The Heat Pump Revolution: What You Need to Know.

Super-efficient electric heat pumps are becoming more popular in the US, overtaking gas furnaces in sales. Heat pumps use electricity and refrigerants to cool air on hot days and warm homes in the winter by absorbing heat from the outdoor air. Governments see heat pumps as a key climate solution as they can replace gas furnaces and reduce leaks of methane. Federal climate legislation offers new economic incentives for homeowners to install heat pumps, and some states and utilities also give rebates. Heat pumps are more efficient than gas furnaces and can save money in the long run, but they use refrigerants that have high global warming potential if leaked into the atmosphere.