A heat pump is a part of a heating and cooling system. It operates similarly to an air conditioner to cool your home, but also provides heating. Heat pumps are a sustainable alternative to traditional heating and cooling. They are powered by electricity instead of fossil fuels.

Heat pumps do not generate heat; they redistribute it. To heat a home or building, heat pumps use heat from the air outside or surrounding ground and transfer it indoors. To cool a home or building, a heat pump absorbs the heat from inside and transfers it outside. Heat pumps are powered by electricity instead of fossil fuels. 

Winter weather often still provides a certain amount of heat in the air outside making it possible for heat pumps to warm a home or building. The extracted heat and pressurized gas raise the temperature.

• Air-source heat pumps, the most used type, transfer heat between a house and the outside air. These types of heat pumps can more efficiently dehumidify a space when compared to a traditional air conditioner. The result is less energy use. For homes without air ducts, air-source heat pumps are also available in a ductless version. 
• Water-source heat pumps efficiently extract heat from water instead of air. This type of heat pump is often used in high-rise buildings and can be installed above a ceiling or in a closet. 
• Geothermal heat pumps transfer heat from the ground surrounding your home. This type of heat pump can be used in various types of climates due to relatively constant ground temperatures.