Heat pumps are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to gas-powered central heating systems and are increasingly being used in new construction, often driven by government incentives. A heat pump uses technology similar to that found in a refrigerator or an air conditioner, extracting heat from a source, such as the surrounding air, and amplifying and transferring the heat to where it is needed. As most of the heat is transferred rather than generated, heat pumps are far more efficient than conventional heating technologies such as boilers…