3 ms·
Define 'much worse'. Even basic heat pumps in traditional air/air split systems can achieve COPs of 3-4 above freezing air temps. The modern mini splits can do
by briHass 5y ago
Define 'much worse'. Even basic heat pumps in traditional air/air split systems can achieve COPs of 3-4 above freezing air temps. The modern mini splits can do that well below freezing.
Nowhere has electric so cheap that a 2x or 3x reduction in the amount of electricity used to heat wouldn't result in massive savings.
- Retric 5y agoThe issue with thinking in terms of normal ground temperature is two fold. First heat pumps are removing energy in the winter so the ground might normally be 4C but it drops to say 0C. Second your working fluid never reaches soil temperature, so it might end up at -4C next to the pump. Anyway, you only receive benifits when air temperatures are below the temperature of your ground loop. If the outside temperature needs to hit -4C before that happens you’re only benefiting from a smaller percentage of the year. Further that benefit is again constrained by the delta between resistance heating and what your ground source is providing the heat pump. Generally it takes a combination of lower cooling costs in the summer and lower warming costs in the winter to make ground source heat pumps worth it, so being limited to a few months in the winter vs a 20+k installation cost is prohibitive.