Advanced electric-heat-pump market and business analysis. Final report

The primary focus of the study was a comparison of the electric heat pump with six central forced air systems. Key domestic market segments analyzed were new residential construction, replacement of existing systems with similar systems, replacement of existing systems with different systems, and addition to existing systems. The major study objective was to determine the sales potential for an advanced electric heat pump, i.e., a heat pump with an annual energy efficiency at least 20% better than the most efficient unit available in 1979. This includes identifying the climatic region to which the advanced electric heat pump is most applicable and whether it is commercially viable product, i.e., whether the unit can be produced and sold in sufficient volume to generate an acceptable return to the manufacturer. The market position of currently available heat pumps was established. Historical and forecasted heat pump shipments were examined by volume, system type, unit capacity, energy efficiency, region, application (new construction, add-on, replacement, retrofit), and customer (residential, commercial). An analysis of personal interviews, mail, and telephone surveys to assess the market potential of the advance electric heat pump was used to determine the purchase criteria, including payback period, desired product features, barriers tomore » commercialization, and applicability to market segments. A model was devised to project the unit sales volume under varying economic assumptions. (MCW)« less