French study shows heat pumps lead the way in efficiency, sustainability

As heat pumps become increasingly popular among consumers, more studies are highlighting their
capabilities, including one from France that compares their efficiency with that of boilers.
According to a recent study from the French Environment and Energy Management Agency, or
ADEME, heat pumps are up to three times more efficient than oil or gas boilers.

“Heat pumps are indeed a source of purchasing power gains, energy efficiency, and improved trade
balance, when they replace imported fossil fuels,” the agency said in a press release.

The agency conducted several studies over two years to assess heat pump performance during the
heating season. Specifically, they tracked 90 air-to-water heat pumps and 10 geothermal heat
pumps recently installed in single-family houses to replace gas or oil boilers.

They also studied the heating consumption of households that installed air-to-air heat pumps in
place of all or part of their heating appliance.

Heat pump efficiency was measured by the Seasonal Coefficient of Performance. When this reaches
a value of two, the pump provides twice as much energy as the electricity it consumes.

The study recorded an average coefficient of 2.9 for air/water heat pumps, and 4.3 for water/water
heat pumps.

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France aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, looking to reduce building sector emissions
from 45 metric tons to 30 metric tons by 2030. Using heat pumps to decarbonize heating is one of
its solutions.

“Accelerating the energy transition also means giving households the means to better control their
energy bills,” said Sylvain Waserman, chairman and CEO of ADEME. “Heat pumps are an
increasingly preferred solution in this respect.”

Will the U.S. Follow Suit?
France is among the leading installers of heat pumps, and demand in Europe is expected to grow in
the next decade. Whether the United States will follow this trend remains to be seen, though heat
pumps are on the rise.

Heat‑pump shipments now outpace gas and oil furnaces, outselling gas and oil furnaces by 30% in
2024, and in four of the last five years. Heat pump shipments surpassed gas furnaces in 2022 and
continue to do so, with roughly one‑third of U.S. homes already having a unit.

In its 2025 Contractor of the Future survey of 1,000 contractors nationwide, the ACCA reports 45%
of all contractors’ heating source for new and replacement systems is heat pumps.
In 2024, 42% of households now rely on electricity for heating, according to a recent analysis from
the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Meanwhile, a study from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy last July shows
that window-mounted heat pumps provide a lower-cost option for decarbonizing large,
multifamily buildings in most cases.

“Heat pumps — especially cutting-edge technologies like window-mounted models — offer the
most cost-effective and scalable way to fully decarbonize heating in apartment buildings,” said
Steven Nadel, executive director of ACEEE.

Contractors are following suit. The ACHR NEWS’ 2025 contractor survey shows that in the last
decade, heat pump sales have increased. In the past two years, they’ve eclipsed gas furnace sales
for the first time.

Contractors surveyed said the frequency of heat pump installations increased by 58% versus three
years ago, compared to 46% in the previous survey. Of that 58%, 18% said they’ve “increased
greatly.” About 71% predict heat pump sales to increase in the next three years.

What the Consumer Wants
Despite all this, heat pumps have yet to gain widespread traction in the U.S.
Last November, voters in Washington approved of ballot measure I-2066 that prohibits state and
local governments from restricting access to natural gas, suggesting consumers aren’t ready to give
up gas systems just yet.

Consumer perception of heat pumps is another factor. Myths about cold-climate performance
persist, despite studies like the ADEME and others proving otherwise. Similarly, consumers may
have preconceived notions about noise levels.

The ADEME’s opinion noted that nearly a third of installations do not provide the expected results
due to imperfect settings or sizing. This emphasizes the need for contractors to properly
understand heat pump operations and installation methods.

Ultimately, though, consumers are going to want the option of a heat pump. This freedom of choice
is, in part, what drives HARDI’s industry advocacy efforts to prevent outright bans on gas systems,
said Todd Titus, director of state and public affairs for HARDI.

“We want distributors to be able to provide whatever products the contractors need to provide to
the customers because everyone’s situation is different,” he said. “One person might have the
better benefit of a heat pump, another person might have the better benefit of … a gas furnace
heater. So being able to have that opportunity and not do a blanket ban or blanket prescriptive
prohibition is a better tactic.”

Chris Gray

Source https://www.achrnews.com/articles/165740-study-heat-pumps-three-times-more-efficient-than-boilers