Month: January 2025

Originally published by HVACinformed.com

Until a couple of years ago, most of the talk about heat pumps occurred around this time of year, when more than half the planet prepares for an autumn cooldown.

These discussions were typically limited to regions that only experienced moderate winters. But as anyone who has recently perused an HVACR trade magazine or website—or participated in an industry webinar, event, or social media conversation—can tell you, the topic of heat pumps is virtually unavoidable. Not only do heat pump discussions now occur year-round, but they’ve also ascended to consistent headline status and transcended the traditional boundaries of moderate climates.

The decarbonization megatrend

One might say heat pumps have taken their place on the global stage. If you’re asking why this has happened, the answer requires just three words: the decarbonization megatrend.

However, for industry professionals looking to grow their businesses, it’s helpful to gain a deeper understanding of heat pumps—how they work, ways they are currently meeting HVACR needs, and where the technology is headed for next-generation applications. Through this understanding, members of the industry can better forecast customer needs as well as identify opportunities for expanding in both current markets and, potentially, new ones.

How heat pumps work—don’t let the name fool you

What heat pumps do and, more specifically, how they do it provides the key as to why they are now being considered a “hero” of decarbonization. The term can be misleading, because “heat pumps” do not generate heat. Because of this, heat pumps are being more widely embraced as the lower-carbon-emission alternative to combustion-based heating technology that uses, for example, fossil fuels.

Instead of creating heat, heat pumps extract heat energy from where it’s not needed and move it to where it is needed. When a heat pump is in heating mode, its refrigerant evaporates as it absorbs heat from the outside. The heat released as the refrigerant condenses is then transferred to interior spaces. In warmer weather, a heat pump kicks into cooling mode and the process is reversed, as heat is extracted inside and released outside. This non-combustion process of moving heat from one place to another provides several potential benefits to society:

Heat pumps support the megatrend toward decarbonization.They replace fossil-fuel heating with high-efficiency technology.They can be paired with lower-global-warming-potential (GWP) A2L refrigerants—such as R-454B and R-32—to further increase environmental benefits, while offering similar performance to the legacy R-410A.They offer the ability to tap into alternative energy sources, such as industrial waste heat as well as heat sourced from the air (ambient), ground (geothermal), or lakes/ponds (water).

Meeting today’s needs—these aren’t your grandfather’s heat pumps

Heat pump technology has been commercially available and in use since the 1950s. Early versions of heat pumps were essentially reversible air conditioning units, and most used traditional refrigerants—like R-22 and, more recently, R-410A. These units performed well and operated safely using lower-toxicity, nonflammable (A1) refrigerants. However, they were known to sometimes struggle at lower ambient temperatures.

As often happens in the world of science and technology, challenges drive the search for solutions. Today, we’re seeing innovations that result in efficient, effective cold-climate heat pumps that optimize various components, such as compressors, heat exchangers, expansion valves, and their controls. Thanks to these innovations and others, the U.S. and other countries are experiencing broader heat pump adoption and, in turn, supporting progress toward decarbonization.

Increasing heat pump accessibility and viability in more places and spaces is also critical to the HVACR industry’s commitments to the environment—and its need to heed regulations advancing the transition to systems reducing climate impact. Emerging systems use mildly flammable (A2L) refrigerants. They are similar in design to legacy systems and include modifications to mitigate risks associated with the change to A2Ls.

Where things are headed—heat pump technology is just getting started

Even with the significant advances we’ve seen in colder-climate heat pumps, there is still untapped potential in terms of what the technology can achieve. We can expect to see continued innovation as end-user needs and environmental priorities continue to evolve. Some foreseeable growth areas for heat pumps include:

Traditional applications—that is, moderate climatesExpansion into nontraditional climates—heating in very cold climates and cooling in hotter regionsDomestic water heating, replacing fossil-fuel systemsLeveraging a variety of heat sources—geothermal, air-sourced, and water-sourcedHarnessing waste heat generated by energy-intensive industrial processes

Use of lower-GWP A2L refrigerants

Supporting these growth areas will be innovations that optimize high-performance, high-efficiency delivery of extracted heat, using a combination of traditional and new split-ducted, ductless/mini-split, and mono-block technologies.

System optimization will also drive greater use of lower-GWP A2L refrigerants, such as R-454B, while limiting the use of highly flammable refrigerants such as R-290. Refrigerant selection will also play an increasingly important role and may offer additional opportunities for application-specific technology. As heat pump applications expand, we can expect to see greater focus on selecting the optimum refrigerant to use as the working fluid. Criteria will weigh system design, operating conditions, and other priorities against key refrigerant properties:

Physical—boiling point, vapor pressure, density, and material compatibilityThermodynamic—cooling/heat capacity, energy efficiency, pressure-enthalpy (PH) curvesEnvironmental—ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP)Safety and health—flammability and toxicity

Conclusion: There’s strong and ample reason to “stay pumped”

Over the past several years, members of the HVACR industry have enthusiastically embraced new heat pump solutions. Evolving heat pump technology and expanding applications will continue as the industry progresses along the path of more energy-efficient, lower-GWP, and more sustainable new-generation and next-generation heating and cooling.

This, coupled engineering and science that leverages untapped heat pump potential, will mean more opportunities for HVACR contractors to deliver new options to the markets they serve. With a strong understanding of their customers’ individual heating and cooling needs, climate challenges, and sustainability goals, contractors can confidently select the best heat-pump refrigerant solution.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., January 9, 2025 /3BL/ – To empower teachers and students to explore their world, the Environmental Education Initiative offers a curated collection of free environmental education resources for K-12 classrooms. Powered by worldwide edtech leader Discovery Education, the Environmental Education Initiative is a first-of-its-kind effort that helps students engage in environment science, make informed decisions that support healthy environments, and supports civic engagement.

The Environmental Education Initiative supports learners with standards-aligned resources that explore contemporary topics in environmental studies. The captivating multimodal content created by this initiative includes videos, ready-to-use lessons, and student activities exploring subjects such as energy, forestry, clean water, and more. The newest resources include 3 generation innovation video bundles, created in partnership with Nucor, Honeywell, and Subaru of America, Inc., and 6 student-facing activities, powered by LyondellBasell.

“Research reveals that environmental education helps improve overall academic performance, enhances critical thinking skills, and helps students develop personal growth and life-building skills,” said Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Alliances at Discovery Education. “We are proud to work alongside our partners to not only help students explore, grow, and develop academically and personally, but also to support teachers, as they help all learners explore the world around them, engage in civic life, and build healthy futures.”

The resources from the Environmental Education Initiative are created with The National Environmental Education Foundation and other partners, including Honeywell, LyondellBasell, Nucor, and Subaru of America, Inc. To access Environmental Education Initiative resources, visit environmentaleducationinitiative.discoveryeducation.com. Educators with access to Discovery Education Experience can find these resources on the Environmental Education Initiative channel.

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts 
Grace Maliska 
Discovery Education 
Email: gmaliska@dicoveryed.com

Originally published on Geena Davis Institute 

Over the past few years as women’s basketball blossomed from an afterthought to a national phenomenon, the access to games on television and corresponding ratings, once minuscule, now rack up massive viewership numbers.

As a WNBA fan and market researcher, Charlene Polite Corley, Nielsen’s Vice President for Diverse Insights and Partnerships, had a front-row seat to the shift in data and culture. Polite Corley is delighted to see big brands, major sponsors and influential media outlets jumping aboard the women’s sports express and hails the economic opportunities accompanying this long-awaited breakthrough.

“It is super validating and almost emotional to see the audience catch up with the product on the floor,’’ Polite Corley said, noting how increased revenues have enhanced the lives of players. “To see these women getting their flowers is really, really magical.

“But also, Nielsen data shows there’s a ton of untapped opportunities. So the brands that have been very studied and investing in women’s sports along the way have a leg up. And now there’s some new joiners coming in, and so their price point is very different – as it should be.”

Indeed, potential advertisers should take note. The astonishing – but sustainable gains – for women’s sports serve as a true testament to the motto of the Geena Davis Institute: “If they can see it, they can be it.”

Or, as Polite Corley put it: “I feel like women’s sports is such a key case study for equity in media.”

Thanks to generational talents such as A’ja Wilson , Caitlin Clark, and Angel Reese, women’s basketball leads the power shift. Those stars grabbed the spotlight and kept it, attracting new audiences at an almost unthinkable rate at both the college and professional levels.

In 2024, 20 WNBA games through August averaged at least 1 million viewers, according to Nielsen’s audience measurement. The CBS Network averaged 1.10 million viewers for its eight games, up a staggering 86 percent from last year.

This is a significant development for a fan base that has long yearned for such visibility. Nielsen data shows that fans have cited lack of information and a lack of access to live airings as key barriers to keeping up with women’s sports.

Suddenly, media interest in women’s sports has grown so fast that Polite Corley sounded a note of caution.

“Wow, we got a whole bunch of new eyeballs really quickly, and everybody’s having to do a little bit of work,’’ she said. “We have to check a lot of our biases about how we report on women being women, being competitive, women being athletes, women being other than catty and jealous and all these other things. Like really broadening the lexicon of how we report and view women in these competitive settings.”

Fortunately, Nielsen executives and their sports-specific research teams have been delving into these questions for a while. Their data helps inform this golden age for women’s sports, with basketball’s success augmented by the Olympic Games in Paris, where female superstars such as Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky took center stage.

With help from Nielsen, here are some key statistics and trends among sponsors and fans when it comes to women’s sports.

WNBA fans are more likely to engage brands 

Nielsen data determined that sponsors of the WNBA received an average of 77 percent more media value year-over-year. The league’s fans were also 1.6 times more likely to follow a brand’s social media account.

What’s going on there?

“What that 77 percent is telling us is that when WNBA fans are tuned in or attending, they are hyper-aware of the brands that are also supporting their teams,’’ Polite Corley said.

In fact, she knows this dynamic first-hand.

Polite Corley attended the WNBA’s 2023 All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. That’s where Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty broke WNBA and NBA records for most points in a 3-point shooting contest.

One of the things Polite Corley remembers most about that experience is the signage for Starry lemon-lime soda, which sponsored the action.

“Sabrina just broke all kinds of records. But I had never seen or heard of Starry,’’ she said. “So, the next time that I was traveling and encountered the brand ‘out in the wild,’ I made sure that I bought, like, two bottles.”

This is commonplace among this fan base. A whopping 60 percent of WNBA fans said they would recommend a brand sponsor to others.

“As soon as I saw this metric, I was like, ‘That’s so true,’’’ Polite Corley said. “Because I was so impressed by the show that they put on, sponsoring All-Star Weekend, and it just instantly translates to ‘that’s a brand that gets the value of this league and its fans.’

“The data shows that fans of The W are more likely to walk away saying ‘I’m going to talk to somebody about it and I’m going to purchase that brand when they show up. I think that’s a kind of widespread concept for those long-term fans.’”

The WNBA is a perfect spot for brands to demonstrate values and engage new consumers 

Nielsen’s research shows that the WNBA fan base embraces companies with a cause. The league’s supporters rank among the most supportive of social justice issues.

Polite Corley described inclusion as “the secret to growing the game.”

That’s demonstrated in the data surrounding the WNBA.

“It’s a perfect opportunity for the right brand to show up and say, ‘Hey, we care about (women’s) talent just getting the recognition it deserves, and that’s why we’re here,’’ Polite Corley said. “It’s a way to live your values with how and where brands place their sponsorships, especially because there has been such a dearth of investment for so long across multiple sports.”

Nielsen Fan Insights data found that 84 percent of WNBA fans and 74 percent of NBA fans care about combating racism.

With four new professional leagues for women coming this summer — soccer, volleyball, softball and a 3-on-3 basketball – Polite Corley expects brands to try to replicate some of the WNBA sponsorship success.

“So there’s a lot more opportunities to kind of tap into folks growing into those new avenues to support professional women’s athletes,’’ she said.

WNBA Draft viewership up 511 percent vs 2023 

The obvious follow-up question here is … wait, really? (begin italics) Five-hundred-and-eleven percent? (end italics)

Indeed, Nielsen’s data verifies the astounding year-over-year surge in interest in the night the WNBA teams get their pick of top college players turning pro.

In fact, it gets more amazing: Among girls aged 2 to 17, the viewership figure is up 668 percent.

“Yeah, this is interesting because the year prior, the WNBA Draft saw double-digit growth with female viewers,’’ Polite Corley said. “At the time, we saw an 89 percent jump so, we were like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s fantastic!’

“It may not continue to do triple-digit increases going forward. But I do think it signals that you have a new audience who is really paying attention here.” 
 

Brands go big during the Olympics, but what are they doing in the meantime to engage? 

The Olympic Games have obvious appeal for sponsors because of their massive high-profile international exposure. But Nielsen underscored that opportunities continue for brands even during the non-Olympic years.

Polite Corley pointed to how an unlikely niche sport – women’s rugby – thrived on the media landscape this summer with help from relentlessly charismatic star Ilona Maher.

“I’m a burgeoning expert. Rugby is my new favorite,’’ Polite Corley said with a laugh. “So one of the benefits of the Olympics is we get this exposure to sports that may not be widely popular but are on the rise in our country.

“So folks have now discovered all these new sports they want to watch or learn to play. These are opportunities to place bets for the future of a growing sport, especially when it comes to women’s sports.”

For sponsors, there are also new frontiers to reach.

“I do think that it’s about keeping that momentum,’’ Polite Corley said. “The Paralympics come up right after the Olympic Games, and so that’s another opportunity to also tune in again and live those values around inclusion and support the Paralympic competitors as well.”

Conclusion: Is your brand in the right place to break through?

One of the biggest takeaways from Nielsen’s insights is that the best way to nurture a fan base is to tell more stories. Younger fans especially are open to sports-related content behind the scenes.

This interest is an opportunity to tell more stories of athletes, rivalries and triumphs across women’s sports.

Sponsors and brands, take note.

“There’s data that shows that when brands are thoughtful and show up with the right information to place these investments in women’s sports, they really do pay great dividends,’’ Polite Corley said. “It’s been a really exciting time.”