A heat pump needs electricity to utilise its energy sources water, air and geothermal energy efficiently. Nevertheless, the heat pump is a cost-effective and future-orientated investment in the long term. The actual electricity consumption of a residential property can be calculated individually.
Facts about energy consumption of a heat pump
Energy from the environment instead of fossil fuels
Low power demand for operation
Minimise CO2 emissions with green electricity
Independence from the energy market thanks to the combination with photovoltaics
Cost-effective and sustainable despite power consumption
Heat pumps draw up to 80% of their energy free of charge from the environment. This means from the air, ground or water. The remaining approximately 20% is taken from a power socket. This means that although heat pumps require electricity, they obtain the majority of their heat energy requirements from renewable sources. The electricity that comes out of the socket can be green electricity if desired. This makes the heat pump an economically and sustainably sensible solution from an overall perspective.
Varies from case to case
The annual electricity consumption of a heat pump depends on various factors and is therefore difficult to calculate. How many people live in the household and use hot water accordingly? Should the room temperature be 19 or 24 degrees Celsius in winter? How well insulated is the house? What type of heat pump will be used? Where is the heat pump located geographically? What is the weather like this year?Would you like to estimate the annual electricity costs that your future heat pump will generate? Multiply the expected electricity consumption by the electricity price: (annual heat requirement in kWh / COP* of the heat pump) × electricity price per kWh = electricity costs per year* COP = Coefficient of Performance: Efficiency measured in the laboratory at a specific operating point.The efficiency of a heat pump is particularly evident in comparison with other heating systems. On the platform Erneuerbar Heizen, comparisons can be made between oil, gas, heat pumps and other types of heating.
Questions about the power consumption of a heat pump
How much electricity a heat pump consumes and how high the electricity costs are depends on two main factors: situational requirements and the annual coefficient of performance (COP)*.Situational requirements relate to the building, the occupants and the environment: How well insulated is the house? How many people live in the household and use hot water accordingly? Should the room temperature be 19 or 24 degrees Celsius in winter? What is the weather like?* Annual coefficient of performance: This is the ratio between the thermal energy generated and the amount of electricity used, i.e. how many kWh of heat can be generated with one kWh of electricity. The seasonal performance factor varies depending on the heat pump. The higher the seasonal performance factor (SPF) of a heat pump, the lower the electricity costs.
You can calculate the electricity consumption of your heat pump yourself using the following formula: (heat performance / annual coefficient of performance) × heating hours = electricity consumption of the heat pump per year (in kWh)
Water and ground source heat pumps generally consume less electricity than air source heat pumps. Both the temperature of the groundwater and the ground is constant throughout the year, whereas the temperature of the outside air fluctuates and the air source heat pump therefore requires more electricity, especially in winter.
To a large extent, yes – with the help of a photovoltaic system on your roof. Solar power from your own roof provides a cheap and sustainable source of electricity for your heat pump. However, in our experience, your own PV system cannot fully cover your electricity needs in winter, even with a storage battery, as electricity production in the Swiss Midlands is low during the winter months.