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Air
Source Heat Pumps
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M.C.M
Architecture & Surveying Ltd t/a Eco Architects
Ireland © MCM Architects
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Architects Ireland - Innovation,
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Heat
your home with energy absorbed from the air around you
Air source heat pumps absorb heat from the outside
air. This heat can then be used to warm water for radiators or
underfloor heating systems, or to warm the air in your home.
* How do air source heat pumps work?
* The
benefits of air source heat pumps
* Is a solar
heat pump suitable for my home
* Costs and savings
How do air
source heat pumps work?
An air source heat pump
extracts heat from the outside air in the same way that a fridge
extracts heat from its inside. It can extract heat from the air even
when the outside temperature is as low as minus 15° C.
There are
two main types:
* An
air-to-water system uses the heat to warm water. Heat pumps heat water
to a lower temperature than a standard boiler system would, so they are
more suitable for underfloor heating systems than radiator systems.
* An air-to-air system produces warm air which is circulated by fans to
heat your home.
The efficiency of air source heat pump systems
is measured by a coefficient of performance (CoP) - the amount of heat
they produce compared to the amount of electricity needed to run them. A
typical CoP for an air source heat pump is around 2.5.
The
benefits of air source heat pumps
* Reduce your fuel bills: air source heat pumps run on electricity, so
there's no need to pay for gas, oil or solid fuels to heat your home.
* Cut down on wasted electricity: heating your home with an air source
heat pump is much more efficient than using electric radiators.
* Save space: an air source heat pump system is compact, and requires
no storage space for fuel.
Is an air source heat pump suitable
for my home?
To tell if an air source heat pump
is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:
* Do you have somewhere to put it? You'll need a place outside your
house where a unit can be fitted to a wall or placed on the ground. It
will need plenty of space around it to get a good flow of air.
* Is your home well insulated? Since air source heat pumps produce less
heat than traditional boilers, it's essential that your home is
insulated and draught proofed well for the heating system to be
effective.
* What fuel will you be replacing?
The system will pay for itself much more quickly if it's replacing an
electricity, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) or coal heating system than a
gas or oil one.
* What type of heating system
do you want? Air source heat pumps are much better at powering
underfloor heating systems or warm air heating than radiator-based
systems.
* Is the system intended for a new
development? Combining the installation with other building work can
reduce the cost of installing the system.
Costs and
savings
Costs for installing a typical
system suitable for a detached home range from about €7,000 to €10,000
including installation. Running costs for space heating and hot water
for washing are likely to be around €900 per year. This will vary
depending on a number of factors - including the size of your home and
how well insulated it is.
Savings can be considerable - up to 5
tonnes of CO2 and £€900 per year for a system that replaces an electric
heating system.
All savings are approximate and are based on an
air source heat pump providing 100% of space heating and up to 50% of
hot water, with the additional 50% provided by electric heater, in a
detached property.
To reduce your home's CO2 emissions further,
consider installing solar electricity or some other form of renewable
electricity generating system to power the compressor and pump.
ECOLOGICAL
TECHNOLOGIES