Air Source Heat Pumps
Making the change to a low carbon air source heat pump to heat your home is one of best steps you can take to reduce your home’s carbon footprint. Used in conjunction with Solar PV and Battery storage you can also dramatically reduce your energy bills, as they run entirely on electricity.
If you choose to install an air source heat pump to heat your home and hot water, very little about the day-to-day will change. You will still be able to turn on the tap and get hot water, your thermostat will still control the temperature of your home. the technology does work a little differently to gas and oil boilers.
The first part to having a heat pump installed is the unit fitted to the outside of your home. This draws air into the system, this air is used to turn a refrigerant inside the unit into vapour. This vapour is then compressed and produces heat as a result. The heat is then transferred to your home’s heating system, providing your home with heat and hot water, when you need it.
Heat pumps are so effective that heat can even be extracted from the air when temperatures drop as low as minus 15C.
Heat Pumps typically run at 350% efficiency – this is determined by how much of the energy an appliance uses goes towards its intended purpose. This means that while they use some electricity to run, they generate nearly four times more energy to use as heat within your home.
Modern gas boilers are designed to run at around 92% efficiency – this means that it uses 92% of the fuel it uses is providing heat and how water, and 8% is wasted.
Heat Pumps are also better for the environment, switching to an heat pump can cut your homes carbon footprint by up to 65%. they last longer than traditional boilers and require less maintenance.
All too often Heat Pumps received a bad press in terms of being a valid replacement for fossil fuels within the home. We’ve put together a list of the most frequently asked questions and tried to dispel some of the rumours about Air Source Heat Pumps. HERE
You can read the latest report from UK Parliament HERE. The report considers advances in heat pump technology, their suitability for UK properties, barriers to deployment and government policy support mechanisms.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) supports the decarbonisation of heat in buildings. It provides upfront funding to support the installation of heat pumps homes and small non-domestic buildings in England and Wales.
Acting on behalf of property owners, Caplor Energy can apply for:
- £7,500 off the cost and installation of an air source heat pump
- £7,500 off the cost and installation of a ground source heat pump, including water source heat pumps
Over the next three years there is £450 million of grant funding available from 2022 to 2025.
Green Mortgages
The UK’s green mortgage market is showing signs that it is ready for lift off, with both Halifax and Barclays having already launched offers to incentivise homeowners into installing renewable technologies, including air source heat pumps. Green mortgage products come in a variety of different forms, but all aim to incentivise homeowners to invest in improving the energy efficiency of their properties.
More details can be found on our blog here.
Benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps
- Renewable, low carbon, environmentally friendly heat source
- Clean, sustainable, waste and virtually noise free system
- Highly efficient, transferring around 3 x more energy into a home as heat than it uses to extract it from the air
- Little outdoor space required, meaning an air source heat pump system is suitable for most urban properties
- Removes the need to store oil generating extra space from tank removal
- Fuel availability doesn’t have to be regularly monitored
- Increased protection from fluctuating energy prices
- Minimum maintenance required, no annual boiler service
- MCS approved for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
Frequently Asked Questions
As part of the Heat and Buildings Strategy package, Government has announced the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), to be launched in April 2022 and to replace the Domestic RHI which will close to new generators on 31 March 2022. We hope this new initiative will help boost demand for renewable heating technologies over the next 3 years.
On 23rd October 2023, The BUS will see consumers entitled to an upfront grant of £7,500 against the purchase and installation of an air source heat pump or a ground source heat pump.
Air source heat pumps are a suitable complete or partial solution for the majority of existing buildings and houses as well as new builds. Most properties that can achieve a reasonable level of thermal insulation could be suitable for an air source heat pump.
There may be instances where the fabric of the building can be improved to achieve the highest levels of efficiency from the heat pump. For example where the property can be updated with the basic thermal improvements i.e. cavity wall installation, loft insulation and double glazing this should be considered if not already installed.
The air source heat pump then needs to be able to meet the maximum heat demand of the property under its maximum (coldest) conditions. Accredited Installers for the domestic market and consultants for the commercial properties can all assist with heat loss calculations to ensure the heat pump matches the building load.
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