Daikin, a leading global manufacturer and pioneer of advanced inverter heat pump technologies, has unveiled a series of six initiatives at the California Energy Commission’s (CEC’s) Building Electrification Summit. Those initiatives include plans to open a network of new sales locations throughout the state, which will improve workforce and partner training, feature servicing and showroom functions, and raise awareness about the benefits of inverter heat pump technology.
The company’s recent pledge also includes a commitment to take measures to support all income segments, including the transition of low-income households to inverter heat pump technology.
Earlier, Daikin also committed to joining a new public-private initiative with HVAC manufacturers, utilities, suppliers, dealers and contractors. This initiative will drive adoption of inverter heat pump technologies – from residential air conditioning products to air-to-water heaters and commercial use – to meet the state’s broader decarbonization targets.
The company’s additional commitments include ongoing collaboration with utilities, and continued coordination with policymakers and other stakeholders to increase adoption.
Commenting on the development, Satoru Akama, CEO of Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc., has said, “Daikin is proud to help California spur faster market adoption of heat pumps and make them more attainable to all income segments. By combining heat pumps with inverter technology, equipment reliability, energy savings, and quiet performance can be realized, and demand response can be easily achieved. I hope California’s program will be expanded to other states and federal efforts looking to increase consumer access to more sustainable technologies.”
Complimenting Daikin, California Energy Commission (CEC) Commissioner Andrew McAllister, said, “CEC commends Daikin for its significant commitment of resources and expertise to help the Golden State meet our decarbonization goals. We are excited to partner with a global innovation leader to grow markets for efficient HVAC heat pumps, update California’s homes and build our clean energy workforce.”
Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Daikin has been actively engaged with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and other key officials in the Biden administration to emphasize the importance of incentives to spur faster adoption of residential heat pumps as a key tool in advancing climate goals. Daikin participated in the White House Executive Roundtable on Heat Pump Manufacturing and Deployment in April 2023 and is a proud participant in the DOE’s Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), and other heat pump manufacturers.
