Heat Pumps - GSHPs and ASHPs

Ground Source Heating (GSHPs)

Ground source heating uses less CO2 than other forms of heating systems, particularly electric heating or coal. As heat pumps generate energy from a renewable source — the earth — ground source heating is considered a renewable form of energy. Ground source heat pumps are also more energy efficient than air source heating alternative.

Advantages of Ground Source Heat Pumps:

The main advantages of ground source heat pumps include:

• They are environmentally friendly compared to other heating systems
• Low maintenance once installed
• They use a renewable resource efficiently

Air Source Heating (ASHPs)

Air heat source pumps, a subset of central heating pumps are a close relative of air-conditioning unit and refrigerator technology, operating in a reverse cycle.

Air source heat pumps are usually placed outside buildings and extract heat from the atmosphere. An air-to-air heat pump can absorb heat from air as cold as -15°C. The air is then heated and is absorbed into a fluid within the unit. The fluid is then compressed — raising its temperature — and circulated into the building heat network.

Air heat source pumps are cost effective, they are also very low maintenance and don’t require fuel deliveries to operate.

Advantages of Air Source Heat Pumps:

• They generate less CO2
• Minimum maintenance once installed
• The units may be used as air-conditioning units in Summer
• Use electricity more efficiently than electric heating units
• Eligibility for grants and subsequent payments