Airsource Systems

Air Source Heat Pump Green Credentials

Across the UK, and throughout the world, businesses and individuals are becoming increasingly aware of their impact on the environment. To fight back against high carbon emissions, greenhouse gasses, and dangerous chemicals, environmental scientists are consistently working on renewable, sustainable energy sources.

For businesses that want to show their green credentials off to consumers, and homeowners that hope to establish a more sustainable property, air source heat pump efficiency could be the solution. For both heating and cooling, an air source heat pump can reduce environmental impact significantly. Rather than using the combustion of fossil fuels to create energy, these systems use one highly renewable substance: air.

Understanding Air Source Heat Pump Efficiency

The amount of CO2 emissions that can be reduced by any property using an air source heat pump will depend on several factors, including:

• The fuel replaced – CO2 emission savings are higher with oil than natural gas;
• The source of the electricity – heat pumps can be supplemented by solar power electricity or wind-generated energy;
• The systems that you use – Underfloor heating systems can be more effective, reducing the frequency at which air pumps need to be used.

However, regardless of external factors, air source heat pumps often work at a 300% efficiency rating, compared to the 90% ratings of new boilers. For every 1 unit of energy the system uses, it generates 3 units of heat – meaning heat pumps generate more energy than they use. When compared to other heating solutions, like older electric storage heaters, a heat pump can save up to 10 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

Measuring Air Source Heat Pump Efficiency

Understanding the green credentials of an air source heat pump means looking closely at the air source heat pump efficiency curve. There are many ways to measure the efficiency of a heat pump, including:

• COP (Coefficient of performance): This measures the amount of energy that has been created, divided by the amount of energy used to create that energy. Higher COP values indicate more efficient systems, but standard electric heaters only have a rating of 1. An air pump in heating mode ranges from a COP of 2 to 5, while heat pumps in cooling modes range from 3 to 12.
• EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio): Similar to COP, EER measures efficiency for cooling systems. The EER is the ratio of the level of cooling, divided by the amount of electricity used. The higher the EER, the more efficient the system is
• SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio): SEER measures how efficiently your air source heat pump performs over an entire season of cooling. Similarly to EER, a higher SEER value reflects a more efficient system.
• HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor): This measures how efficiently heat pumps operate over an entire season of heating. The higher the HSPF, the more efficient the system.

Heat Pump Regulation

To maintain the air source heat pump efficiency curve, new government regulation dictates that all heat pumps will now need an energy label. This label will be responsible for providing information about the efficiency of the heat pump, and rating products from red (least efficient) to dark green (most efficient).

Heat pumps can be used for heating homes and hot water. Though the benefits of these systems are well-known, they haven’t yet reached recognition around the world.

The inherently green nature of all heat pumps – no matter how big or small, has even prompted the government to include them in their renewable energy scheme. The renewable heat incentive scheme recognises air source heat pump efficiency, and gives property owners the chance to earn money for the sustainable energy they generate.

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