Luckily living in Oregon often means having only moderate heating and cooling needs. In this case, heat pumps offer a great energy-efficient alternative to having an individual furnace and air conditioner.

Heat pumps work by moving heat from a cool space to a warm space through the use of electricity. During the summer, heat pumps move heat from your house into the outdoors, thus keeping your house cooler. In the winter, they move and heat air from the outdoors into your home, making your home comfortable.

There are three different types of heat pumps: water source, geothermal, and air-to-air, with air-source heat pumps being the most common type of heat pumps used.

A properly installed and efficiently running heat pump can reduce your electricity use by as much as 50% compared to furnaces or baseboard heaters.

High-efficiency heat pumps have also proven to dehumidify better than some standard central air conditioners and thus using less energy and providing more comfort in summer months.

If you have a home without pre-existing ducts, there are ductless alternatives called “mini-split heat pumps” or “ductless mini splits”.