[ilamont]

> For some reason Americans are slow to pick up HVAC innovations that are common elsewhere

Few want to spend the money to convert older buildings. That includes homeowners, building owners, and condo/co-op boards.

Someone a few weeks ago posted a long essay about how much heat pumps make sense from an investment and environmental standpoint. It glossed over the fact that most American middle income households, when presented with the choice of dropping $25,000 on a heat pump/mini split or sticking with window mounted ACs and that cost a fraction in terms of up front costs, will go for the cheaper option ... or spend the money on some other home improvement or accessory like a car.

Not saying it's right, but that's the way it is.

[belthesar]

One of the big questions that I haven't seen a compelling answer for re: heat pumps in the US is why heat pumps are so expensive compared to AC exchanges. The amount of equipment differences between an AC and a heat pump are largely a valve to reverse refrigerant flow and the small bit of electronics to control said valve. Yet heat pump units in the US are significantly more expensive for effectively the same COP and operating efficiency ranges as their cooling-only brethren.

[mitthrowaway2]

But why would this be any different in America than the rest of the world? What you've written seems to me like a universal.

[ilamont]

It's more expensive in America - larger houses requiring larger units and more ductwork/labor, and probably the manufacturers pricing for the world's richest market.