Heat pumps are made up of efficient compressor based heating and inefficient electric resistance heating. The resistance heating uses two times the energy the compressor section uses. The resistance heater is there to “back up” the efficient system when it is very very cold outside or in case of a failure.

The problem is that if you (and others in your house) adjust the thermostat the expensive resistance heat comes on -- robbing your wallet or purse. Sometimes this even happens with “Smart” or “Intelligent” heat pump thermostats during automatic adjustments.  

In the old days, there was a control that locked out the resistance heat unless the temperature outside was very cold or there was a failure of the system. Many new units have this feature built in (but often disabled). The old controls went out of production.

Since Heat Pump owners and utility efficiency programs needed this control, Adrian Hairrell of Proctor Engineering re-engineered the control, developed a product, and began exclusive manufacturing.

The HHPC is simple and yes -- fancy. As Bucky Fuller, the noted futurist designer, once said: "When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, then I know it is wrong."