Final answer:
A heat pump moves more energy than it consumes in electrical input because it transfers heat from one place to another, complying with both the first and second laws of thermodynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the energy output of a heat pump is greater than the energy input might seem to contradict the first law of thermodynamics, which is the law of conservation of energy. However, this is not the case because a heat pump transfers existing heat from one place to another, rather than creating energy.
The heat pump's efficiency comes from its ability to move more energy in the form of heat than the electrical energy consumed to operate the pump. A common misunderstanding arises from conflating the energy input to run the heat pump with the total energy output including the heat extracted from the environment.
According to the second law of thermodynamics, the heat energy moved by the pump from a cooler to a warmer location can exceed the work (electrical energy) input because additional energy is being transferred from the environment, not created from nothing.