Celebrate and Learn More about Heat Pumps

More homeowners across California are choosing heat pumps as a clean, efficient way to keep their homes comfortable year-round. In fact, heat pumps have outsold gas furnaces nationwide every year since 2021, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute. As communities work to reduce climate pollution and lower energy costs, heat pumps are quickly becoming one of the most popular home upgrades.

What is a heat pump?

Despite the name, a heat pump can both heat and cool your home. Instead of generating heat by burning gas, a heat pump moves heat from one place to another. During the winter, it pulls heat from the outside air and moves it indoors. In the summer, it works like a conventional air conditioner by removing heat from inside your home. A refrigerator is a great example of a familiar heat pump technology.

Because heat pumps move heat rather than create it, they are much more energy-efficient than traditional heating systems. Modern heat pumps can also work effectively even during colder weather. You'll see heat pump technologies in space heating and water heating equipment.

Benefits of heat pumps

One of the biggest benefits of heat pumps is their efficiency. By using electricity to move heat rather than produce it, they can use up to 60% less energy than some traditional heating systems. Homes that currently rely on electric baseboard heaters or space heaters often see the biggest improvements because those systems use a lot of electricity to generate heat. Despite PG&E's rising electricity rates, a recent Harvard study estimates that Alameda County residents can see an average savings of $90 per year on energy bills when switching to a heat pump system. Heat pumps also support a cleaner energy future. Unlike gas furnaces, they don't burn fossil fuels inside the home, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve indoor air quality. Instead, they run on electricity provided by Ava Community Energy, Hayward's community choice energy program, which provides most Hayward residents with 100% renewable electricity.

Learn More During Heat Pump Week

California is launching its first statewide Heat Pump Week from April 11-19, 2026 to raise awareness about the benefits of heat pumps. The week will feature educational events, product demonstrations, and workforce trainings across the state, as well as flagship events in the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Los Angeles.

Heat Pump Week is a great opportunity for homeowners and renters to learn about heat pumps and incentives, and for contractors and small businesses to feature their services. You can get involved by hosting or attending events, posting information on social media using #HeatPumpWeekCA, or sharing why you love your heat pump. The campaign is hosted by the California Heat Pump Partnership and leverages The Switch Is On, which provides educational resources and tools to support home electrification.

For more information about upcoming events, visit the Heat Pump Week website: https://www.switchison.org/heat-pump-week.