Solar energy has made a big impact so far in equipping Australian homes with sustainable energy from the sun. Unfortunately not every local climate and rooftop is suitable for harnessing solar power. One newcomer on the green market is the Heat Pump which is able to solve a lot of the issues that can make solar energy unattainable or undesirable for certain households.
You may have heard about heat pumps being rolled out in the UK and the US to combat the current energy crisis. Australia too has joined in with The NSW government offering incredible deals on heat pump purchase and installation for homes that currently have electric hot water. The question is why are heat pumps an effective solution?
What is a heat pump hot water system?
Heat pump water heaters, sometimes called ‘air-source heat pumps’ absorb the warmth from the air and ground around them and transfer the heat internally to rapidly bring water in the storage tank to temperature. They don’t require the sun, just warmth, so there is no need for rooftop mounting and they are able to deliver hot water for nighttime bathing, showers and washing up. They are even effective when it’s overcast or raining
There are still some components that require electricity, but overall you can expect your heat pump to be three times more efficient than your standard electric water heater, delivering significant savings compared to your current electricity usage
How heat pump systems work
Rather than gathering solar energy, a heat pump absorbs heat energy from the surrounding air. It uses a refrigerant chemical to trigger an evaporator process that compresses in a chamber, and rapidly heats water in your insulated tank.
The refrigerant turns to gas at incredibly low temperatures so while warmer air temperatures work best, even in a winter climate of 10 degrees or lower, the heat pump is able to transfer a large amount of heat into the water since the boiling point of the refrigerant is well below freezing.
Some electricity is required to run the compressor and also a fan to dispel the cooled air once the process is completed, however, the main function of the system is heating water and maintaining tank temperature, which is all done using free climate heat.
There is no need for solar or rooftop installations but you will need a constant supply of fresh air to work, which makes a heat pump perfect for most Australian homes.
Pros & cons
Heat pump installations are very simple and cost-effective if you currently have an electric hot water system as the set-up is very similar. If you already have solar you can opt to use your solar PV energy to run your heat pump, bypassing the need for grid energy with minimal impact on your everyday solar consumption.
Heat pump systems are still evolving in the green energy market so they do not yet carry a standard energy rating label. While this will become mandatory with time (to match all home electrical appliances) for now ask a qualified and experienced plumber about the different heat pump options and efficiency levels.
Heat pumps are not as well known as solar PV. They are a more recent addition to green energy solutions but the refined technology has really shown its worth and proven its place, especially in situations where solar power is not available or not recommended. When talking to your plumber be sure to ask about current rebates that can take your purchase and installation down to almost nothing.
