Times Quotes Our Founder
Contribution for the New York Times article “Do Heat Pumps Work When It Gets Really Cold?”
The Ultimate Proof: Why Communication is Still Our Biggest Hurdle
The necessity of this very analysis confirms the single biggest roadblock to our industry. I’m excited to share my take on the New York Times article by Sofia Quaglia, “Do Heat Pumps Work When It Gets Really Cold?”, where I had the chance to contribute. This piece confronts, head-on, the single largest challenge in our field: the persistent myth of cold-weather failure.
The True Barrier: Not Technology, But Trust
Let me be absolutely clear, based on my two decades of research: The heating transition isn’t waiting on better technology – it’s waiting on trust.
The very fact that major media outlets still need to publish in-depth analyses to convince people that heat pumps function when it’s cold is the ultimate, frustrating proof that communication remains crucial. It validates the entire mission of Heat Pumps Watch right from the start. The data unequivocally proves that heat pumps are inherently superior, offering a lower carbon footprint and vastly better efficiency than fossil fuels.
The Facts are Settled: Performance is Assured
The scepticism that efficiency plummets to zero in the cold is simply unfounded. As I noted in the article, it’s a “question of perspective.” Even with the temperature difference straining the system, the performance is satisfactory.
This leads to the firm consensus shared by Prof. Jan Rosenow (one of our board advisors) and me: Even when it’s genuinely cold, heat pumps deliver at least double the efficiency of any fossil fuel heating system. There is no serious technical argument against their capability.
The Real-World Proof is Unbeatable
We don’t need theoretical models; we have irrefutable real-world proof. For the small fraction of homes facing truly extreme weather, specialized Cold-Climate Heat Pumps (CC-HPs) are readily available, working reliably down to the harshest temperatures.
But the strongest evidence is cultural: Look at the cold countries—Norway, Sweden, and Finland—they have the highest HP adoption rates in Europe. If they work there, they will work for you.
My final word in the NYT remains true: The technology is ready. The focus now must shift from questioning capability to driving confident, fact-based adoption. This article is a powerful reminder of why organizations like ours are so vital.