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Yes, but in the consumer space heat pump typically implies that it can heat and cool.

In principle they should be about the same as far as efficiency, but it can be that heat pumps are typically constructed better or whatever.

> but in the consumer space heat pump typically implies that it can heat and cool.

That's also true of air conditioners.

I think this author is effectively saying that the devices that are widely known as 'heat pumps' tend to be more efficient than devices that are widely known as 'air conditioners'.

If so, that does not sound like a correct claim.

Technically yes, refrigerators too. Around here (Australia) we call it 'reverse cycle' when air-conditioners can heat as well as cool, and probably over 90% of all air conditioners in homes have that functionality - it's just expected. But the term 'heat pump' seems to be used in a lot of places now to refer specifically to having the heating ability, even though cooling is doing the same thing (just in the opposite direction).