heat pumps benefits & environment

Heat pumps are much more energy-efficient than other electric heating and cooling systems. They can reduce the use of electricity up to 75%, compared to other HAVC electric units - making them cost-competitive even with high-efficient gas furnaces and air conditioners.

Heat pumps use electricity in a particularly efficient way to provide not only heating but also cooling and hot water for homes.

New heat pumps are now a very reliable and tested technology.

A single heating and cooling system

A major benefit of heat pumps over other HAVC systems (heating and cooling systems) is that with them you have a single unit to heat and cool your home, instead of having separate systems. They are a two in one solution.

Besides, heat pumps can also supply hot water to your kitchen and bathroom needs. See: Heat Pump Water Heaters

Requirements

Heat pumps work better in moderate climates. In freezing climates they loose much of their efficiency and demand a supplemental heating system. Besides they often are slightly less efficient than air-conditioners in cooling mode, and slightly less efficient than furnaces in heating mode.

Benefits for the environment

Heat pumps are a low-carbon option. They can contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other gas emissions.

The overall impact of heat pumps on the environment depends greatly on how the power they use is produced (by coal or gas-fired power plants, or by renewable sources...). But even if the power they use comes from coal and other fossil fuel sources, heat pumps can save up to 6% of the global CO2 emissions (for a study showing that positive impact see Uniseo).

Environmentally, new heat pumps do not pose problems involving CFC (chlorofluorocarbons). Ancient heat pumps used ozone-destroying CFCs, but typical modern equipment use refrigerants with no ozone-depleting effect.

Ground and Air source heat pumps

Ground-heat pumps are more energy-efficient than air-source heat-pumps and are in that perspective more environmentally-friendly and with more benefits. Average efficient air-source heat pumps require about 100 kWh of electrical power to get 300 kWh of heated (or cooled air), while ground heat-pumps require about 1/5.

But, on the other hand, they can cost twice or more than air source heat pumps. See: Heat pumps costs, prices and payback