Climate Connections New window-mounted heat pumps make ditching fossil fuels easier
Nov 14, 2025
Stephen Nadel, an energy efficiency expert with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, discusses innovative window-mounted heat pumps that are transforming building heating. These devices are easy to install, plug into standard outlets, and significantly reduce climate-warming emissions. Nadel highlights their growing adoption in cities like New York, where housing authorities are embracing this technology. This solution is making it easier for urban dwellers to transition away from fossil fuels.
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Electrification Cuts Building Emissions
- Switching buildings from oil or gas to electric can sharply cut their climate footprint.
- Cold-climate window-mounted heat pumps make electrification more feasible for many older apartments.
Window Units Avoid Central-System Retrofits
- Multifamily buildings often have old central systems that are hard to retrofit.
- Window-mounted heat pumps installed per apartment sidestep central-system retrofit challenges.
Install Plug-In Window Heat Pumps
- Install cold-climate window-mounted heat pumps in individual apartments to provide both heat and AC.
- Choose plug-in, sill-hanging models for easier installation and minimal view obstruction.