Re: xkcd: Neighbor-Source Heat Pump

On Sun, 8 Jun 2025 14:25:47 +0100, Robert Carnegie
<rja.carnegie@gmail.com> wrote:

On 08/06/2025 00:51, Ted Goldblatt wrote:

On 6/7/2025 5:46 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:

xkcd: Neighbor-Source Heat Pump
    https://xkcd.com/3099/
>
As a thermodynamics specialist, I love it !  However, if their
insulation is real good then it won’t work.
>
Explained at:
>
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3099:_Neighbor-
Source_Heat_Pump
>
Lynn
>

Per the "title" text (which I don't can't seem to get to display on a
computer, just on a mobile device), the pipes are installed inside of
the insulation (which it says can be challenging since the neighbor
could come home at any time).

>
I use the third-party "Explain xkcd" site,
<https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page>
A day after the expected publication dates -
this time, I'd forgotten.
>
Referring to <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_source_heat_pump>
An "air to air heat pump" provides heating
or cooling.  In Scotland we mostly talk
about home heating, but on a few days in
a year, indoors is too hot.  But I think
the hear pumps we're offered are for heating
only.  But I do share a wall with the
nearest neighbour...

Seattle has been pushing heat pumps to replace oil furnaces for at
least one and probably two decades or so. One of the "advantages" they
claim for them is "free air conditioning".

This, of course ignores two factors:

1. If heat pumps that do not also cool are available and cost less,
the A/C is not "free" but part of the purchase price.

2. In any case, since heat pumps run on electricity, the A/C is not
"free" at all.

and suggests that the push to heat pumps is a bit ... dishonest.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"