Every day, more people are making the switch to solar hot water for cutting their energy bills, and connecting to the smart energy future.
However, some homes might not be suitable for traditional solar hot water due to factors such as:
Too much shade: The likes of trees, nearby buildings can impact the amount of energy produced by solar;
Slate roof: Slate is quite fragile, which isn’t suitable for solar collectors; and
Roof orientation: Collectors facing south provide optimum performance. The solar radiation received by solar collectors reduces as their orientation moves away from true south by approximately 10% to 15% when facing east or west. Collectors must not have an orientation north of east or west as they will not receive sufficient solar radiation.
Luxury apartments and penthouses: which isn’t suitable for solar collectors, choosing a heat pump would be a great energy-saving solution.
If any of the above apply to you, then a heat pump is the perfect alternative because it doesn’t need to go on your roof. Heat pumps, like solar, produce renewable energy, but they use the surrounding air to heat water instead of the sun. In this article, we will explain how heat pumps work and explore key reasons why they could be a great option for you and your family.
Wondering if your roof is suitable for solar? Your local Solahart Dealer can conduct a safer home assessment to ensure the right system for you and your family.
How does a heat pump work?
To understand how a heat pump works, think of an air conditioner on heating mode. It draws energy from the surrounding air and generates hot water through heat-transfer technology, a reliable and efficient way to reduce water heating energy consumption and cut greenhouse gas emissions without the need for solar collectors.
Even in cold conditions, the air has some heat which is available. For freezing conditions, a quality heat pump should have an electric booster function that will be triggered to ensure you and your family have a continuous
supply of hot water. Plus, it prevents ice from forming in the waterways of the water heater and causing damage.
Why choose a heat pump?
Here are two reasons why a heat pump may be the perfect a solution for you:
1. Great alternative in homes where traditional solar isn’t possible
A heat pump provides reliable hot water for your family and is suitable for residential applications when you want energy-efficient hot water without the need for roof space for solar collectors.
They can usually be installed in the same location as your outdoor storage water heater, and can often be connected up to the existing plumbing and electrical connections, making it a great replacement for an existing water heater.
2. Reduce your hot water energy usage
Hot water typically accounts for around 25% of a household’s energy use.2 As a heat pump uses the surrounding air to heat water, you can significantly reduce the amount of energy you consume to heat water, thus enjoying great energy savings.
Introducing Solahart Atmos-Air Heat Pump
Since 1953, Solahart has been Australia’s solar pioneer. We’ve built a reputation as a world leader in solar innovation and technology, installing well over 1 million solar hot water systems around the world. Solahart Atmos-Air Heat Pumps make great sense when replacing your old electric water heater if your home is not suitable for solar hot water.
Heat Pumps help reduce your water heating energy consumption when replacing an electric water heater. They work all year-round, day or night, in sunshine or rain, and even on cooler days as there is always heat in the atmosphere.
Where an electric water heater uses the inputted energy 1kW = 1kW output, a heat pump uses the input power and increases the efficiency. For example, from 1kW input to 3.8kW output into water heating (known as Coefficient of Performance COP) - thereby reducing your power bills and saving money.