HEATING TECHNOLOGY
The Passiv Smart
Thermostat, available as a wired or wireless version, displays the current temperature, setpoint and status of the heating zone
to use these things to manage their heating and hot water. This accessibility is particularly
important in social housing. Housing associations own and manage 2.7 million homes for six million people, yet heat pumps represent just under 3% of the decarbonisation measures installed in social housing, according to the National Audit Office. This is because installing heat pumps is a challenging undertaking. It needs new supply chains, involves new technologies, and can be a challenge for tenants. If not managed correctly, heating bills can rise and the whole scheme can be put at risk. Installing these smart controls alongside heat pumps can simplify the currently complex heating system controls for the tenant.
How smart controls can boost heat pump performance
The use of smart controls can help to shift the public perception of heat pumps, improving efficiency levels and enhancing the user’s experience. Will Heinzelmann explains how they can thereby accelerate the transition to renewable energy.
Will
Heinzelmann www.
passivuk.com
Product director at Passiv UK
A
s the UK strives to meet its ambitious 2050 net-zero targets, decarbonising heating in both domestic and
non-domestic sectors is essential – especially since residential properties alone account for 17% of the nation’s carbon emissions. Heat pumps are widely recognised as a key solution to this challenge. However, for them to effectively drive the transition to low-carbon heating, they must become more user-friendly, with suitable controls that allow for greater efficiencies. Fortunately, the latest generation of smart controls is poised to do just that. Most of us are familiar with gas
boiler controls – simple systems that turn a boiler on or off according to a measured room temperature. This works for gas boilers which are quite forgiving because they operate at a higher flow temperature, allowing for a more flexible approach to control. For heat pumps, things get a lot more complicated. Operating at a lower flow temperature means they take longer to heat up a home, so having controls that are easy to use is important for
12
maintaining comfort and efficiency. Enter smart controls. The latest generation of smart
controls make comfort simpler and take the guesswork out of operating a heat pump. By learning how a home heats up and cools down, heat pump smart thermostats calculate how a heating system performs and how a home reacts to the outside temperature and weather. They use this information, alongside a local weather forecast for the next 24 hours, to start heating a home and hot water at exactly the right time. This same smart preheating technology can also increase a heat pump’s efficiency by 17%, lowering heating bills and making heat pumps more affordable.
User confi dence Consumer ease-of-use and confidence in controls is essential. There’s no point being clever with your controls if the consumer doesn’t buy into that journey. However, current heat pump controls are not easy to use. One study found that when presented with a typical heat pump thermostat, just 23% of people can set a heating schedule – one of the most basic and vital functions of any heating controller. The latest generation of smart
controls has been designed specifically to work with heat pumps – and only with heat pumps. That means their design and user interface has
EIBI | FEBRUARY 2025
not been compromised by the need to work with all heating technologies, making them simpler to use and easier to understand. Heat pump smart thermostats
can be managed by an app giving complete control of a heat pump regardless of where you are. However, the latest systems can also be operated without a smartphone or even internet connection. Smart heat pump controls shouldn’t only be for the tech-savvy. They need to be accessible, easy to use and suitable for anyone who has a heat pump as you can’t guarantee that people will have an internet connection or smartphone, or that they will want
Financial incentive Beyond simplifying home heating and improving heat pump efficiencies, smart, automated controls are also already helping householders to earn money with their heat pump. To ensure that electricity supply remains secure, heat pumps will have to form part of a smart, flexible energy system and be capable of adjusting their operation in response to national electricity requirements – something called Demand Side Response or DSR. The continued uptake of domestic flexibility provides an exciting new opportunity for heat pump owners and allows businesses and householders to earn money through the devices they use – a win all round. The future of heating in the UK hinges not only on the widespread adoption of heat pumps but also on making them accessible and user- friendly. Smart controls are the key to unlocking their full potential, ensuring they are efficient, affordable and easy to use for everyone. As we push towards our net-zero goals, these innovations will be crucial in making low-carbon heating a reality for all. ■
The Passiv app enables the user to quickly and conveniently manage heating and hot water, but the Passiv programmer can be used without a smartphone or internet connection and can schedule up to six separate heating periods for each day of the week
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
