Heat Pumps and Forced Air Systems Dominate New US Homes in 2024

Heat Pumps and Forced Air Systems Dominate New US Homes

USA: Almost all new single-family homes in 2024 used either an air or ground source heat pump and a forced air system as the primary heating equipment, according to the US Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction. Heat pumps were most common in warmer regions, making up 82% of installations in the South Atlantic and 77% in the East South Central, while colder regions such as East and West North Central recorded only 7%. Nationally, heat pump adoption has grown from 23% in 2000 to 47% in 2024, while forced air systems fell from 71% to 50% in the same period. Around 20% of homes also installed a secondary heating system.

The survey also found that 54% of new homes relied on electricity as the primary heating fuel, while 41% used natural gas, 3% used propane and 0.1% used oil. Regional differences were significant, with electricity dominant in the South Atlantic (83%) and East South Central (74%), while only 13% of homes in the Middle Atlantic used it. Central air conditioning was installed in 98% of new single-family homes, with the South divisions reaching full coverage at 100%, compared to 85% in New England, the lowest regional share.

Source: Eye On Housing