Air Source Heat Pumps
Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) absorb latent heat from the air around them. This energy can then be used to heat your hot water, radiators and under floor heating. Even outside air temperatures below freezing are full of energy.
As the heat source - air - is freely available, ASHPs are very flexible as to the location in which they can be installed. They can be retro fitted, or installed as part of a new build project.
ASHPs work using a similar principle to that of a refrigerator running in reverse. Heat is absorbed from the outside air. This heat is then processed by the refrigeration system, which results in a higher temperature heat capable of heating your home and hot water.
Air source heat pumps have an efficiency of up to 400%, meaning that for every 1kw of electricity used to power the system 4kw of heat energy can be produced. In comparison, high efficiency gas condensing boilers have an efficiency rating of about 90%; older non condensing boilers can be as low as 65%.
ASHPs have a major advantage over Ground Source Heat pumps in that they are supplied as a neat box which is fitted outside of the property. There is no need to either dig up a large part of your garden, or bore holes deep into the earth. This is in contrast to Ground Source Heat Pumps.
Integrating ASHPs with other renewable technologies is rapidly becoming a viable solution for providing heat and hot water in every home. This is even more applicable if you live off of the mains gas network, as so many of us do here in Cornwall. The cost of LPG and especially Oil only ever seems to spiral upward.
If you would like further information or would like to discuss the possibilities of integrating renewable energy into your home or work place, please feel free to give Horizon a call.
