- Heat pumps aren’t renewable as they use grid electricity. The electricity used by a heat pump does indeed result in some carbon emissions, mainly due to the inefficiency of current electricity production. However, grid “carbon intensity” is being reduced as more electricity is produced from renewable and low carbon sources. Even today a heat pump can produce less than half the carbon of an equivalent gas or oil fired heating system. Good system design is vital to achieve this.
- Heat pumps need to be on all the time. They don’t! A heat pump can be operated in the same way as any other heating system that used when heating is required.
- Heat pumps need lots of space. There are many alternative ways of getting energy from the ground to support a heat pump. These do not need to take up a lot of space. We frequently install systems under buildings and can use techniques to support large loads from very confined spaces.
- Heat pumps only work in new buildings. A heat pump system can be designed to support any type or age of building. They have frequently been specified in old country houses for example. Of course, measures should always be taken to reduce the energy needs of the building first.
- Heat pumps have to use under floor heating. Although heat pumps work very well with under floor heating they can be designed to work with radiators or other heating systems. Old radiators designed to work at high temperature may have to be replaced but this is not always the case particularly if heating demand can be reduced at the same time through improved insulation and other measures.
- Heat pumps can only be used when there is a heating AND cooling need. Heat pumps work very well in situations with a heating and cooling requirement but this is not essential. Many systems are used in heating only applications and some in cooling only mode. We can design a system to cover all kinds of needs including simultaneous heating and cooling.
- Heat pumps need a high water table. Heat pumps work particularly well if the ground around the collector is wet. Water has a high thermal conductivity. However a system can be designed to work in dry ground equally well although it might be slightly more expensive to install.
- The ground conditions are not suitable for a heat pump. There are hardly any occasions when ground conditions would rule out the use of a heat pump. We can drill boreholes in virtually any type of ground. Costs will vary to some extent based on the ground conditions but this shouldn’t be a barrier to consideration of a heat pump.
- Heat pumps are an unproven technology. In fact heat pumps have been in use for over 150 years in various forms. The basic technology in a ground or air source system is that found in refrigeration and air conditioning products the world over. Extensive experience has been gained in mainland Europe where heat pump systems for heating buildings are considered a successful and mature technology.
- Heat pumps are too expensive. It’s true that a heat pump system will cost significantly more than a conventional heating system. However the potential reduction in energy costs could mean that payback is relatively quick if the alternative is oil, LPG, solid fuel or direct electric heating. With the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payback could be under 5 years for a heat pump system even when compared to gas.
Over the years we have encountered lots of reasons why people think a heat pump is unsuitable for their application. In most cases this boils down to lack of understanding about the way the systems work. We believe strongly that heat pumps have a major part to play in the future of building heating and cooling. This view is supported by the UK Government and at EU level. New incentives from the RHI make the financial case for heat pumps very attractive. Contact us to discuss your project in more detail.