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Heat pump: Difference between revisions
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An electric heat pump is one way to [[heating|heat a building]]. It works a lot like [[air conditioning]] but in reverse: The hot air goes indoors; the cold air goes outdoors. | An electric heat pump is one way to [[heating|heat a building]]. It works a lot like [[air conditioning]] but in reverse: The hot air goes indoors; the cold air goes outdoors. | ||
{{considerations}} | |||
==Energy usage== | |||
{{sum|Moderate}} | |||
Heat pumps are '''more energy-efficient''' than electric heaters.{{qn}} | Heat pumps are '''more energy-efficient''' than electric heaters.{{qn}} | ||
''Research needed:'' | |||
* ''How much'' more energy-efficient can a heat pump be? | * ''How much'' more energy-efficient can a heat pump be? | ||
** How does this depend on outdoor temperature? | ** How does this depend on outdoor temperature? | ||
* How much energy does it typically take to ''manufacture and install'' a heat pump? | * Life cycle analysis | ||
* | ** How much energy does it typically take to ''manufacture and install'' a heat pump? | ||
* How often (if ever) is it viable/worthwhile to repurpose an air conditioner in the winter, to help with heating? | ** How often (if ever) is it viable/worthwhile to repurpose an air conditioner in the winter, to help with heating? | ||
==Refrigerant chemicals== | |||
{{sum|Long-term problem{{rn}} }} | |||
Because of how heat pumps work,<!-- TODO: add a section about how they work --> they must contain a substance known as a ''refrigerant''. Most refrigerants in use today{{en}} happen to be potent [[greenhouse gases]]. They aren't supposed to leak out into the atmosphere - but they sometimes do, if the heat pump gets old or is disposed of improperly. | |||
''This section is incomplete. It needs:'' | |||
* Quantification | |||
** How much of [[climate change]] is due to refrigerants? | |||
** How much worse would it be if we all used heat pumps to heat our homes? | |||
** How does this compare to the status quo of heating (often [[natural gas]])? | |||
* Solutions | |||
** Are there any alternatives - [[refrigerants]] that aren't greenhouse gases? And are there tradeoffs? {{npn}} | |||