Heat pumps are more efficient than boilers in cold weather.

Article by: Sam Dewey

Research from Oxford University and the Regulatory Assistance Project thinktank, states that when temperatures drop below zero, and even as low as -30C, heat pumps outperform oil and gas heating systems.

This new research, published in Joule, used data from seven field studies, pulling 2,760 measurements together, in North America, Asia and Europe. When temperatures reached below zero, the results showed that heat pumps were between two and three times more efficient than oil and gas heating systems.

Findings showed that heat pumps were suitable for almost all homes in Europe, including the UK, and calls for the government to increase the uptake of heat pumps.

The UK government have recently increased the heat pump grant offering from £5,000 to £7,500 which is a massive increase and could see heat pumps being installed for FREE, subject to survey.

The UK and renewable heating.

The UK is currently lagging behind other countries that have adopted heat pumps more successfully. Compared with the UK, France is installing 10 times as many heat pumps. Many people in the UK are unfamiliar with heat pumps and doubt their efficiency.

Over the years, negative reports have tried to discredit heat pumps, stating they don’t work well in low temperatures despite their use in much colder climates than the UK, including in Scandinavia.

In Sweden, only 1% of emissions come from people’s homes. That’s because over 60% of households have a heat pump!

Dr Jan Rosenow, director of European programmes at the Regulatory Assistance Project and co-author of the report, said: “There has been a campaign spreading false information about heat pumps (including casting doubt on whether they work in cold weather). People in the UK don’t know much about heat pumps, so it’s very easy to scare them by giving them wrong information.”

The UK government is consulting on proposals to improve incentives that allow households to take up heat pumps. At about £7,000 or more, they can cost two or three times as much upfront as gas boilers. Boiler companies are also set to be penalised if they fail to sell enough heat pumps, under a “market-based mechanism”. This will require them to sell a certain quota of heat pumps or pay a penalty.

Why choose an Air-Source Heat Pump from Heat From Air?

Heat From Air designs and installs next-generation heat pumps that look good, last long and fit perfectly into your home. By using the air outside your home to keep your home warm, air-to-water heat pumps are the future of home heating. At 4 times more efficient than gas boilers and offset by government grants, they’re the answer to boiler woes too. Best of all – they can be installed and heating your home in less than 30 days.

High-temperature heat pumps are a promising technology that can significantly contribute to our efforts to reduce energy consumption and combat climate change. They offer efficient heating and cooling solutions for a wide range of applications, making them a compelling choice for both residential and commercial use and of course, heat pumps are more efficient than boilers in cold weather.

While there may be some upfront costs and installation considerations, the long-term benefits, including reduced energy bills and lower carbon emissions, make high-temperature heat pumps a smart choice for a greener future. As technology continues to advance, we can look forward to even more efficient and accessible high-temperature heat pump solutions in the years to come.

Want to start cutting your emissions as soon as possible? Our team can provide you with quotes to compare the best prices and all you have to do is get in touch with us, and you can get a head start on the UK’s heat pump revolution.

After all, Your Green Future Starts Here!