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Use Heat Pumps

Provided by: Project Drawdown |Published on: October 31, 2023

Articles/Websites

9101112AP

Synopsis

This interactive article examines the implementation of heat pumps as a climate solution, conventional heating methods that they can replace, and data for the climate impacts on a 100-yr and 20-yr timescale.
Students will learn the financial implications, reduced carbon emissions, and implementation scenarios associated with high-efficiency heat pumps.

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Subjects: Physics, Economics, Engineering

Authors: Project Drawdown

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

This article is well-rounded and considers many factors, including acknowledging that heat pumps can be expensive.
This article provides information on what makes a heat pump efficient and the benefits to people as a climate mitigation and climate adaptation strategy.

Prerequisites

It may benefit students to know about refrigerants and other terms related to this article.
Students should understand climate change and how typical HVAC systems contribute to climate change.

Differentiation & Implementation

Students can use this article and other building-related solutions, found in this resource, for an informative essay on different methods of residential decarbonization.
To assess prior knowledge, the teacher can ask the class how they heat their homes before reading the article.
This article can enhance a classroom discussion on how governments can increase the adoption of heat pumps.
This article can support a lesson on the mechanical differences between heat pumps and conventional air conditioning systems.

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Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

Project Drawdown

Project Drawdown is a nonprofit organization that seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”—the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline. Cities, universities, corporations, philanthropies, policymakers, communities, educators, activists, and more turn to Project Drawdown as they look to advance effective climate action. Project Drawdown resources for educators include the database of Drawdown Solutions, educational video series Climate Solutions 101, the Drawdown Stories initiative, and more.

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All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.