With the world heating up, the demand for energy efficient air-conditioning systems continues to climb. Relatively unknown in Australia, ground-source heat pumps are one way to reduce the amount of energy used in cooling and heating while still maintaining a comfortable home.

US president George Bush uses such a system to cool down his ranch during the hot and dry days in the desert, while making it warm and cosy when the sun goes down.

So, what are heat pumps and are they any good?

Heat pumps are not a new technology and most households already have one—the fridge. The pipes at the back are hot compared to the inside of the fridge, as these pipes emit heat removed from inside. Usually heat moves from the hotter area to the cooler area but a heat pump reverses this direction. This feature is also used in refrigerative air-conditioners.

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