[Drake]

As a small air to water heat pump is easier/less expensive to install than ground loop how would placing it in a direct(passive) solar heated nonliving space - say mud room(w/thermal mass) improve efficiency? Warmer air is better right? Harvesting heated air for winter heating when available(and stored in interior thermal mass). Mud room(foyer) would be buffer to interior when entering/exiting and taking heat from it would not affect interior. In summer redirected to DHW would be like A/C wouldn't it? Thoughts? Full ground loop system is hard pill to swallow for low energy demand designed home.