In the present day and age, hardware technologies that makes a home more comfortable and cost-efficient, aren’t exactly groundbreaking. Despite this, however, many homes continue to run on expensive and inefficient systems that, while serving their needs, cost them quite a bit of money. This is no truer than in terms of basic household requirements such as hot water systems.
In 2016, it was showed that in the European Union, the main use of energy in a household was for heating purposes, amounting to 64.7% of final energy consumption.Heating purposes, therefore, comprise a significant portion of our everyday energy requirements. In light of this information, switching to energy-efficient hardware would seem like a natural choice. Many, however, still rely on electric water heaters - a device whose costs outweigh its benefits.
Looking into promises of increased efficiency and cost-saving capabilities, our blog this week looks into all the reasons why homeowners should make the switch to environmentally friendly heat pumps. Keep scrolling for more!
How do heat pumps work?
These devices work by extracting heat from the outside environment in order to cater to a home’s heating requirements. Instead of generating heat directly through electrical consumption, it utilises the hot air freely available in the environment, making it two to three times more energy efficient in comparison to conventional water heaters.
Certain heat pumps even perform a combination of functions - cooling and heating your home, as well as providing hot water. Such devices include the Trinity Multifunction Heat Pump, which are supremely cost-effective given that a majority of your home’s comforts are powered through the external environment. There are also many different types of pumps including popular variants such as air source pumps and geothermal pumps, both of which will be discussed in the sections below.
What do I stand to gain by installing a heat pump?
An energy-efficient home
As mentioned above, heat pumps are easily the most energy friendly choices for your home, given that they draw on the air outside to provide heat. In a context where resources grow more scarce and price shocks reverberate through the global energy market, finding sources of energy that aren’t volatile or expensive is of the utmost importance. It has been found that most heat pumps can reduce your electricity use for heating by 50%.
As households gradually embrace smart home technology and environmentally friendly hardware, devices such as heat pumps will soon prove to be a staple inside every home.
Greater cost efficiency
One thing that must be kept in mind is that heat pumps can prove to be a little costly in the beginning. In term of purchase and installation costs, it's quite likely there's cheaper hardware on the market. When people claim that heat pumps are cost-effective, they mean this in terms of the cost of running and maintenance, as well as the reduction in household expenditure that would otherwise go towards electricity bills.
The money saved post-installation, therefore, very much makes up for the relatively high cost incurred upon purchase. You can be sure that you will make savings that will soon outweigh the investment made in the beginning.
What do I need to consider before purchase?
Prior to purchasing a heat pump, you first need to determine how appropriate this device is for your home.
While a huge part of its appeal lies in its ability to draw heat from the outside environment, this means its effectivity depends on the type of climate you live in. Air source heat pumps are, therefore, more effective in areas with a warm climate. That being said, these devices still remain functional in cold weather, albeit at a slightly slower pace. During winter, it is likely you may experience a temporary surge in electricity bills due to increased heating demand.
Certain heat pumps perform better than others in cold weather, depending on where they draw their energy from. In this sense, geothermal pumps are a better choice if you live in an area that gets cold at certain times of the year. Here, heat is drawn from an underground source and is, therefore, likely to perform better during the winter season.
Key Takeaways
In a day and age where the impetus to adopt smart consumption habits is stronger than ever, making simple hardware swaps can make a world of a difference. In this regard, heat pumps that draw on the outside environment to address your home's heating demands, are a sure-fire way of creating an energy-efficient home.
