Heat pumps

If you are planning to buy or replace a furnace or air conditioner soon, check into heat pumps.  They are two-way air conditioners that move warm air from inside a home to the outside, keeping the home cool in the summer.  In the winter, they do the reverse, moving heat energy from the outside to the inside of the home.  According to an article in the Washington Post, they are inexpensive, energy-efficient, and can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional heating and cooling devices.  First-time installation can be expensive, but some governments and utilities are providing rebates or other incentives.  Once installed, heat pumps can heat homes “up to 50% more efficiently than furnaces and water boilers”, which also leads to cost savings over the years of operation.  The same article says that 90 percent of Japanese households use heat pumps, which has contributed to a 40% drop in the nation’s electricity consumption in the last decade.  I have included a link to the article, but the article may be behind a paywall.  I believe you are allowed a few free articles per month. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/07/21/europe-heat-wave-heat-pump/