Every six seconds. Do the math and that’s how often American consumers purchased Energy Star equipment from LG over the past year.

At a press conference Tuesday morning, February 7, at the AHR Expo in Atlanta, LG Electronics U.S.A. Inc. highlighted its ESG (environmental, social, and governance) framework, called “A Better Life Plan 2030,” along with some of its newest and soon-to-launch products.

“As an Energy Star Partner of the Year, LG helps consumers and businesses reduce their carbon footprint and fight climate change,” said John Taylor, the company’s senior vice president of public affairs. “We're also reducing carbon emissions throughout our operations, transitioning to 100% renewable energy around the world by 2050, which we already achieved here in the United States just last year, and by reducing or achieving carbon neutrality in our production capabilities across the world by 2030. Suffice to say LG embraces the decarbonization movement ― not because it's popular, not because it's politically correct right now, but because it's the right thing to do. It's the right thing to do for the planet and for future generations. And the key to decarbonization is the electrification of America.”

LG is a member of the Building Decarbonization Coalition, which unites stakeholders on a path to transform the nation's buildings through clean energy using research policy, public engagement, and market transformation.

Panama Bartholomy, executive director of the Building Decarbonization Coalition, took the mic for a quick progress report.

“Last year, for the first time ever, heat pumps outpaced gas furnaces for sales across the United States. And just two weeks ago, Governor Hogan joined the governor of California announcing that both New York and California are going to be phasing out the sale of gas furnaces and gas water heaters in 2030,” he said. “But with all the progress that we've made over the last few years in this space, we still have many headwinds ahead of us” ― low market share, an aging workforce to retrain, a new generation to attract to the industry and train as well.

“That's why it's so critical that organizations like LG express leadership in this moment,” he continued. “It's not going to be utilities by themselves; it's not going to be manufacturers by themselves; it's only going to be through the collection of interests across the building supply chain, working with government utilities and nongovernmental organizations, that we're gonna be able to come together and really craft the solutions that we need to be able to transform this market and bring about the future that we're looking for.”

Water-to-air heat pumps, air-to-water heat pumps, rooftop units, DOAS systems for ventilation, chillers, air handler units, VRF, and mini splits are at the forefront of electrification movement, which got a major boost from Inflation Reduction Act tax credits.

“Billions of dollars to give to different states; $4.3 billion for home energy performance … [as well as] 179D [tax credit] that's actually commercial-driven,” said LG’s Doug Bougher. “You can see up to $6 per square foot for improving the efficiency of your building by 25%. You have a million-square-foot building, that's $6 million to drive electrification in that building, just through tax incentives, that's going to motivate people to make the change, economically.”

Contractors who want to align themselves with electrification ― and the associated dollars ― should take a look at these products, he concluded, transitioning into a preview of LG products that will hit the market soon.

Some of those include:

• The Multi V-i, LG’s next-generation commercial outdoor condensing unit. The “i” stands for “intelligent,” as the unit will allow remote monitoring of commercial buildings.
• Launching later this year, the Thermo V residential heat pump water heater.

“With decarbonization, as we get away from natural gas, people are kind of thinking, ‘How can I heat my water?’ Well, a heat pump water heater is one way we can do this,” Bougher said. “It's very popular over in Europe. Basically, it's got the compressors inside, it's got a heat exchanger, a pump, and all you have to do is connect your water piping from that outdoor unit to your indoor tank.”

• The AHU Pro, a new level of vertical single splits that does both heating and cooling and will come in various sizes and efficiency levels.

“A lot of people here in Georgia do their basements with heat pump systems. So it looks like a furnace, but it's just a vertical air handler with a coil in it,” Bougher explained.