Pauline von HellermannMar 16

#ClimateDiary We are in intense #Heatpump vs new boiler discussions in our household at the moment, and it is quite something how geopolitics and radiators (and other practicalities like: will the humming be loud?) all swirl through my head at once.

(Our house is old, terraced and high ceilings - it looks like it’s not impossible but challenging. Costs come into it too, of course. Also worried on this front: might geopolitics mean i will not earn any money next few years?)

Show threadSeanBurlington 🌈 🕊️Mar 16

@pvonhellermannn I think the anxiety about heat pump noise is very much driven by the fossil fuel lobby

Have you ever heard anyone complain about the noise of air conditioning ?

(air conditioners and heat pumps are the same thing just used in different ways)

This isn't to say I can promise nobody will ever complain about the noise - sounds can trigger very emotional reactions

But it isn't actually about them being loud.

Show threadClimate Jenny 2.1Mar 16

@sean @pvonhellermannn Yes, that's my thought too. It does make some noise, but so did the air conditioner it replaced.

In my climate, the savings are substantial in the summer, and it's about equal to gas heat during the coldest months. This may change going forward!

Show threadPauline von HellermannMar 16
@ClimateJenny @sean thank you both - all really helpful, again. And yes, goong forward i am wondering too whether gas might become substantially more expensive, in which case heatpump definitely cheaper!
Show threadbencourticeMar 16
@pvonhellermannn @ClimateJenny @sean the need for summer cooling, even if just for a few days a year, has most Australians installing heat pump/aircon now. And gradually most are realising that (with our energy prices) it's cheaper than gas to heat the house for the 3-6 months that we need to do that (in southern Australia). The main complaints seem to be that some prefer radiant heat to warm (dry) air, but that's probably because a lot of our homes are not very airtight or well insulated.
Show threadSeanBurlington 🌈 🕊️Mar 16

@bencourtice @pvonhellermannn @ClimateJenny in the UK domestic Aircon is very unusual

In order to encourage transition from gas boilers to heat pumps the government is offering a subsidy which only applies to heat pumps that heat via radiators

They don't offer cooling

You can get air to air systems here which offer both heating and cooling - you just can't get the subsidy for them

Show threadMike 🇬🇧 🇪🇺
@sean @bencourtice @pvonhellermannn @ClimateJenny
I'd heard that there's likely to be a UK government subsidiary coming 'soon' for air to air
Mar 19 at 7:25pmWeb