A: It takes electricity to run a heat pump. There is no fuel. A heat pump is like a water pump, it moves heat from one place to another just like a water pump moves water from one place to another. A water pump does not create water and a heat pump does not create heat. A water pump needs electricity to turn the motor and a heat pump needs electricity to turn its motor too. When I calculate the cost savings from using the heat pump it is the savings on the heating oil bill less the cost of the electricity needed to run the heat pump. The same is true for the carbon footprint.