Lämpöpumppulämmitys

Lämpöpumppulämmitys, known in English as heat pump heating, is a method of heating buildings by transferring thermal energy from a source of heat to a heat sink. Heat pumps work by using a refrigeration cycle, but in reverse. They can also be used for cooling by reversing the cycle, acting as an air conditioner. The primary types of heat pumps used for residential heating are air-source, ground-source (geothermal), and water-source.

Air-source heat pumps extract heat from the outdoor air, even in cold temperatures, and transfer it indoors. Ground-source heat pumps utilize the stable temperature of the earth or groundwater to transfer heat. Water-source heat pumps, less common, use a nearby body of water as the heat source or sink.

The efficiency of a heat pump is measured by its Coefficient of Performance (COP) for heating and Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) for cooling. A higher COP indicates greater efficiency, meaning more heat energy is delivered for each unit of electrical energy consumed. Lämpöpumppulämmitys systems are often considered an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional heating methods like oil or electric resistance heating, as they can significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The initial investment for a heat pump system can be higher than for conventional systems, but the long-term operational cost savings and environmental benefits are often significant.