It's astonishing to me to see an article present heat pumps as innovative new tech and insulation as something worth looking into. In Germany if you want to bu

It's astonishing to me to see an article present heat pumps as innovative new tech and insulation as something worth looking into. In Germany if you want to build a house, almost every construction company will default to some variant of heat pumps. Actual plumbing companies are more likely to recommend an air-sourced heat pump, prefab construction companies seem to have taken a liking to air-air heat pumps (which like air conditioners pump hot air into rooms rather than running hot water pipes through the building for heating) but either way it'll be a heat pump of some kind or another. Also not only is there a legal minimum requirement for insulation but all grants and subsidies (when available) specify a minimum standard for insulation that must be met. Note that in new constructions they're also combined with a ventilation system to prevent mould and improve air quality. In older buildings retrofitted with modern insulation, tenants are usually instructed on how to vent by opening the windows. On the other hand, air conditioning is almost unheard of compared to the US outside retail. Even office buildings usually only have desk fans.