Low-carbon heating planned around the building — not just the unit.
Heat pumps can provide efficient electric heating by moving heat from the outside environment into a building. Eco Solar can discuss suitable heat pump projects for domestic and commercial properties, with the design shaped around the building and its heating needs.
Move available heat into the building and raise it to a useful temperature.
A heat pump uses electricity to capture heat from a source such as outside air or the ground, then raises that heat to a temperature that can be used for space heating and, with suitable systems, hot water.
Because the system transfers heat rather than relying on combustion to create it, heat pumps can be highly efficient. The important part is the design: the building’s heat loss, radiators or underfloor heating, hot-water demand, controls and required temperatures all affect performance.
No one-size-fits-all promise: whether a heat pump reduces running costs depends on the heating system being replaced, energy prices, system design, controls and how the building is used.
A different approach to heating, with efficiency built into the principle.
High-efficiency electric heating
Heat pumps move heat rather than creating it by burning fuel, which is why a well-designed system can deliver more heat energy than the electrical energy it uses.
Lower-carbon heating
Replacing fossil-fuel heating with a suitable heat pump can reduce the carbon emissions associated with heating, with the result depending on the system being replaced and how the new system performs.
Works with familiar heating systems
Many heat pumps can work with radiators or underfloor heating, although emitter sizing, flow temperatures and the overall heating design need to be considered properly.
Can be considered alongside solar
Because a heat pump uses electricity, solar generation and battery storage can be considered as part of the wider energy setup where appropriate.
Air source and ground source are the two names most people hear.
The exact heat-pump technologies Eco Solar supplies or installs should be confirmed for the individual project before equipment is specified.
Air source heat pumps
These take heat from the outside air. Air-to-water systems are commonly used to supply a wet central-heating system and hot water, while other configurations exist for different building needs.
Ground or water source systems
These collect heat through pipework connected to the ground or another suitable heat source. They can be very efficient but normally require more site-specific space, ground works or access considerations.
The answer comes from the whole heating system.
Heat loss and insulation
How quickly the building loses heat affects the output the system needs to provide. Insulation and draught reduction can influence comfort and running performance.
Radiators or underfloor heating
The existing heat emitters may be suitable, may need resizing or may need a different operating approach depending on the design.
Outdoor and indoor space
Air source systems normally need a suitable external position, while hot-water cylinders or other internal equipment may also need space.
Hot-water demand
The property’s hot-water requirements, cylinder arrangement and usage pattern form part of the system design.
Electrical supply and controls
Available electrical capacity, controls, tariffs and the intended operating temperatures all influence how the system should be planned.
Homes
Comfort and efficiency depend on the building fabric as well as the equipment.
For a domestic project, insulation levels, room-by-room heat loss, radiator or underfloor-heating performance, hot-water demand and controls all matter. A good design should explain any supporting changes the property may need.
Commercial buildings
Commercial heating needs a site-specific assessment.
Building use, occupancy, heating schedules, existing plant, available space and required temperatures can be very different from a home. Commercial heat-pump projects therefore need to be assessed around the site rather than treated as a scaled-up domestic installation.
Electrifying heating changes the property’s electricity profile.
Solar panels can generate electricity that may contribute to the electricity used by a heat pump when generation and heating demand overlap.
Heating demand is often greatest in colder periods when solar generation is lower, so solar should not be presented as covering all heat-pump electricity use.
Where solar, battery storage and a heat pump are being considered together, the electricity demand and controls should be looked at as one wider energy system.
Is financial support available?
Eligible properties in England and Wales may be able to access support through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for qualifying heat-pump installations. Eligibility, grant values, system standards and installer requirements can change, so the current scheme rules should be checked before relying on funding.
Check current GOV.UK guidanceA heat pump can be considered as part of the wider energy plan.
Start the conversation
Want to understand whether a heat pump could suit your property?
Send the team a general enquiry. We can start with the building, current heating system and what you want the project to achieve.