HEAT PUMPS
Air source heat pumps (ASHP) extract available warmth from the outside air. This is turned into a fluid and passed through a compressor to create high grade energy that can be used for heating and domestic hot water.
The water is heated to 35 – 55°C as opposed to the 75 – 85°C produced by conventional boilers so ASHP in a well-insulated property will work well with warm water underfloor heating (UFH).
Performance will be dictated by correct sizing, good installation and the model chosen.
Some ASHP include inverter compressor technology which ensures that the compressor at the heart of the unit is modulated to give optimum performance and reduced energy consumption by producing only the exact amount of heat required at the time. Most heat pumps have a weather compensation feature that adapts to external conditions and can save a significant amount of energy.
“Lower fuel bills and less space is needed.”
A very practical option, ASHP are located externally, usually by an outside wall. There are fewer considerations for the siting of an ASHP than other technologies beyond a level, hard-standing base and access to an electricity supply, with no digging or drilling required.
The other elements of the system such as the hot water cylinder will need to be housed inside the property. Planning permission is not normally necessary in England and Scotland but this should be checked prior to installation.
An ASHP working efficiently can reduce energy consumption for heating by up to 50% when compared to conventional heating systems, and CO2 savings can equate annually to 5 tonnes. Although electricity is required to run the ASHP, the overall energy savings should more than make up for this. In a well-insulated property every 1 kilowatt hour of electricity used to drive the ASHP can provide around 3 kilowatt hours of ‘free’ energy.
Smart ProjeX will ensure the correct specification and most appropriate model for every project, so you can be sure that your renewables system will give you a perfectly warm house, plenty of hot water and an efficient all round system.
