Ground Source / Geothermal Heat Pumps and Other Info
Why Hacker News recommends it
Recommended as part of an excellent, approachable series explaining residential heat pumps.
What it is
A Technology Connections video on how ground-source (geothermal) heat pumps work and why they hold efficiency in winter. It also covers related heat pump information, and the description notes air-source heat pumps have since improved.
Recommended by 6 HN commenters across 6 different months, 2021 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec coldpie · 2021-05 · on “Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years?”
> So the heat pumps can also do cooling during the summer? Here's a pair of really great videos about heat pumps and what they can (and could, in the future) do: [LINK] [this video]
Strong rec sushiburps · 2023-02 · on “200-year old heat pump technology is back”
Highly recommend the YouTube channel 'Technology Connections' videos on heat pumps: [LINK] [LINK] [this video] [LINK]
Recommends throw0101a · 2022-03 · on “You and the planet need a heat pump”
It depends on the heat pump. If you get a mini-split, and have decent insulation, they can work down to -20C: * [LINK] * [LINK] * [LINK] Some folks using them in Alaska: * [LINK] If you get a heat pump that looks like the 'traditional' external AC unit (giant cube), those tend to work down to about +5C. Not sure how much more they cost above a 'regular' air conditioner: * [LINK] The Technology Connections channel has a couple of interesting videos on the topic of heat pumps: * [LINK] * [this video] He has a video entitled "How to calculate when heat pumps make financial sense (and other heat pump follow-up thoughts)": * [LINK] NR Canada has a "AIR-SOURCE HEAT PUMP SIZING AND SELECTION GUIDE": * [
Recommends timbit42 · 2022-09 · on “Homemade Heat Pump Manifesto (2009)”
They are great if you are looking to use electricity to heat because they are 3 to 4 times more efficient than resistive heaters. It depends on the price of electricity and other heat sources in your area. If you live in the north where temperatures go below -15 Celsius, air-to-air units aren't as great because they lose efficiency as it gets colder outside. My heat pump has a COP of 3, meaning it can generate as much heat as a resistive heater using 1/3 the electricity, but it shuts off at -15 Celsius because below that point it is less efficient than resistive heat. If your heat pump has a COP of 4, you might get to -25 Celsius before it is less efficient than a resistive heater. Better, b
Recommends nayuki · 2023-01 · on “Do heat pumps work in cold climates?”
He made several excellent videos explaining residential heat pumps: [2021-02-28] [LINK] "Heat Pumps: the Future of Home Heating" (35m14s) [2021-04-01] [this video] "Ground Source / Geothermal Heat Pumps and Other Info" (28m03s) [2022-03-26] [LINK] "Why Heat Pumps are Immensely Important Right Now" (21m02s) [2022-04-13] [LINK] "Heat Pumps are Not Hard: Here's what it will take to start pumping" (46m32s)
Recommends Joel_Mckay · 2026-02 · on “Pretty soon, heat pumps will be able to store and distribute heat as needed”
They are a very efficient way to get both AC and Heating: [LINK] [this video] Unless you live in a cold climate, they are worth it for a discounted energy bill =3