Advantages of Heat Pumps

Jacob Chandler

Why are they better than normal systems?

• Energy Efficient

• Environmentally Friendly

• Physical / Ascetics

• Economics

Energy Efficiency

• Coefficient of Performance (COP)

• ratio of btu heat output to btu electrical input

• conventional heaters have COP = 1.0

• air source heat pumps: 2 4

• water/ground source heat pumps: 3 5

Environmentally Friendly

• uses renewable heat sources

• ground/water use natural heat sources

• reduces energy used (electricity/fuels)

• geothermal best for greenhouse gases

Physical / Ascetics

Heat pumps may have the advantages:

• no visible equipment

• no external fans

• quiet

• adaptable locations

• little risk of damage or weathering

Economics

• high capital cost

• low running costs

• heating and cooling in one device

References

http://www.heatpumpcentre.org/

http://www.heatpumpnet.org.uk/

http://geoheat.oit.edu/

“heat pumps efficiency”

“coefficient of performance”