In a country like China

In a country like China, with a rapidly developing economy and a mindboggling level of activity in the building sector, conditions are ideal for the development of an emerging heat pump and air-conditioning market. And there are many challenges for metropolitan Beijing, which is at the core of these developments. Beijing has an open eye for a better environment going hand in hand with city expansion and living and working space for its inhabitants and visitors. For the first time in the history of the IEA Heat Pump Programme, the conference was held in a country outside the IEA group of nations. But this may soon change, as China has announced that it plans to join the programme in the near future.
This overview article on the 7th Heat Pump Conference will focus on conference highlights and present some of the material submitted as well as the results of some of the discussions that took place. It consists of two parts: part 1 presents an overview of international market developments per region, with China, France and Sweden being highlighted, as well as a discussion of the energy and environment rationale behind using heat pumps; part 2 discusses various technological and related market developments and ground-source heat pumps in particula