During the winter months, you might start looking at replacing your old boiler with something totally different. After all, central heating boilers are big, cranky, temperamental pieces of machinery that aren't very environmentally friendly. However, it's the 21st century, and you'll find that there are a whole host of sustainable energy systems to select from. With that in mind, have you given any thought to getting some sort of eco friendly domestic hot water system, such as a hybrid heat pump?
The hybrid heat pump is in fact a setup that brings together a normal heat pump and a water tank, to heat your water in a totally new way. It is actually solar-powered, but it's an entirely different type of solar powered energy to the solar panels you put on the roof of your house. In essence, how it works is this - the hybrid heat pump uses all the energy in the air in order to create hot water. As a result it doesn't need the sunlight, unlike solar panels. This means the system is effective even in wet, overcast conditions - making it perfect for winter! When it's drawn the energy in, it's actually absorbed by a special type of refrigerant, which then transforms from a liquid to a gas state. When the gas is pressurised, it makes the heat that goes into your water storage tank, and voila, domestic hot water whenever you need it.
So what makes heat pumps so different to solar power solutions? Well, first of all you won't require solar energy panels, as pointed out above. Solar panels can be difficult systems to take care of - in addition to only functioning on days when you have sunshine, you have the concern that something may perhaps obstruct your sunlight and therefore stop your solar panels working. Of course, there isn't anything putting your property in the shade when you install your panels, but what will stop somebody developing a five storey apartment block next to yours? With solar power panels shade means catastrophe. You might even find that something as basic as how your roof is aligned can stop the solar panels working properly.
One other big difference is that you're not going to need any kind of boost or backup when you're using a heat pump. The temperamental nature of the Australian climate means everybody using solar panel systems will need some form of back up option, and with droughts, floods and cyclones to cope with Australia tends to be pretty unpredictable! The kind of back-up you're going to need may differ - it's possible to use a back-up generator or you could use expensive batteries. There's also a 3rd option where you can get connected to the power grid and use their electricity whenever needed, as well as provide electrical power back when you are able.
That might appear to be an ideal option, yet even that has its disadvantages. Your electricity provider might not agree with it, there can be regulations that prohibit it and the buy-back price might not be favourable. On top of that, it will probably require special equipment. If there was a power outage, it might be that your system would keep sending power to a line which the electricity company believes is dead - obviously, that is going to be dangerous! For that reason, that's more specialist equipment you'll need.
What about heat pump systems? Very simple - you aren't going to need any kind of back up solution. This type of system functions 24 / 7, cold and warm, even all the down to freezing temperatures. Which makes them a lot more reliable, and just in case you needed some reassurance, the very best systems feature a warranty of up to Fifteen years.
So there it is, heat pump systems are going to be as valuable an option for our environment as solar panels, however they are much less complicated to setup, far more dependable and function in just about any conditions. Solar power panels were an amazing technology, and a massive leap forward in the renewable energy sector, however, it appears that times have progressed yet again and hybrid heat pumps may well become the energy source of the future. If you believe the most environmentally friendly hot water Gold Coast properties have seen could be what you want, there's a great deal more information on the web.
The hybrid heat pump is in fact a setup that brings together a normal heat pump and a water tank, to heat your water in a totally new way. It is actually solar-powered, but it's an entirely different type of solar powered energy to the solar panels you put on the roof of your house. In essence, how it works is this - the hybrid heat pump uses all the energy in the air in order to create hot water. As a result it doesn't need the sunlight, unlike solar panels. This means the system is effective even in wet, overcast conditions - making it perfect for winter! When it's drawn the energy in, it's actually absorbed by a special type of refrigerant, which then transforms from a liquid to a gas state. When the gas is pressurised, it makes the heat that goes into your water storage tank, and voila, domestic hot water whenever you need it.
So what makes heat pumps so different to solar power solutions? Well, first of all you won't require solar energy panels, as pointed out above. Solar panels can be difficult systems to take care of - in addition to only functioning on days when you have sunshine, you have the concern that something may perhaps obstruct your sunlight and therefore stop your solar panels working. Of course, there isn't anything putting your property in the shade when you install your panels, but what will stop somebody developing a five storey apartment block next to yours? With solar power panels shade means catastrophe. You might even find that something as basic as how your roof is aligned can stop the solar panels working properly.
One other big difference is that you're not going to need any kind of boost or backup when you're using a heat pump. The temperamental nature of the Australian climate means everybody using solar panel systems will need some form of back up option, and with droughts, floods and cyclones to cope with Australia tends to be pretty unpredictable! The kind of back-up you're going to need may differ - it's possible to use a back-up generator or you could use expensive batteries. There's also a 3rd option where you can get connected to the power grid and use their electricity whenever needed, as well as provide electrical power back when you are able.
That might appear to be an ideal option, yet even that has its disadvantages. Your electricity provider might not agree with it, there can be regulations that prohibit it and the buy-back price might not be favourable. On top of that, it will probably require special equipment. If there was a power outage, it might be that your system would keep sending power to a line which the electricity company believes is dead - obviously, that is going to be dangerous! For that reason, that's more specialist equipment you'll need.
What about heat pump systems? Very simple - you aren't going to need any kind of back up solution. This type of system functions 24 / 7, cold and warm, even all the down to freezing temperatures. Which makes them a lot more reliable, and just in case you needed some reassurance, the very best systems feature a warranty of up to Fifteen years.
So there it is, heat pump systems are going to be as valuable an option for our environment as solar panels, however they are much less complicated to setup, far more dependable and function in just about any conditions. Solar power panels were an amazing technology, and a massive leap forward in the renewable energy sector, however, it appears that times have progressed yet again and hybrid heat pumps may well become the energy source of the future. If you believe the most environmentally friendly hot water Gold Coast properties have seen could be what you want, there's a great deal more information on the web.
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