A heat pump moves more heat than it makes

A heat pump circulates refrigerant through evaporation, compression, condensation and expansion. That cycle collects heat from outside air, ground or water and releases it indoors. Because electricity drives the transfer rather than supplying all the heat directly, a well-installed system can deliver several units of heat for each unit of electricity over suitable conditions.

Performance falls as the temperature lift grows and varies with climate, building fabric, emitters, controls and installation. Up-front cost and grid carbon also matter. A future with more heat pumps is therefore not simply an appliance swap: insulation, skilled installers, tariffs and network planning shape outcomes. The technology’s physical leverage is real; the realised saving is a property of the whole home and system.