Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs), Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) and High Temperature Heat Pumps (HTHPs) all use electricity to transfer renewable heat into a building, but they differ in their heat source, operating temperatures, installation requirements and typical applications.
The most suitable system depends on the building, existing heating system, heat demand, available space, required water temperatures and project budget. Our team can assess your building and help identify the most appropriate heat pump solution.
extract heat from the outside air and use it to provide heating and, where required, hot water. They transfer heat rather than generate it through combustion, making them significantly more efficient than conventional fossil-fuel boilers when correctly designed and operated.
ASHP performance depends on factors including outdoor temperature, required flow temperature, system design and building heat demand. They generally achieve their best efficiency when supplying lower-temperature heating systems such as underfloor heating or appropriately sized radiators.
ASHPs are generally easier and less costly to install than ground-source systems because they do not require ground collectors or boreholes. They are therefore a common option for commercial buildings, particularly where external space is available and a suitable low-carbon heating solution is required.
extract heat from the ground using buried ground loops or boreholes. Because ground temperatures are relatively stable compared with outdoor air temperatures, GSHPs can provide consistent performance throughout the year.
GSHP systems can be highly efficient, particularly where they can operate at relatively low flow temperatures. However, installation can be more complex and expensive than an ASHP because of the groundworks, land requirements or drilling involved.
GSHPs can be particularly attractive for sites with sufficient land or suitable ground conditions and where there is a significant and consistent heating demand.
are designed to provide higher flow temperatures than many conventional heat pump systems. They can therefore be considered where a building has higher-temperature heating requirements or where retaining existing heat distribution systems is important and or it is not feasible to implement building fabric upgrades.
However, higher operating temperatures generally result in lower heat pump efficiency than operating at lower temperatures.
Before selecting an HTHP, the building’s heat demand, fabric performance, existing heat distribution system and required operating temperatures should be assessed. In some cases, improving the building fabric or upgrading heat emitters may allow a lower-temperature, more efficient heat pump system to be used.
We assess your building and heating requirements to identify the most suitable heat pump solution for your business.
Our assessment considers factors including:
- Existing heating system and heat distribution
- Building fabric and heat loss
- Heating and hot water demand
- Required operating temperatures
- Available external space and ground conditions
- Existing electrical capacity
- Heat pump technology options
- Capital and operating costs
- Energy and carbon savings
- Available SEAI funding
We can help you understand the technical and financial case for switching to a heat pump and identify the solution that provides the best combination of performance, reliability, energy savings and long-term value.
Where appropriate, we can also support the development of the project and application for available SEAI funding.
Feature
Air Source Heat Pumps
Ground Source Heat Pumps
High Temperature Heat Pumps
Heat Source
Heat extracted from the outside air
Heat extracted from the ground via buried loops
Heat extracted from the outside air
Water Temp
35°C-55°C
35°C-55°C
55°C-75°C
Efficiency
High (3-4 COP)
Very high (4-5 COP)
Lower (2-3.5 COP) – due to higher temp
Installation Costs
Lower – simpler installation
High – due to groundworks and drilling
Similar to ASHPs – sometimes slightly higher
Running Costs
Slightly higher than GSHPs
Lower due to higher efficeincy
High – needs more electricity to reach high temperatures
Location
Outdoors
Heat pump generally indoors; ground collectors outside
Outdoors
Noise Level
Louder
Very Quiet
Louder
Lifespan
15-20 years on average
Long-lasting (20-25+ years; ground loops 50+ years)
15-20 years on average
Space Requirements
Requires outdoor wall/ground space or rooftop space for an outdoor unit
Required land for horizontal loops or drilling for vertical loops
Requires outdoor wall/ground or rooftop space for an outdoor unit
Suitability
Suitable for most buildings, especially retrofits
Best for buildings with sufficient land, and suitable for geothermal energy
May be suitable where higher flow temperatures are required
Performance in Cold Weather
Performance can drop in very cold weather
Very stable – ground temperature is constant
Better than ASHP at maintaining high temperatures
Cooling Capability
Many ASHPs can reverse and provide cooling
Many GSHPs can reverse and provide cooling
Some can cool, but less common
Best with
Underfloor or large radiators
Underfloor heating
Existing small radiators, boiler like systems
Speak to an expert
Looking for the right solution for your facility? Contact us today to discuss your needs and see how we can support your goals.