HEAT PUMPS


Why the renewable heating sector must challenge the myths


There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about the potential use of heat pumps as a mainstream technology in the UK, but they should not go unchallenged, says Mark McManus.


Mark McManus www.stiebel-eltron.co.uk


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UK managing director at Stiebel Eltron


conference’s final day as they looked to salvage a deal which would significantly reduce humanity’s impact on the planet. In the end, they just about agreed to include a move away from fossil fuels following furious condemnation on a global scale.


t the end of last year global leaders came together at COP 28 to discuss action which would tackle the


world’s most urgent and pressing environmental challenges. But as the summit reached its climax, controversy emerged as wording to phase out coal, oil, and gas was inexplicably dropped from the conference’s deal.


What ensued was a mass scramble of almost 200 countries on the


What’s clear is a widespread desire


for greener initiatives which will safeguard the planet moving forward, with reducing carbon intensive fossil fuels top of the agenda. One such initiative is the decarbonisation of home and building environments, something which, as a leading supplier of renewable heating products, we’re seeking to drive forward. Moving towards sustainable heating resources, such as the


Practical solutions Solutions presented to consumers need to be practical, viable, and above all, an effective option which they can have confidence will perform. So, it is up to the renewable heating technology sector to demonstrate to consumers why heat pumps tick all the boxes when it comes to changing their heating system. A common misconception is


that transitioning to heat pumps is


adoption of heat pumps in buildings, will significantly reduce a building’s carbon footprint. However, the transition towards heat pumps is being hampered by misinformation around the technology’s ability to perform effectively when compared to a traditional gas boiler.


prohibitively expensive, and while the initial installation cost can be higher than traditional heating systems, it’s crucial to consider the long-term savings and benefits. Being highly energy efficient, they generate lower operational costs over time, while many governments and energy companies offer incentives and rebates which ease the financial burden of their installation. Meanwhile, there are concerns that heat pump systems consume a lot of electricity, however this is not the case. A properly designed heat pump system will use around a third to a quarter less electricity than traditional forms of electric heating. This is because a heat pump should only need electricity as drive energy, with additional energy required gained from the air, earth or groundwater.


Carbon savings Then there is the notion as to whether heat pumps are too good to be true and can they really be as green as highlighted. The simple answer is yes. Heat pumps use renewable energy to generate heat, so no CO₂ is created on site, and when combined with


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EIBI | JUNE 2024


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