Varmepumpas theory and practice – SIFO

A new study has examined the installation of air-to-air heat pumps in Norwegian and Danish households.

Scandinavian cooperation

Researchers from the Norwegian Building Research Institute in Denmark, together with SIFO researchers Nina Heidenstrom and Gunnar Vittersø published article “Selling and inst alling heat pumps – and influencing household practices “in the journal Building Research & amp; Information. http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rbri20/current. The article points out that the expected power savings often absent when installing energy efficient technology. Heat is thus an example of technology that will reduce the costs of heating, but who often do not have the expected impact on costs.

Out of sight?

Interviews with Scandinavian players that sell and install heat pumps, is the starting point for the analysis. The researchers behind the study have aimed to understand the role of sellers and installers can have in terms of the difference between the power savings that households expect and the actual energy consumption after installation of the heat pump.

The decision on where the pump should be placed one example of practices that affect electricity savings. For households – especially for women – it’s often about aesthetics and noise. People will simply not the heat pump should vote. One professional who is interviewed in the study say that people will hide the heat pump as well as possible and that this may reduce effectiveness. Meanwhile, installers often great understanding that households do not want noise in the living room. Another example is that consumers often are not familiar with the technology before and set the heat pump failure.

sellers and installers

Earlier studies have emphasized on how households use the air conditioner. The new study focuses on how heat pump technology integrated into homes ¬- and the role of seller and installer player. It is especially the seller and installer’s handling of the matter of comfort, use and practical integration of the pump in homes as the Danish and Norwegian researchers are looking into. Researchers in the study want to put the spotlight on how the theory of use of heat pumps must be linked to the knowledge of practical use of pumps.

The study shows that to emphasize that the technology is effective, is not enough to top savings in power consumption. The researchers discuss including how various players in the sales area can get new roles to help actually energy using air-to-air heat pumps. The study proposes inter alia that education and information about the proper use of the heat pump becomes a mandatory part of the installation.

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