Upgrade your Heat Pump to Downgrade your Heating Bill
June 19 2015
It’s a fact of life that as time advances so does technology. Renewable energy technology is no different in that it is continually becoming more and more efficient. The pioneers of heat pumps in the UK and Ireland have reaped the rewards of their investment, but since the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in Northern Ireland was given the green light in December 2014, many of the early adopters have chosen to upgrade their systems to qualify for RHI payments.
Since the introduction of the domestic RHI payments in Northern Ireland, home and business owners have commissioned Daly to replace their older Heat Pumps by installing a more modern model. The logic in this is that many of the older Heat Pumps do not meet the minimum efficiency levels required by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) to qualify for RHI payments. It may seem extravagant at first glance, but when you factor in the upfront Capital Grant and the ongoing annual payments for 7 years, together with the greater efficiency of the more modern heat pump systems, it makes complete sense to upgrade.
Whilst some of the older Heat Pump systems are still efficient enough to qualify for some level of RHI payment, it is still proving prudent to upgrade to a newer model.
Heat pumps must have a Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF) of 2.5 to qualify for the RHI payment scheme. Not sure what your Heat Pumps SPF rating is? Well, it is often assumed that older systems have an SPF of 2.5 and may still qualify for RHI payments. However, it should be worth noting that the higher your SPF rating the higher your RHI payments.
The Heat Pumps we supply and install at Daly have an average SPF of 4 for Air Source units and between 4.5 – 5.2 for GSHP units. During the survey of your property, Daly will calculate your exact SPF rating, allowing you to make an informed decision about whether or not to proceed with upgrading your particular model. By only working with top heat pump manufacturers like Ecoforest and Hitachi we ensure that Daly clients get the most from their renewable energy system.
The efficiency of the newest Heat Pump systems are considerably more cost effective. This is especially true when we consider that installing an upgraded Heat Pump is a relatively simple process for Daly’s experienced engineers. In fact the whole job can be completed in one day with minimal interruption to your heat supply. If you really want to be ahead of the curve, you can also consider going for the twin heating and cooling option. The cooling option is definitely going to be something that all homeowners are going to be seeking in the next few years as our climate’s median temperatures creep up.
Before you make any decisions be sure to contact us to discuss. We can arrange a free onsite survey if you feel that an upgrade may be right for you. The survey will provide you with all the information and peace of mind you’ll need in order to make the correct decision.
