Best practice portal for heat pumps

15.07.2024

The Federal Environment Agency wants to tackle disinformation about heat pumps with showcase projects.

Acclaimed or reviled. Heat pumps provoke different reactions from the public. The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) presents a portal entitled "How heat pumps work!" best practice projects in existing buildings in Germany. This is because "prejudices and misinformation" are still circulating on the subject, according to a press release.

In order to dispel these, the authority presents successful examples from practice on the portal. "All of the real-life examples address various challenges typical of the technology, including sound planning, the use of natural refrigerants and the operational optimization of heat pumps," it continues.

This is because it is known that heat pumps in existing buildings in particular are subject to special requirements. The focus of the platform is to show solutions for typical challenges in existing buildings. Because "there are good solutions" in this area, and these successfully implemented projects are presented on the platform.

Portal to be extended to commercial buildings

The portal focuses on typical technological challenges, such as sound planning, the use of natural refrigerants or the operational optimization of heat pumps. One example shows the successful replacement of an oil boiler in a multi-generation house from the 1950s with a heat pump.

The focus of the portal is now to be expanded. In future, the UBA also wants to present successful heat pump projects in commercial buildings or "municipal non-residential buildings". In addition to building owners, those involved in planning and implementation - such as utilities, energy service providers or engineering firms - are also invited to submit their own projects or those of their customers.

The UBA has brought in a consortium of experts for the portal, consisting of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg GmbH (Ifeu), CO2 online gemeinnützige Beratungsgesellschaft mbH and the engineering firm Heckmann. Ifeu is responsible for coordination, CO2 online provides practical help in creating an online contribution and Heckmann is responsible for quality assurance with regard to the projects.

New projects can be entered on the website of the Federal Environment Agency .

Source: Energy & Management Powernews
Author: Stefan Sagmeister