The term 'Heat Pump' refers to a group of technologies that incorporate HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) devices that provide heat energy that is transferred from a source of heat or warmth, to a destination called a heat sink, effectively 'pumping' warmth from one place to another. Heat pumps move thermal energy in the opposite direction of spontaneous heat flow by absorbing heat from a cold space and releasing it to a warmer one. Their primary function is space heating through radiators, underfloor heating systems, or warm air convectors, they can also be used to heat water for use in your home or business. Most heat pumps have fantastic climate control capabilities and can be used to provide space cooling by simply reversing the process of space heating. 

An air source heat pump for example will extract heat from air outside your property in the same way a fridge extracts heat from its inside and a ground source heat pump functions similarly, but it functions by taking the residual warmth from the soil or a water body outside your property and moves it inside. Although air source heat pumps become less efficient the cooler it is outside, they can be capable of operating sufficiently in temperatures of -15 °C. They have fantastic energy efficiency ratings and although they do have some impact on the environment (as they require electricity to run), they do not combust fuels directly, so in most cases they provide a fantastic way of lowering your carbon footprint.