Companies are coming up with ever more ingenious ways to heat the home. Not only have we made great strides in creating innovative heating systems, but we are also ensuring these pumps are environmentally friendly.
Among the latest trends in home heating are heat pumps. Today we are going to be talking all about heat pumps. For anyone who doesn’t know what they are, we are going to provide a brief overview of how these heating systems work. Moreover, we are going to be asking and providing an answer to the question ‘’Are heat pumps environmentally friendly?’’.
Firstly, what are heat pumps?
Before we tackle the question ‘’Are heat pumps environmentally friendly?, we need to determine what heat pumps are and how they work. Simply put, a heat pump captures heat and moves it into your home or property. Although it uses electricity to do this, the quantity of heat delivered far exceeds the electricity used to generate the heat. As a heat pump system captures heat that is already present, it does not go through a process of burning fuel. Thus, the system emits no carbon dioxide.
A heat pump system has a compressor which is powered by electricity. The system also has a gas ‘refrigerant’. In order to generate heat, this ‘refrigerant’ is compressed which increases the pressure and therefore the temperature. Heat is transferred to your home by way of a heat exchanger, and the system cools down slightly in the process. The ‘refrigerant’ expands at this point which instigates a further process of cooling down. The system is now cold enough to absorb more heat and start the process over again.
Are heat pumps environmentally friendly?
We are living in a time where people are more conscious about their choices, and how they stand to impact the environment. This is because our impact on the planet, and thus the environment, is becoming increasingly damaging. We all need to find a way to be more sustainable, and companies are trying to alter products we rely on to align with this shift. The good news about heat pumps is that they have characteristics which make them environmentally friendly. We expand on this below.
- Reduced electricity consumption
Heat pumps are inherently highly efficient. For every unit of electricity a heat pump uses, several units of heat are exerted. This means that the electrical consumption is naturally lower, as the same amount of heat is produced in comparison to systems that use a lot of electricity. The reduction in electricity may have come from a power station that burns fossil fuels. Therefore, by using a heat pump you are making a positive environmental contribution.
- Carbon dioxide emission reduction
Unlike other heating systems, a heat pump does not give off harmful carbon dioxide emissions. As previously explained, a heat pump compresses gas refrigerant which is how heat is generated. The system does not rely on the burning of fuel to create heat, so no emissions are created during the heating process. This means heat pumps do not make a meaningful contribution to our larger carbon dioxide emissions issue.
- Refrigerant fluid
When you consider how reliant a heat pump is on the refrigerant fluid, there may be concerns about its impact on the environment. It is speculated that if the refrigerant fluid were to leak, it would have an astonishing impact on global warming. This impact would be steeper than carbon dioxide, for example. However, most heat pump manufacturers and providers are now offering less damaging alternatives to refrigerant fluid. The good news, therefore, is there are options available on the market that allow you to yield great results from your heat pump, whilst also remaining environmentally friendly.
- Potential for reduced carbon impact
Heat pumps require electricity to run, which has to come from an electricity provider. Whilst there are some renewable energy providers on the market, not all are like this. Carbon emissions for generating electricity from certain companies are rather high. On the surface then, using heat pumps may result in a greater carbon footprint being generated. There are options however. You can opt to switch to a renewable energy provider, and perhaps look to generate electricity from solar panels.
Heat pumps: Are they environmentally friendly?
In the end, heat pumps can be extremely environmentally friendly. You, as the customer, are awarded a few choices which can help to bring your household in line with being more environmentally conscious. In comparison to other fuel burning heat systems, heat pumps offer a far more sustainable way to heat your home or office. For expert heat pump installations in Coventry or the surrounding areas, we encourage you to visit Chillaire.
