Air source pumps are an alternative way to heat your home – replacing your gas or oil based system, for example. They work like a ‘ fridge in reverse’. There are two types: air-to-air; and the more effective and common air-to-water system. They extract free heat from the outside air, raise the temperature using a compressor and use that to heat water for a water tank and central heating system. Air source heat pumps can still extract heat when air temperatures are as low as -15°C. The pump runs on electricity to run – powered by wind or solar energy as well as electricity from the grid. Every 1kW of electricity produces 3kW of heat output which makes them an energy efficient method of heating your home including those heated electrically or with convector or storage heaters.
Potential annual savings if you’re installing a standard air source heat pump in an average sized, four-bedroom detached home will be between 2,150 kg to 10,500 kg of CO2 a year/. £315 to £1300 a year, depending on the age and fuel type of your system.