As an American, what? A heat pump is a heat pump. An air conditioning unit is a subset of heat pumps (that is, a heat pump that can only run in one direction).

As an American, what? A heat pump is a heat pump. An air conditioning unit is a subset of heat pumps (that is, a heat pump that can only run in one direction). I'm just as confused as you are about the temperatures quoted though. I'm most comfortable around 19C or 20C. At 23C I start having trouble sleeping. At 26C I'll be openly sweating.