The Role Of Heat Pumps In Energy Efficient Buildings

In homes where there are moderate needs for heating or cooling

, heat pumps offer an energy efficient solution to the need for furnaces and air conditioning. Such devices work like refrigerators in moving warmth from a cold area to a warmer one. Thus, the cool spaces are made cooler and the warm spaces are made warmer. They offer help to improve efficient operation of heating and cooling systems.

During the season for home heating these units move thermal energy from the cooler outdoors inside the warmer home providing heating. During the winter, they move energy from in the home to the warmer outdoors in order to provide air conditioning. Since these units move the hot air instead of creating it, they offer up to four times the energy consumed in the form of electricity to warm the home.

The most common type of units is the air source system. These devices use the outside air as the source of warm air for the winter and the place for disposal of the hot air during the summer. When utilized for heating, the systems can reduce power consumptions by 30-40%. Newer units provide even better dehumidifying of the home that makes the rooms feel even cooler.

The efficiency of these units is greatly reduced in colder climates. In areas where temperatures routinely remain below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, the systems must depend on a back up heating source, often resistance heat, that makes them much efficient at heating a home. In these locations, homeowners should consider other types of systems.

One of the choices is a unit that uses a separate backup heat source for the days when the temperatures drop too low. Such systems are equipped with burners supplementing the heat that comes from the air. Such systems can reduce the electricity needed for heating. Systems may be designed with natural gas, oil, propane or other burners to provide the auxiliary warmth when the amount of warmth drops.

Ground source or geothermal units provide an better system than those using the air, especially in cold climates. They are also more expensive for installation. Landscaping, type of subsoil, and available space should all be considered if determining that a geothermal source is the most appropriate for the area. Such systems are ideal for climates where air temperatures are too cold for proper use of air source systems.

The newer innovations in HVAC systems continue to provide better options for homeowners wanting more efficient systems. Such units offer dual speed compressor or dual speed blowers to increase the comfort level in the home and the overall efficiency. Homeowners might benefit from speaking with a local HVAC contractor to determine the most appropriate system for installation in their home.

Heat pumps can provide a great solution for individuals wanting to improve their efficiency at home. Although air source systems are most common, they are not practical for all areas. Ground source systems as well as those with a secondary fuel source to provide backup heating will work practically anywhere. Overall, the systems provide advantages of heating and air conditioning in a combined unit that reduces heating costs.

by: Jenifer Whitmire

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