The average temperature in Birmingham, Alabama, varies from a low of thirty-three to a high of around ninety-one. Both heating and cooling are necessary, and thre is rarely an opportunity to go without one or the other. The combination adds up to about fifty percent of household energy consumption and significant cost. While furnaces and air conditioners are a popular combination, there is another option that is ideal for the local weather. Electric heat pumps provide an all-in-one solution to year round tmeperature control. The single unit supplies both heating and cooling capacity, freeing up space and reducing maintenance requirements. Rather than burn fossil fuels to generate heat, this modern alternative takes advantage of ambient heat available in the outdoor air. It compresses the heat to a higher temperature and transfers it indoors. The process is wonderfully save, environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Plus, the heat pump doesn’t cause problems with overly dry air. When the weather warms up, the heat pump switches over to cooling mode and reverses the process. It operates exactly like a conventional air conditioner, extracting heat from the indoor air and pumping it outdoors.Today’s top tier models feature adaptable-speed technology which adapts output to the exact needs of the home. By running for longer cycles at lower speeds, the system does a better job of dehumidifying and filtering out contaminants. It also keeps sound levels to a minimum. Heat pumps are a fairly expensive choice, but the savings on utility bills work to recover the investment. For homeowners in Birmingham, a heat pump is an opportunity to improve comfort and indoor air quality while trimming monthly expenses.