Heat Pumps: An Attractive Choice for Heating and Cooling Needs

W. Clay Lloyd
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the official positions or policies of the Office of Policy Development and Research, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or the U.S. Government.

Heat pumps continue to be a valuable update to traditional heating and cooling systems in buildings, offering significant advantages in energy efficiency and environmental impact. This versatile technology can provide both heating and cooling from a single system, potentially leading to substantial energy savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Although the initial costs can be higher than conventional HVAC systems, long-term savings and various incentives often offset this investment. Heat pumps come in different types, including air-source and ground-source (geothermal), each with its own benefits and applications. Recent advancements have addressed previous limitations, such as performance in extreme cold, with the development of cold climate heat pumps. The heat pump market continues to experience growth, surpassing gas furnace shipments in the U.S.