A. Programmable thermostats can save you money if you use them properly. Typically with a gas furnace if you program in a setback of 5 degrees when you are at work and while you are sleeping you will use less energy in the month.  With a Heat Pump you would need a special thermostat that would not bring on the electric backup heat when coming out of setback or you would use what you just saved to get the house back to temperature. In summer, avoid increasing the temperature for work and sleep times during extreme weather because the AC will take a long time to get back to your ideal comfort conditions.

A. A heat pump pulls heat out of your home in the summer, just like an air conditioning system.  In the winter, the heat pump captures heat from the outside air and transfers it to your home.  (Yes, even cold air has heat energy in it.)  A blower fan then pushes this heat through your ductwork and your vents.