| When Willis Carrier invented air conditioning in 1902 | | | | ground and water temperatures, geothermal |
| he could not have foreseen how essential his | | | | pumps are particularly energy efficient. They are, |
| novel invention would be to comfortable living in | | | | however, more costly to install, and costs vary |
| the 21st century. In over 100 years the company | | | | according to the lot size and soil type. Geothermal |
| he founded has continued to be an innovator in | | | | pumps are more successful than air-source heat |
| designing mechanical systems for home comfort. | | | | pumps in extremely hot or cold climates. |
| Heat pumps are a good example of the Carrier | | | | The absorption heat pump is a new option for |
| Company's innovative engineering. | | | | heating systems for large homes. Instead of being |
| The invention of heat pumps actually predated air | | | | driven by electricity, natural gas, propane, or |
| conditioners by nearly 50 years, but companies | | | | solar-heated or geothermal-heated water fuels |
| like Carrier have increased the efficiency and | | | | the system. Absorption pumps are often called |
| therefore their popularity in the last three | | | | gas-fired pumps because gas is the most |
| decades. Although they serve an important | | | | common heat source. A big advantage of |
| function in terms of home heating and cooling, | | | | absorption pumps is that they can use a variety |
| especially in times like the current when energy | | | | of fuels, making them particularly valuable for |
| efficiency is critical, many people have no idea | | | | homes that do not have electric power. |
| what they are and how they work. | | | | Another way to maximize efficiency with a heat |
| A heat pump is a mechanical device that moves | | | | pump is with a hybrid system like Carrier's dual |
| heat from one location to another. They draw | | | | fuel system. The system combines a gas furnace |
| heat from the air, from the ground, or from | | | | with an electric pump and switches back and |
| water, and either cool it (in warm weather) or | | | | forth between the two. An innovation in |
| heat it (in cold weather). Because they move | | | | air-source heat pumps called reverse cycle chillers |
| energy rather than create energy they are an | | | | allows homeowners to choose from a variety of |
| energy-efficient replacement for traditional | | | | distribution systems for heating and cooling, |
| furnaces and air conditioners, particularly in | | | | resulting in greater comfort and lower energy |
| moderate climates. For example, by replacing an | | | | costs. |
| electric furnace with an electric pump, a | | | | When choosing a heat pump, homeowners should |
| homeowner can save about 35 percent on the | | | | look for the EnergyGuide Label, which gives the |
| cost of electricity for heating. They also require | | | | system's heating and cooling efficiency ratings. |
| less energy for cooling because they remove | | | | These ratings make it easier to compare the |
| moisture from the air more efficiently than do | | | | efficiency of various systems. Companies such as |
| standard air conditioners. | | | | Carrier and Lennox offer different sizes and |
| Geothermal heat pumps transfer heat between | | | | models of heat pumps that operate at different |
| the house and either the ground or a nearby | | | | efficiencies. |
| source of water. Because of relatively constant | | | | |