YORK ® AIR-CONDITIONING PRODUCTS
Benefits of using heat pumps
Traditional systems used to heat water for hydronic heating and domestic hot water are not energy efficient. Heat pumps offer
a number of advantages when compared to fossil-fuel water heaters:
Higher COPs offer energy cost-savings above 50%.
Thanks to their efficiency and short amortization period, they represent an environmentally compatible and economically
attractive alternative to conventional heating systems. Potential payback of the heat pump can be less than 2 years.
Low operating-cost supplement to water heaters where total heating requirement exceeds heat pump capacity.
Heat pumps can also be used as water chillers, which means lower first-costs, as one item of equipment performs
cooling and heating.
Life cycle of over 20 years.
Johnson Controls heat pumps offer additional benefits by using environmentally friendly HFC and natural refrigerants, with zero
ozone depletion potential, and low global warming potential.
Reduced operating costs
The best way to compare the efficiency of a heat pump
and a water heater is to do a COP analysis. COP equals
the energy output (useful heat generated) divided by the
energy input (energy supplied to the equipment).
Accordingly, the higher the COP, the more efficient
the system – and the lower your running costs!
As an example we can take a 1800 kW water-cooled heat
pump as the one showed in chart and compare it to a natural
gas boiler. When you compare the efficiency of a boiler to a
heat pump, the heat pump comes out way ahead.
In the example given it’s possible to save up to 53%
in the energy bill vs the traditional natural gas boiler!
CO 2 footprint reductions
Another benefit that offers heat pump technology is the
reduction in CO 2 emissions from fossil fuel use. Heat pumps
are a highly efficient electric alternative.
If we refer to the same example with a 1800 kW water-
cooled heat pump and compare it to a natural gas boiler, the
reduction in CO 2 emissions is impressive.
In fact 1322 tons of CO 2 annually can be saved, which
is the equivalent of removing about 278 cars* from
the road!
Hot Water
Requirement Energy
Source
1 kWh Natural Gas
Boiler
Efficiency
Average
efficiency
COP=0.9
1 kWh
Air cooled
Heat Pump
Water cooled
Heat Pump
1 kWh / 0.9
1.11 kWh
HP Saving
vs
Gas Boiler
1.11 kWh
x
0.041€/ kWh
0.041 €/kWh
4.5 c€
European Avg.
Electricity Cost
1 kWh / 3.2
0.31 kWh
Average
efficiency
COP=5.5
Cost of
Hot Water
Requirement
Cost
of Source*
European Avg.
Gas Cost
Average
efficiency
COP=3.2
1 kWh
Energy
Consumption
0.12 €/kWh
European Avg.
Electricity Cost
1 kWh / 5.5
0.18 kWh
0.12 €/kWh
-
0.31 kWh
x
0.12€/ kWh
3.7 c€ 18%
0.18 kWh
x
0.12€/ kWh
2.1 c€ 53%
* Cost of Source: Eurostat Statistics web site.
Hot Water
Requirem. Energy
Source
1 kWh Natural Gas
Boiler
Efficiency
Air cooled
Heat Pump
Water
cooled
Heat Pump
1 kWh / 3.2
0.31 kWh CO 2
Emissions
541 g CO 2 /
kWh
1 kWh / 5.5
0.18 kWh CO 2
Emissions
541 g CO 2 /
kWh
Average
efficiency
COP=5.5
* www.epa.gov/cleanrgy/energy-resources/calculator.html
1 kWh / 0.9
1.11 kWh CO 2
Emissions
204 g CO 2 /
kWh
Average
efficiency
COP=3.2
1 kWh
CO 2 Source
Emissions*
Average
efficiency
COP=0.9
1 kWh
Energy
Consumption
Carbon
Footprint
HP CO 2 footprint
reduction vs Gas
Boiler
1.11 kWh x
204g CO 2 /kWh
226 g CO 2 -
0.31 kWh x
541g CO 2 /kWh
167 g CO 2 26%
0.18 kWh x
541g CO 2 /kWh
97 g CO 2 57%
* CO 2 Source Emissions: UK Department of Energy, Food and Rural Affairs and carbonindependent web site
Reduced water and chemical consumption LEED points
When a heat pump is operating we are keeping heat within
the building and not rejecting heat to the atmosphere. In other
words, we’re saving condenser water from evaporating. Heat pumps will help you and your customers get
LEED points. LEED is one of the most recognizable
bodies that certifies building designs to demonstrate
leadership in environmental impact.
So when we look at our same 1800 kW water-cooled
heat pump example again, how much water are we
saving by not expelling heat to the atmosphere from
the cooling tower?
The use of a heat pump also helps accreditation for
BREEAM and other similar schemes.
Over 26 million litres anually!
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