Ireland’s homes are ready for the Ecodan heat pump revolution
Relax and enjoy low-cost, energy-efficient constant room temperature with Mitsubishi Electric’s revolutionary Ecodan Heat Pump range.
The role of the Heat Pump in Irish society is one that many people might still regard as something new.
However, heat pump technology has been around for a very long time — over 30 years, in fact. Its benefits are very significant — not only to the average householder but also to Irish society in general in the ongoing fight against Climate Change.
The Irish Government places Heat Pump technology at the heart of its Climate Action Plan and they have set a target for 600,000 heat pumps to be installed by 2030.
Home heating is a very big part of the picture when it comes to energy-related emissions in Ireland, representing approximately 33% of the pie. With the clear necessity to decarbonise our national home heating systems, the heat pump is by far the most impactful technology available.
So says David McConnell, National Heating Sales Manager, Mitsubishi Electric in Ireland. Mitsubishi Electric is at the forefront of this technology in Ireland and they bring the full weight of the Mitsubishi name behind a very focused technological drive.
“At present, a heat pump reduces carbon output by approximately 60% when compared to normal fossil fuel systems,” says David, “and this is set to rise as we add more renewable generation (such as wind and solar power) to the electric grid.
“Mitsubishi Electric is a leading manufacturer of energy-efficient heat pump systems. Underpinning our product development is a drive for sustainability and a focus on the betterment of society and the environment.”
This drive has culminated in the Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan heat pump — a modern, low-carbon heating system. The Ecodan heat pump utilises the latest technology to provide homeowners with 100% of their space heating and hot water requirements. At the same time, it reduces their carbon output and lowers their heating bills.
“For every 1kW of energy consumed, the heat pump can deliver 3kW to 4kW in heat,” David points out, “giving them a 300% to 400% efficiency rating.”
The heat pump is a small box which is located outside of the home. It extracts heat from the air. Using a compressor, this heat is then increased to a more usable temperature, which can be up to 60°C if required.
The technology involved is so advanced now, that even if it’s as low as -25°C (a temperature never yet reached in Ireland), the Mitsubishi Electric heat pump can still efficiently extract heat from the air.
The Irish Climate Action Plan targets 400,000 homes to be retrofit, mainly to replace oil-fired boilers, whose inherent inefficiencies and carbon-positive characteristics means that they will surely be consigned to the past within the next decade.
“Due to the way the heat pump works, it’s important to consider how well-insulated the property is and how efficient the existing radiators are,” says David. “We would always recommend that a specialised installer or energy assessor carry out a survey on the property prior to installation.”
The other revolutionary aspect of the heat pump system (aside from the reduction in carbon emissions) is that they offer levels of comfort that gas or oil-fired systems could never provide.
Gone are the days of the on/off nature of the fossil-fuel heating systems, with the heat pump system remaining on all the time. This means a more constant room temperature, avoiding the traditional cycle of over-heating and under-heating.
This is something we’ll all be familiar with; wondering if it’s cold enough to fire up the boiler or, when it is fired up, wondering when it’s time to turn it off again to save fuel.
“People are also nervous about security of fuel supply and escalating costs,” says David. “When people switch to a heat pump, the financial savings are significant.”
Mitsubishi Electric’s Ecodan range has been specifically designed for the UK and Irish markets, so it’s a technology that knows the challenges of the Irish climate and adapts perfectly to them.
“Many developers have now realised that the Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan system is one of the most cost-effective ways to achieve Part L compliance,” says David. “This shows that the building will comply with current building regulations, so it’s no wonder the Ecodan system is now Ireland’s leading heat pump brand.”
As well as the home market, Mitsubishi Electric also manufactures a range of air-source heat pumps for use in the commercial sector. These are capable of providing hot water temperatures of up to 90°C and offering significant carbon and running cost savings.
The Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan is Ireland’s leading heat pump brand in both the retrofit and new-build markets. The Ecodan heat pump is easily installed by heating engineers who have been trained by Mitsubishi Electric to ensure all aspects of design, installation and maintenance are optimised for maximum performance.
The question around replacing and upgrading your heating system isn’t so much a question of ‘if’ rather than ‘when’.
Find out about how to install the Ecodan heat pump system at
