Heating with a Heat Pump – Efficiency, Electricity Tariffs and Optimization
Heat pumps use environmental heat from the air, ground, or water and convert it into heating energy with high efficiency. To reduce operating costs, choosing the right heat pump electricity tariff is crucial, as many providers offer discounted tariffs for controllable heating systems. A closer look at the actual operating costs of a heat pump shows that highly efficient devices (with a COP of 3 to 4) can drastically reduce heating costs compared to fossil fuels.
Application in existing buildings and combination with PV
A heat pump in an old building can also work efficiently, provided that renovation measures such as improved insulation or the replacement of windows lower the flow temperature. You achieve maximum savings if you combine your heat pump with photovoltaics. In this case, the heat pump is preferably activated by an energy management system when free solar power is available.
Consumption calculation and government support
Before you convert, you should calculate your estimated heat pump electricity consumption, which typically ranges between 3,000 and 6,000 kWh per year for a single-family house. Also, take advantage of heat pump subsidies in Germany to receive high grants for replacing your old heating system. In combination with a control system, you can operate your heat pump with dynamic electricity tariffs and thus benefit from particularly favorable exchange prices.
