HEAT PUMPS - GENERAL
A heat pump is an energy-efficient system that removes heat from a cold source, usually from the ambient air, and transfers it to another, warmer one (internal space of buildings), using electricity.
It can be used for heating, cooling and production of domestic hot water, achieving high energy efficiency of up to 610% (energy class A +++), as it operates with 80% renewable energy extracted from the air and 20% electricity, unaffected by the outside temperature up to -25°C.
It belongs to the safest heating and cooling systems and is environmentally friendly! It does not need a fuel tank or combustible gas connections, it does not show combustion and does not emit pollutants to harm the environment, nor are there any risks from leaks or fumes and unpleasant odors.
It can be installed in residential or commercial premises, in new or existing buildings, and can be combined with all heating - cooling systems, e.g. with radiators, floor heating / water heating, fan coils, as well as for pool heating, even with the existing system, significantly reducing operating costs and increasing the added value of the building.
The payback of the money spent on the purchase of the system is in 1 to 3 years and can cover all needs as the yields range from 4 to 95 kw (from 50 to 1,200 sq.m.).
The heat pumps meet all the requirements and are an eligible expenditure for the energy upgrade program "Energy Efficiency - Autonomy", falling even in a higher funding category!
Our company has been installing heat pumps since 1989 and using them in its facilities since 1994!
Heat pump installed in our previous headquarters, 1995 - Harilaou, Thessaloniki
Heat pump installed in our new headquarters, 2008 - Pylaia, Thessaloniki, Greece
New heat pump installed in our headquarters, 2021 - Pylaia, Thessaloniki, Greece
OPERATING COSTS – COMPARISON WITH OTHER HEATING SYSTEMS
According to a study by the National Technical University of Athens (see diagram below), heating via heat pumps is a significantly cheaper solution as it offers up to 80% savings in energy consumption compared to any other system. The savings lie in the fact that with 1kW of electricity the system can deliver up to 5kW of thermal energy to our home, (while e.g. oil gives us 0.9 kW of heat) as it uses 80% heat from the outside air and only 20% electricity as its energy source, regardless of the temperature of the outside environment!
To heat the water in a building we have the following ways:
– With water heater (via an electric element – more expensive solution)
– With oil boiler (10% economy compared to water heater)
– With natural gas boiler (40% economy compared to water heater)
– With heat pump (70% economy compared to water heater)
INSTALLATION
The installation process is relatively simple and the cost is very low. It can be installed in a minimum of time since all the hydraulic components required are already integrated into the installation (circulator, expansion tank, safety valve, buffer tank). The unit is positioned like an outdoor unit of a classic air condition, without the need for a boiler room, tank for fuel storage, chimney or some kind of ventilation. No work is required inside the house, and the cost of maintenance is very low.
BASIC CATEGORIES OF HEAT PUMPS
The main categories into which heat pumps are divided are Monoblock and Split, but taking into account other criteria, they can be divided into others, such as air-to-air, air-to-water or low-high temperatures.
1. Monoblock or Compact heating - cooling & hot water production pump
It consists of a unit that includes the hydraulic assembly and is intended for installation outdoors so that it absorbs energy from the environment.
2. Split (split type) heating - cooling & hot water production pump
It is divided into 2 parts, one placed outside and the other inside the building. The outdoor unit is the cooling assembly which absorbs energy from the environment, while the indoor unit is the hydraulic assembly, which will be connected to the hydraulic heating piping.
3. Split (split-type) pump with integrated boiler for heating - cooling & hot water production
It is divided into 2 parts, one placed outside and the other inside the building. The outdoor unit is the cooling unit which absorbs energy from the environment, while the indoor unit has an integrated stainless steel boiler for the production of hot water for domestic use. This type of pump, is ideal for situations where we want the pump to also provide domestic hot water, but have limited space to install a separate boiler, as it combines the two systems. Furthermore, the indoor unit can be comfortably placed in areas of everyday use, such as the kitchen, as it is silent and its size does not exceed that of a medium refrigerator. It is an ideal solution for apartments and renovations.
4. Boiler heat pumps (water heaters) exclusively for hot water production with 70% economy
The boiler heat pumps - water heaters, provide us with plenty of hot water for the bathroom and kitchen with low annual costs, as they save up to 70% energy. In the space where they are installed, they reduce the presence of moisture and mould, and can be used for air conditioning (cooling) of a neighbouring space "for free", as well as to help dry clothes. They have an automatic system of protection against legionella! The anti-legionella function involves a monthly disinfection cycle, during which the pumps automatically check and, if necessary, heat the water up to 65°C, maintaining this temperature for a period of time sufficient to destroy any possible spread of bacteria in the tank and then in the hot water used.
5. Heat pump with hybrid system with condensing boiler
Compact hybrid system consisting of a heat pump with integrated condensing boiler for heating, cooling and instantaneous production of domestic hot water.
6. Ground/water heat pump - Geothermal
Geothermal heat pumps are capable of heating our space by absorbing about 75% of the energy from the environment, specifically from the solar energy stored in the ground, using a network of water pipes to exchange heat with it. They can be used for both heating in winter and cooling in summer.
BT Tsolakidis uses Geothermal Heat Pump in its facilities (82 Prasakaki, Pylea - Thessaloniki) since 2009.
COMBINATION OF HEAT PUMP WITH SOLAR PANELS - FREE HEATING FROM THE SUN!
Heat pumps can be combined with other renewable energy sources, e.g. solar panels/photovoltaic panels, which will produce up to 70-100% of the energy needed for their operation, significantly reducing or even completely eliminating the cost of operating the system, resulting in free heating from the sun in the building!
For example, if a 12 kW heat pump is installed to heat an average house, the annual electricity consumption for heating would be about 6,000 kWh. With the parallel installation of a 5 kWp photovoltaic system, which yields an average of 6,250 kWh per year, the heating costs are eliminated by offsetting its production with the consumption of the pump, so that the building is heated completely free of charge!
You can learn more about the benefits of photovoltaics here.
Examples of savings after using a heat pump from our customers...
In the ARIANE salon on Martiou Street in Thessaloniki the annual cost of Hot Water with boiler (oil burner) was 6.600€/year and now with Heat Pump, it is only 1.600€/year.
PROFITS: 5.000€/year
Depreciation of cost: 6 months of operation
At the DANAI BEACH RESORT hotel in Halkidiki the annual cost of Hot Water with boiler (oil burner) was 30.000€/year and now with Heat Pump, it is only 10.000€/year.
PROFITS: 20.000€/year
Depreciation of cost: 6 months of operation
Use of heat pumps in Polis Hammam in Athens and Thessaloniki for 70% SAVING compared to other ways of producing hot water.
In a house of a family of 5 people, 50 lt/person x 5 people = 250 lt of hot water for the bathroom. The annual cost for 24-hour operation, with a recirculation pump, was 700 € with oil, while now using a heat pump is only 200 €.
PROFITS: 500€/year -
Depreciation cost: 3 years of operation
In a house of 200 sq.m., in Panorama, Thessaloniki, the annual operating cost with oil is 7,000 €, with natural gas it is 5,000 €, with a pellet boiler – wood boiler it is 4,000 €, and with a heating heat pump it is only 2,100 €/year.
PROFITS: 4.900€/year
Depreciation cost: 2 years of operation
Useful...
Changing the heating system without the approval of the building
Learn more here: Government Gazette.pdf
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