Patent ID: 8408012

Claim:
A method for heating or cooling an area using a heating and cooling system, the method comprising: circulating a first medium through a first circuit; circulating a second medium through a second circuit; transferring thermal energy between a first heat exchanger and the first medium; transferring thermal energy between a second heat exchanger and the second medium; providing at least one thermoelectric module having a first surface in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger and a second surface in thermal communication with the second heat exchanger; providing at least one bypass line in the first circuit, wherein when the first medium is circulated through the at least one bypass line, the first medium is prevented from being in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger; selectively operating the system in a heating mode or a cooling mode; directing current in a first direction through the at least one thermoelectric module such that the first surface cools the first heat exchanger and the second surface heats the second heat exchanger when the heating mode is selected; and directing current in a second direction through the at least one thermoelectric module such that the first surface warms the first heat exchanger and the second surface cools the second heat exchanger when the cooling mode is selected.