Like many technologies, it’s easy to take heating and air conditioning for granted. Most people don’t think about their HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system unless they are out in the elements, or it isn’t working. But these machines hum along in the background of our daily lives, making sure we stay comfortable and helping clean the air we breathe. 

Maybe it’s time to pay a little more attention to a technology we use every day—even when it’s working just fine. With new innovations for more sustainable and reliable HVAC units—like Trane Residential electric heat pumps—tuning into the capabilities of the system's technology can help you, your home, and the environment. 

The history of heating and cooling systems for human environments is relatively short, especially when compared to the history of other things we find in our climate-controlled homes, like say, paper or concrete. Even with only a few hundred years of experience creating cooler and warmer air within our dwellings, there have been innumerable innovations. 

During an outbreak of yellow fever in Florida, in 1841, Dr. John Gorrie determined that cool interior temperatures could have healing qualities for patients. Gorrie’s hypothesis resulted in large, unruly blocks of ice being imported from the Great Lakes to sick rooms. But the unwieldy logistics of that arrangement eventually led him to experiment with horse-powered, wind-powered, and steam-powered ice makers—aka, the keystone of modern refrigeration and air conditioning. Prior to the 1880s, homes were heated by wood-burning stoves. Then came the cast-iron radiator, allowing homeowners to heat their homes with a coal-fired boiler that supplied hot water or steam heat to radiators in every room. And less than 100 years ago, the first forced-air furnace was introduced to the world, using an electric fan to distribute coal-heated air through a home’s air ducts.

Since these early days of HVAC, homes have primarily relied on oil-, gas-, and coal-fueled systems to generate heat. But in 1960, Trane—an HVAC manufacturer founded by Norwegian immigrant James Trane in 1913—introduced the Weathertron heat pump, which creates a smaller carbon footprint than more traditional, fuel-intensive systems that use natural gas. Today, Trane Residential heat pumps still work by heating and cooling your home with a versatile system that’s powered by electricity. Instead of generating heat as a furnace does, heat pumps extract heat from the air, the ground, or nearby water and then amplify and evenly distribute that heat. When cooling, heat pumps work by distributing heat away from your home instead of into it. Pretty smart, right?

At the time of the Weathertron’s introduction, fewer folks were thinking about the environmental consequences of using natural gas (and lots of it, at that), but an opportunity to create system efficiency and lower heating bills appealed to consumers. Fortunately, reduced heating bills and reduced environmental impacts go hand in hand. 

“For over a century, Trane’s early innovations have paved the way,” says Katie Davis, vice president of engineering and technology for Residential HVAC and Supply at Trane Technologies. “Today, we remain committed to reducing emissions by developing efficient and environmentally minded heating and cooling solutions that keep families comfortable while supporting a more sustainable future. We know that the world’s need for heat pumps and other electrification solutions will continue to grow, and we are ready to meet the demand.”

The availability of solar, wind, and other renewable energy to power homes these days opens an opportunity to run heating and cooling systems through renewables. Pair that with technologies found in Trane’s connected home, products like smart thermostats and variable speed air conditioners—which allow you to monitor your system’s performance and control your home’s temperature for maximum efficiency—and you could presumably have a fossil fuel-less HVAC system that uses minimal resources (environmentally and financially speaking). Never before in modern home living has that been an option. For homes that require a furnace to supplement a heat pump’s capabilities, cutting down on fossil-fueled equipment is still possible by utilizing a hybrid system.

Buildings are currently the biggest users of power in the US. Sustainable, technological solutions like heat pumps, smart thermostats, and hybrid systems that reduce energy costs while improving the comfort and efficiency of the buildings we live our lives in represent the future of the heating and cooling industry. But an essential component of sustainability is utilizing and creating durable systems, and, in turn, reducing product turnover and waste. Nothing is sustainable if it’s not reliable, which is why product testing is so critical. Trane testing engineers put each of their systems through some of the most extreme conditions found in nature at their System Extreme Environmental Test (SEET) lab. Exposed to five years of severe wear and tear in just a few months, from freezing conditions to five inches of water an hour in the Climate Chamber, each unit impressively withstood these tests—a real-life testament to the brand’s durability. 

But these innovative and reliable systems do come at a price. Fortunately, everyone from consumers to the US government can see their value. At the top of the year, heat pumps and hybrid systems became more affordable for homeowners, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. The Act has extended and expanded tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements. This means homeowners can work with their Trane Residential HVAC pro to potentially receive a tax break on qualifying green HVAC upgrades such as heat pumps, central air conditioning systems, and furnaces through 2032. And the savings are significant—the credit covers up to 30 percent of the installation costs for qualified systems. Additionally, heat pumps are a particular upgrade of interest. The Biden administration estimates that the rebate program could help install up to 500,000 heat pumps in homes across the country and support up to 1.6 million households nationwide in lowering their energy bills, to the tune of $500 a year in savings. 

Sure, we may take HVAC systems and the comfort they provide for granted. But part of the wonder of technology is that every system—and every household—can improve our lives and reduce our impact on the environment.

*This story was produced by WIRED Brand Lab for Advertiser.*