The term refers to the heating and cooling system that uses electricity to draw heat from the environment (during cold weather) and move it indoors to heat living spaces, or it moves heat from indoors (during warm weather) to the outside environment.  While the system requires electricity to operate, it is efficient because the system does not have to generate heat or cooling but instead just has to concentrate and move heat inside or outside.

Heat pumps, in general, seem to work better in moderate climates that don’t experience extreme temperatures.  They’re also expensive to install, costly to maintain, and problematic for draining.

Some further ideas to explore on Heat Pumps

Do the heat pumps operate efficiently when temperatures drop to between 25 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit?

Will a heat pump system provide sufficient cooling when the outdoor temperature is above 100 degrees F.

Does the heat pump system sometimes require insulating the residential space?

Sources:

How Heat Pumps Work,  New York State Clean Heat.  bit.ly/3Wnpo5a

How a heat pump works, International Energy  Agency (IEA).  bit.ly/3LGBzFf

Prachi Patel, “New heat pump design inflates efficiency and deflates costs,” Daily Science 4 August 2022.  bit.ly/3WpNw7d

Hubert Miles, “Disadvantages of Mini Split Systems: 9 Things You Should Know,” Home Inspection Insider (30 Jan 2024). bit.ly/4ddcZrc