STILL THE MOST EFFICIENT FORM OF HEATING
02 August 2008Heat pumps are not the villain behind this winter's power bill woes, according to industry representatives, consumer and energy conservation advocates.
Trustpower spokesperson Graham Purches said compared with conventional heaters, heat pumps were an efficient form of electrical heating. They could produce, in unit terms, more heat energy than the electricity they used.
However, he warned they still cost money to run and discouraged the practice of running them constantly.
He said a heat pump in cold conditions may use three kilowatts an hour (kWh).
At around 17c a kWh this was about 50c an hour -- $12 a day or $360 a month.
"Keep it on 24 hours a day and it will cost you 12 bucks a day. I think that's what's happening, but they're forgetting they are not having to buy firewood and get their gas bottle filled."
Mr Purches said heat pumps could reheat a room in a quarter of an hour.
The Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA) said heat pumps were the most efficient way to heat a home with electricity. Some were more efficient and the differences in running costs and performance could be significant.
"A quality heat pump can provide approximately four and a half times the amount of heat for the same price as running a conventional heater."
Linetrust South Canterbury chairman Grant Eames agreed that for electrical heating, heat pumps were most efficient. However, when it was very cold he used his wood burner as well.
Sullivan and Spillane Electrical partner Jim Spillane said expecting too much output was the main cause of heat pump disappointment.
"If you put in a heat pump that's a little small for a real cold day, people find they can't afford to let the temperature drop in the house for it to be comfortable when they come home."
In Timaru a 5-6kWh heat pump was needed to heat the average lounge. If all the doors of a house were opened, it wouldn't do the job easily. Running for a long time meant large bills.
"On a warm day it will switch off but in this weather it will be running most of the time."
He recommended turning it on as needed and having a properly insulated home.
The Domestic Energy Users Network said heat pumps were convenient for warming houses to high comfort levels rapidly, but on the coldest days, they were less effective.
Spokesperson Molly Melhuish said clean air approved burners should be allowed even in clean air zones. Their use on the coldest days would take pressure off the electricity network and avoid expensive additional power generation.
© 2008 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
The Timaru Herald
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