Heat pump: Difference between revisions
m (Elie moved page Heat pumps to Heat pump) |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
An electric heat pump is one way to [[heating|heat a building]]. It works a lot like [[air conditioning]] but in reverse: The hot air goes indoors; the cold air goes outdoors. | An electric '''heat pump''' is one way to [[heating|heat a building]]. It works a lot like [[air conditioning]] but in reverse: The hot air goes indoors; the cold air goes outdoors. | ||
{{considerations}} | <!--{{considerations}} __NOTOC__--> | ||
==Energy usage== | ==Energy usage== | ||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
Heat pumps are '''more energy-efficient''' than electric heaters.{{qn}} | Heat pumps are '''more energy-efficient''' than electric heaters.{{qn}} | ||
''Research needed:'' | ''Research needed:'' | ||
| Line 14: | Line 15: | ||
** How much energy does it typically take to ''manufacture and install'' a heat pump? | ** How much energy does it typically take to ''manufacture and install'' a heat pump? | ||
** How often (if ever) is it viable/worthwhile to repurpose an air conditioner in the winter, to help with heating? | ** How often (if ever) is it viable/worthwhile to repurpose an air conditioner in the winter, to help with heating? | ||
*** Are there any "reversible" heat pumps that can work for both heating and cooling? {{p2|(why)|~ Manufacturing half as much stuff would certainly reduce life cycle emissions.<br /><br />~ Use cases:<br />- - ~ New construction<br />- - ~ Any time someone has to replace their air conditioner anyway<br />- - ~ Any time someone has to replace their heating system anyway, and doesn't already have an air conditoner but could use one}} | |||
==Refrigerant chemicals== | ==Refrigerant chemicals== | ||
{{sum|Long-term problem{{rn}} }} | {{sum|Long-term problem {{rn}} }} | ||
Because of how heat pumps work,<!-- TODO: add a section about how they work --> they must contain a substance known as a ''refrigerant''. Most refrigerants in use today{{en}} happen to be potent [[greenhouse gases]]. They aren't supposed to leak out into the atmosphere - but they sometimes do, if the heat pump gets old or is disposed of improperly. | Because of how heat pumps work,<!-- TODO: add a section about how they work --> they must contain a substance known as a ''refrigerant''. Most refrigerants in use today{{en}} happen to be potent [[greenhouse gases]]. They aren't supposed to leak out into the atmosphere - but they sometimes do, if the heat pump gets old or is disposed of improperly. | ||
''This section is incomplete. It needs:'' | ''This section is incomplete. It needs:'' | ||
Revision as of 20:31, 17 May 2023
An electric heat pump is one way to heat a building. It works a lot like air conditioning but in reverse: The hot air goes indoors; the cold air goes outdoors.
Energy usage
Moderate
Heat pumps are more energy-efficient than electric heaters.[QUANTIFICATION needed]
Research needed:
- How much more energy-efficient can a heat pump be?
- How does this depend on outdoor temperature?
- Life cycle analysis
- How much energy does it typically take to manufacture and install a heat pump?
- How often (if ever) is it viable/worthwhile to repurpose an air conditioner in the winter, to help with heating?
- Are there any "reversible" heat pumps that can work for both heating and cooling? (why)~ Manufacturing half as much stuff would certainly reduce life cycle emissions.
~ Use cases:
- - ~ New construction
- - ~ Any time someone has to replace their air conditioner anyway
- - ~ Any time someone has to replace their heating system anyway, and doesn't already have an air conditoner but could use one
- Are there any "reversible" heat pumps that can work for both heating and cooling? (why)~ Manufacturing half as much stuff would certainly reduce life cycle emissions.
Refrigerant chemicals
Long-term problem [RESEARCH needed]
Because of how heat pumps work, they must contain a substance known as a refrigerant. Most refrigerants in use today[ELABORATION needed] happen to be potent greenhouse gases. They aren't supposed to leak out into the atmosphere - but they sometimes do, if the heat pump gets old or is disposed of improperly.
This section is incomplete. It needs:
- Quantification
- How much of climate change is due to refrigerants?
- How much worse would it be if we all used heat pumps to heat our homes?
- How does this compare to the status quo of heating (often natural gas)?
- Solutions
- Are there any alternatives - refrigerants that aren't greenhouse gases? And are there tradeoffs? [new page needed]