Heat pumps are powered by electricity and do not use fossil fuels or emit CO2, they are even more eco-friendly if the electricity used to power them is generated from renewable sources. In contrast to electrical heating though heat pumps run on an amazingly high efficiency of around 350%. This means 1 unit of electricity produces 3.5 units of heat!

There are different types of heat pumps available, but the most common heat pump would be air-to-water.

A heat pump works by extracting heat from the air outside the house and concentrating it with help of compression to useful heat inside the home. Fridges and air conditioning units work on the same principle but in reverse. 

Heat pumps run on a low temperature system and therefore houses need to have a good insulation and airtightness for heat pumps to work effectively.

There is a heat pump grant available for houses built before 2021. 

Get a registered Technical Advisor to conduct a technical assessment prior to the works and advise you on the suitability of your home for a heat pump system from a heat loss perspective.

Check out the grants sections for available SEAI’s Better Energy Home grants!

Or get in contact with Susanna Technical Advisor for advice!