After the Austrian capital recently announced that it will build the most significant and muscular heat pump in Central Europe by the end of 2023, which will heat 25,000 Viennese households, the public’s attention has just focused on the heat pump. This so-called “magical” pump will reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Vienna by as much as 40,000 tons per year. Even in Switzerland, every third new building is equipped with one of the different types of heat pumps; in Sweden, 7 out of 10 new buildings, and in Germany and Iceland, one quarter.
But what is a heat pump, and why has there been so much interest in it recently?
Namely, every individual in the 21st century desires to reduce energy costs and the climate footprint. That is why, as individuals, we choose an environmentally friendly source of energy, that is, one that draws power from nature. A heat pump captures solar energy stored in the ground where you live or in the air – and uses it to heat your home and domestic water. It is, as they say, an endless and accessible resource.
Unlike other renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy, heat from the environment (earth, water, air) is available for non-stop use throughout the year. With a heat pump, without an additional energy source, it is possible to cover a house’s heat energy needs for heating and hot water (hot water preparation).
That’s why heat pumps represent a reliable, economic, and ecological heating system that, according to experts’ estimates, will be the leading heating and cooling method soon, and therefore savings.
For standardization, a unique COP coefficient (coefficient of performance = heating factor or heat multiplier) was accepted, describing the heat change ratio to the work input. If the heat pump has a COP of 4, it provides 4 kW of energy for every 1 kW of energy input.
If you’re heating your home, a heat pump will absorb heat from the outside (either from the air or the ground, depending on the model) and transfer it indoors. If you are cooling your home, the heat pump does the opposite, absorbing heat from the inside and moving it outside. For this heat energy transfer, much less energy is consumed than the transmitted energy, which ensures highly efficient heating and cooling.
Thus, for 1 kWh of electricity used to extract heat from renewable sources, energy from 3kW to 5kW is obtained at the output. In addition to heating and hot water, heat pumps can also cool, which is a significant advantage compared to traditional heating systems. Building a chimney is unnecessary, and only 1m2 is required for installation. It is independent of fossil fuels, and it is essential to emphasize that it contributes to reducing CO2, thus preserving our nature.
Conclusion: What are the advantages of a heat pump? Lower energy consumption means lower monthly costs and a quick return on investment. The quiet mode of operation, minimal and straightforward maintenance, and the long life of the device are just some of the benefits of the heat pump. In addition, we use one system to heat the space in the winter months and cool it in the summer.