← Structure & Physics
Heat Pump
STRUCTURE & PHYSICSintermediate
Definition
A mechanical system that moves heat from a cold source (air, ground, or water) to a warm space, providing heating at efficiencies greater than 100% — unlike direct electric resistance heating. Ground-source heat pumps extract heat from the ground via buried pipes; air-source heat pumps extract it from outside air.
Example
The retrofit of many UK Victorian terraced houses now includes air-source heat pumps, replacing gas boilers as the primary heating system — a transition required to meet the UK's 2050 net-zero targets.