Possibilities of heat pumps for heating homes

Heat pumps are refrigerating systems in which the principal interest is in the heat given off by the condenser. A portion of this comes from the electric input to the compressor and the remainder from cooling an external source of heat, usually outdoor air. Heat output is several times the equivalent of electric input, and these systems offer possibilities of fuel economy beyond anything possible with fuel-burning equipment. These systems can be used for all-year air conditioning, but the heat requirement dictates larger equipment than necessary for cooling only. Electric-load requirements are attractive, but further development is necessary and will be dependent on the promotion of summer air conditioning for homes.