Low carbon heating options: Why heat pumps could be the right option for you

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If you’re in the early stages of a major renovation or self-build project – or are about to take one on – then the heating (and cooling) of your home will rank highly on your build’s priority list. 

You’ll be looking to invest in a reliable heating system that provides comfort all year round. 

In the current climate, you’ll also be looking for the most energy efficient system available, one that reduces energy consumption whilst saving you money on your energy bills. With current fossil fuel prices facing increasing volatility, gas powered heating systems are leaving consumers with unexpectedly high energy bills, even with government support in place.

Low carbon option

Heat pumps are a low carbon heating option for homeowners. The technology is far from new, well-established in much colder countries, although they have been hitting the headlines recently in the UK with the imminent arrival of the Future Homes Standard in 2025, which will set out rules as to how all new homes will need to lower their carbon emissions.

Plus, the government’s recently launched Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which offers grants to homeowners who are interested in installing renewable technology, like heat pumps, is also making more people aware of their benefits, and with news of an extension to the scheme recently being unveiled, there has never been a better time to upgrade your heating system.

But, if you’re new to the world of heat pumps, switching up your heating system can be daunting, and you may be unfamiliar with how the technology works.

For over 70 years, Nordic company NIBE has manufactured energy-efficient and sustainable heating solutions — combining renewable energy with new smart technology to offer effective systems that help create a more sustainable home. 

Their wide range of products includes a variety of high-quality, versatile and efficient heat pumps for use in homes. 

So, how do they work?

Heat pumps: How they work

Replacing fossil fuel heating with low carbon, sustainable heating in the form of air, ground or water sources is an efficient and ‘clean’ method of generating hot water and heating for your home.

Here’s a little more about the two main types:

Ground source heat pumps: Use solar energy stored in the ground and the bottom of lakes. The pumps extract heat from the solar energy stored in the ground, using either buried collectors or holes drilled deep into the ground. Ground source heat pumps are unaffected by the ambient outdoor air temperature, and so produce very high efficiency levels all year round. 

Air source heat pumps: Air source heat pump technology is based on a very simple, but well-known principle – the same one used in an ordinary refrigerator. By extracting heat energy from the outside air, even at lower temperatures, it can supply your home with heating and hot water. The process can also be reversed to provide cooling during the summer months. 

Contrary to belief, heat pumps work even in cold temperatures, as there is ambient heat still present in the air down to absolute zero, or -273°C. NIBE’s heat pumps still work efficiently in temperatures down to -25°C, so you can rest assured your system will keep you warm even in the colder months.

NIBE has launched its new S-Series range of heat pumps – ground and air – all designed for maximum comfort and minimum energy consumption, utilising cutting edge sustainable and intelligent technology. 

The S-series range is designed to work at efficiency levels of up to 500%, meaning that the technology is capable of producing 5 times the amount of heating energy as needed to power the system in the form of electricity.

NIBE’s S-Series is the perfect solution to create a connected climate system for your home. The range is designed for maximum comfort and minimum energy consumption, whilst providing the ability to connect to indoor modules and the myUplink application to control and monitor remotely.  

Intelligent design

The wider heat pump range, including the S2125 air source heat pump and the S1255 and S1155 ground source heat pumps, provide optimised energy savings as its intelligent design automatically adjusts the indoor climate for continued comfort, all the while reducing the homes’ environmental impact.

The S2125 air source heat pump uses the all-natural R290 refrigerant with an extremely low Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 3. It has a high supply temperature, with a working range of up to 75°C, efficient in temperatures down to -25°C.

Reduced noise level

Ground source heat pumps work with a ground array of looped pipes laid underground or in a borehole. An air source heat pump requires a condenser unit fixed to a wall outside. With this in mind, the S2125 has been designed for low noise level, pre-packaged with anti-vibration mounts for floor standing units for the product to sit on.

Smart tech

The S-Series has a number of additional benefits to further integrate the heat pump with your home’s climate system. 

Using integrated wireless connectivity and voice assistant support, users can connect and interact with their heat pump system via the myUplink app (a control module must be connected for the app to work).

The intuitive application provides a quick overview of the heat pump’s status and the heating in the home, providing updates about the performance of their heat pump anytime, anywhere. 

The app will send out an alert to mobile devices to notify of any malfunctions, and will display information about new software upgrades. 

Fitted by skilled installers

NIBE has a network of skilled, trained and fully supported installers available to help you choose the right heat pump for your build project.

NIBE’s industry leading NIBE Pro Installer Partnership scheme ensures that their heat pump installers are qualified to provide high-quality, MCS standard installations so you can place trust in the fact that your heat pump system will provide maximum savings for your home. 

Follow NIBE on their social media channels

Facebook: @nibeuk

Instagram: @nibeenergyuk

Twitter: @NIBEEnergy

LinkedIn: NIBE Energy Systems Limited