Heat pumps are an energy efficient, low carbon way to heat your home. They’re suitable for almost all types of home and, depending on what heating system you’re replacing, could save you money on your energy bills.
What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is a heating system that:
takes in heat energy from a colder area, usually outside
raises the temperature
moves the heat into your home
It uses electricity to do this. But it produces much more heat energy than it uses in electrical energy.
This makes it a more energy efficient way to heat your home than a traditional gas or oil boiler. It also produces far fewer carbon emissions than other heating systems.
Which one is better suited to you largely depends on your budget and how much space you have. You can find out what might be for you using the Get a Heat Pump quiz from Nesta.
Air source heat pumps tend to be the most common type installed.
For Scotland, you can get a grant of up to £7,500 (£9,000 in rural properties) for energy efficient home improvements. You can also get a loan of up to £7,500 to install renewable heat in your home.
For Northern Ireland, there are no dedicated schemes for heat pumps. The Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) may provide limited funding for heat pump installations.
You can also contact NI Energy Advice to find out what other funding might be available to you. This includes loft and cavity wall insulation to make sure your home is heat pump ready.
Heat pump myths debunked
We found several heat pump ‘myths’ that were holding people back from adopting the technology.
I’m thinking about getting a heat pump. Where do I go next?
The best thing to do is to find out what heat pump system is right for you and speak to an installer for more tailored advice. The services available depend on where you live:
Use our online assessment tool, Go Renewable, to find out what renewable technologies, are suitable for your home.
Speak to people who already one and let them share their experience using Nesta’s visit a heat pump service.