If you are deciding which energy-efficient solution to install in your home, a heat pump is an option worth considering. The first major study of over 2500 domestic heat pump owners found that more than 80% of them are satisfied with their heat pump as opposed to their previous system and that heat pumps are likely to be effective across the range of residential property. The study was commissioned by NESTA, an innovation agency for social good, and the results are encouraging for all homeowners thinking about making their homes more sustainable and energy-efficient.
WHAT IS A HEAT PUMP AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Although there are different types of heat pumps, they all work in the same way, by transferring heat into a building from the outside environment rather than from an energy source. They are much more efficient than other energy sources because they can produce three times more energy than they take in. An average gas boiler has an efficiency of around 85% compared to a heat pump’s 300%, which means that a heat pump can produce over 3 times more heat per unit of energy.
THE BENEFITS OF INSTALLING A HEAT PUMP
Those who have used a heat pump confirm the science, reporting warmer homes and lower bills. Satisfaction is highest among people who choose to install a heat pump in their own homes (as opposed to ‘inheriting’ it), and heat pump owners are particularly likely to prefer their heat pump if they previously used electric heating, oil, or LPG boilers.
Heat pump users are also more likely to be satisfied with the running costs (67%) than those using gas boilers (59%) and the only area of the survey where satisfaction with the heat pump was lower than with a gas boiler was the ease of use with 74% ‘fairly’ or ‘very’ satisfied, compared to 88% of gas boiler users.
KNOWLEDGE IS (GREENER, CHEAPER) POWER
The ease of use data reflects the general lack of awareness of how to use a heat pump. Most heat pump ‘inheritors’ — those who move into homes with heat pumps already installed — report having very little awareness of heat pumps before moving into their properties. Many also still think that older homes don’t support heat pumps, according to Melanie Gabriel, the director of sustainable future at NESTA, who confirmed that: “The rollout of heat pumps across all property types in Britain is proving that the age of your house doesn’t have to be a big factor when deciding whether to get a greener heating system.”
JOINING THE FUTURE OF ENERGY
In general, the survey proved that heat pumps are a great energy-efficient solution for most homeowners and home types. NESTA is also planning to work with the government to make heat pumps cheaper and the funding for them easier to access, making them readily available to more homeowners across the country.
If you’d like to find out more about heat pumps, head to this page where you can find more information about the estimated installation costs and available grants.
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