The Future of More Sustainable Cooling and Heating Technology Could Be Just Around the Corner

A team of researchers from the U. S. Department of Energy Ames National Laboratory developed a magnetocaloric heat pump that matches current vapor-compression heat pumps for weight, cost, and performance. Current heating and cooling devices are based on vapor-compression technology, which is over 100 years old. They rely on refrigerants that contribute to global carbon emissions, and when they leak, the chemicals are harmful to people and the environment. Magnetocaloric heat pumps are a promising replacement for cooling and heating. They can eliminate refrigerant emissions and require less energy to operate. Until now, magnetocaloric devices have not matched vapor compressors in all three aspects of weight, cost, and performance.