A California scheme is using bulk-buying power to make heat pumps more affordable, as installers report a surge of interest during recent heatwaves. Only 54% of Californian homes have central air-conditioning, and heat pumps—which provide both heating and carbon-free cooling—typically cost more than standard air conditioners, which has slowed uptake. The "group-buy" model, launched last year by installer Vayu and marketplace VoltHub, lets multiple households sign up together so installers can negotiate discounts from equipment distributors while securing a steady run of jobs, benefiting both sides.

The first California Heat Pump Group Buy, covering the Los Angeles and Bay Area regions, secured discounts of 15 to 30% on equipment for its initial cohort of around ten households. One participant, data scientist Naoya Kanai of San Mateo, paid roughly $14,500 to fit his 2,500-square-foot home with a heat pump system using existing ductwork, and says it has made his home noticeably more comfortable through summer heatwaves. Similar schemes exist elsewhere in North America, including a long-running programme on Gabriola Island, British Columbia, which has installed more than 1,000 heat pumps since 2010, electrifying nearly half the island's households.