3 Energy Saving Tips

Getting the maximum efficiency from your heating system is extremely important. We are wasting energy using fossil fuels unnecessarily which are causing harmful greenhouse gases to be released into the atmosphere. In Ireland specifically, this means wetter winters and dryer summers, and the extremes of intense flooding and drought which could spell disaster for us. Heat pumps can play a significant role in reducing these greenhouse gas emissions, and here are three energy saving tips to help achieve this.

Energy Saving Tip 1 – Install a Heat Pump

Heat pumps use renewable energy to provide low cost and a comfortable heating in domestic and commercial settings. A heat pump takes natural energy from the environment and is then converted into heat energy throughout your building. Over 70% of a heat pump’s energy is extracted from an air, ground, or water source. As a result, heat pumps greatly reduce our carbon footprint. A heat pump can be used as an oil or gas boiler replacement in your property.

How much heat is required to heat your building to a comfortable level? Most buildings suffer from either overheating or insufficient heating. A heat pump can provide a consistently comfortable living environment by providing a stable source of heating 24 hours per day at your desired temperature. Heat pumps also cost 60-75% less than an LPG or oil boiler and 40-50% less than a natural gas boiler. Therefore, it is an incredibly economical solution using renewable energy sources.

The most commonly used solution is an air to water heat pump as it is the most cost-effective to install. The air to water heating system takes heat from the air outside and moves the air through aluminium fins from which the heat energy is removed. The refrigerant gas is compressed and high temperature is exchanged from refrigerant to heating water. The air to water heat pump is easy to install and has a high price-performance ratio. Each MasterTherm air to water heat pump comes with a backup electric boiler to ensure you will not be without heating or hot water while you are saving energy.

What Types of Heat Pumps are There?

Ground source heat pumps collect their energy vertically from piling into the ground, or horizontally by means of a looping pipe several hundred meters long. An antifreeze mixture circulates and “heats” by a few degrees celsius as it travels through the ground. It then enters the heat pump exchanger where the heat is transferred and the cooled mixture is returned to the pipes to circulate again. This cycle is repeated constantly.

Water source heat pumps take their energy from a pond or lake. Water is taken from the source and is passed through a heat pump exchanger which extracts the heat and then returns it to the ground loop, repeating the cycle.

MasterTherm Heat Pumps can offer cooling as well as heating therefore you can cool your building in summer, as well as keep your hot water tank at a constant temperature. We offer a fully automated system which comes with a 7-year warranty. Internet connection means you can control the temperature at the touch of a button through an iOS, Android, or web service for maximum comfort in your building at all times.

Installing a heat pump into your home helps you with energy-saving, as well as increasing your property’s value for the future.

Get in touch with us to help you decide which heating system best suits your needs.

Energy Saving Tip 2 – Insulate Your House

There are several reasons to insulate your home; firstly to save energy. When you decide to make your building more energy efficient by installing a heat pump, it will be important to optimise the efficiency to make sure no heat is wasted by escaping through your walls, roof, floor and windows. For the windows, it’s recommended you change to double-glazed, as you can read in the next section. For walls, roof and floor we recommend insulation.

Insulation can give you energy savings, which in turn means lowering your energy bills and becoming more environmentally friendly. Because the extra heat is not escaping your home, it is not necessary to pump as much energy into it, which helps to reduce your carbon footprint.

In the long-term, insulating your home can be a huge bonus if you decide to sell your property. It increases the value substantially and protects you against dampness and mould by increasing your building energy performance.

Energy Saving Tip 3 – Install New Windows

Having double or triple glazed windows will reduce your heat loss substantially, as they provide better insulation for your building. High-performance glazing provides a better barrier from cold air. Siting your new house so it gets as much natural light as possible can also help reduce your heat loss, meaning you get natural heat from outside as well as keeping in the heat generated.

During really hot summer days, high-performance glazing will keep the heat outside, as well as inside in cold weather so you can enjoy warmer winters and cooler summers. Better glazing doesn’t fog up as easily because of its thickness and is as easy to maintain and fit as normal single glazed windows.

As well as controlling temperature, they help to control noise. High-performance glazing reduces outside noise such as rain and wind, traffic, airports or train stations so you can enjoy peace and quiet in your home. While the initial cost of installing high-performance glazing may be higher, they will pay for themselves by increasing the value of your home and will provide protection for your furniture’s lifespan as they protect your home from UV rays that can damage the interior of your house. These windows will help protect your furniture, decor and carpets.

SEAI Grants for Sustainable Energy in Ireland

You’re in luck. Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland wants you to make these changes. To encourage the use of green energy in Ireland they are offering SEAI grants. These include grants for works such as insulating your house, installing heat pumps and more. The purpose of these grants is for Ireland to meet its commitments to the European Green deal for 80% of Ireland to be running on renewable energy by 2030 and to be carbon neutral by 2050. It’s up to us to help them keep that promise. Just go to www.seai.ie to find out your options for becoming an environmentally friendly household.

Why MasterTherm?

Heat pumps can be used in commercial settings, especially those that require heating and cooling. A MasterTherm heat pump solution can be an efficient way of repurposing heat energy that otherwise would have been wasted. This will make your company more sustainable and profitable.

MasterTherm heat pumps are ultra-quiet, have a 7-year warranty, give you lower heating bills and can be controlled easily from a tablet or phone using inverter technology.

We will design and tailor a personalised heating system to suit your industry needs. Whether it’s for a complex monitored heating and cooling system using rejected heat, or a central heating system with air-conditioning. MasterTherm will ensure that your business is getting the maximum benefit from your heat pump system.

If you’re looking for a heating and hot water solution for your building, we may suggest multiple heat pumps working together. If you are unsure about how to start the journey to renewables using heat pumps, contact us and we can start by creating a bespoke design for your heating system.