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16kW Daikin Altherma 3 M heat pump installed in 4-bed rural dwelling resulting in BER A2 rating and increased comfort levels in the home
CHALLENGE: SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON OIL
For this retrofit homeowner the cost of heating the family home in Co. Laois, was making them ask questions. Built in 2009, the 4-bedroom house had an underfloor heating system, powered by an oil boiler: “The oil was just getting too expensive, so we decided to look at alternative heating sources.”
With two young children (not to mention two dogs!) to keep warm, the family wanted to upgrade to a more modern heating system that would bring down their energy costs, while also giving them more control over their heating, and a consistent level of comfort.
The homeowners did “a huge amount” of online research before approaching Monaghan-based NRG Panel, a Daikin partner and one of Ireland’s leading installers of heat pumps and solar panels. Eligible for a Home Energy Upgrade grant of €6,500 from SEAI, the family decided to equip their home with a heat pump and solar panels.
SOLUTION: HEAT PUMP, SOLAR PANELS, WALL INSULATION
There were a number of factors to consider when choosing the specification of the heat pump. The family wanted an outdoor unit that would be discreet and aesthetically pleasing, ideally with the least possible disruption when it came to installing the system.
Based on these preferences, and the overall size of the family home, the installer recommended a Daikin Altherma 3 M system, a monobloc air-to-water heat pump featuring a sleek, compact unit that blends in with any décor, and which uses the industry-leading R-32 refrigerant.
To maximise the gains from their new heat pump, the homeowners opted to install a 6kW solar panel system and also completed pumped cavity wall insulation to improve the property’s BER rating.
The site installation took just two days, with “minimal disruption” according to the homeowners. Once the install was complete, the NRG Panel team completed a detailed handover, guiding the homeowners through the controls and setting up the Daikin Onecta and Heatmiser NEO apps to help the family get the most out of their new technology.
RESULTS: MORE EVEN TEMPERATURE, SUPER EFFICIENCY
As soon as their heat pump was up and running, the family noticed that the temperature in the home was much more even and consistent than before, when their old oil boiler would routinely over-heat the underfloor system, consuming huge amounts of expensive oil in the process.
The family also immediately began to see the economic benefits of an energy-efficient heating system. Retrofitting a heat pump, solar panels and wall insulation has improved their home’s BER rating from a B3 to an A2, increasing the value of the property, while they now have continuous hot water, which they never previously had.
The family no longer need to buy oil – a huge saving over the course of a year – while the energy produced by the 6kW solar panel system is now effectively offsetting the energy consumed by the Altherma 3 M heat pump.
First six months of 2023 show:
- Heat pump energy consumption: 3,308 kW (includes 2,727 kW space heating/ 581kW water heating)
- PV solar panel energy generation: 3,491 kW
- Overall house energy consumption: 4,415 kW (includes the 3,308 kW consumed by heat pump)
As the figures highlight, installing a heat pump and PV solar system has almost made the family self-sufficient in terms of their home’s energy generation/consumption – a massive step towards sustainable living and a dramatic reduction in their annual energy bill.
HOMEOWNER:
“PEACE OF MIND KNOWING SYSTEM IS WORKING”
“The house already had underfloor heating, so it was ideal for retrofitting an air source heat pump, which made the install very straightforward. The level of thermostat control is now much more accurate, the Heatmiser Neo app is very user-friendly, while with the Onecta app we can monitor real-time energy usage and COP performance. It gives us great peace of mind knowing the system is working at maximum and saving us energy and money.”
Start your heat pump journey
Thinking about installing a heat pump to reduce your household’s energy consumption? Compare your options, find out what home energy upgrade grants are available here and download our Home Energy handbook.
