Where can heat pumps be used? Heat pumps can supply heat at temperatures up to about 120°C, and can be used to supply both heating and refrigeration needs in a variety of different applications. Heating and cooling of homes Heating of blocks of flats Heating and cooling of commercial office buildings Local urban heating and cooling plants Heating of fish farm hatchery process water Heating of greenhouses Heating, dehumidification and heat recycling in sports halls and swimming baths Industrial applications;   -  Drying   -  Heating of process water   -  Evaporation   -  Distillation   -  Steam production

How can 1 kWh of electricity provide 3 kWh of heat?

In our surroundings there exists an almost unlimited supply of solar energy stored in the water, soil and air. This energy exists in the form of heat, but at a temperature which does not allow us to utilise it directly. When we supply them with electricity, heat pumps are able to raise the temperature of the heat energy in their surroundings so that they can be used for heating purposes.

Running a heat pump requires 1 part electricity and 2 parts energy extracted from the surroundings. The heat pump then supplies 3 parts energy in the form of useful heat. If the heat pump supplies heat at low temperatures (as in the case of water-carried underfloor heating, etc.), it can deliver 4–6 times as much energy in the form of heat as it has been supplied with in the form of electricity.

The little "ABC of heat pumps"

	Heat flows naturally from high to low temperature locations.
	A heat pump is capable of "pumping" heat in the opposite direction, i.e., from a lower to a higher temperature.
	A standard refrigerator consists of an insulated cabinet built around the cold side of a heat pump. The heat pump transfers heat away from the refrigerator so that the temperature is kept low (+5°C).
	By locating the warm side of a heat pump within a house, the pump will transfer heat from the surroundings and into the house. You pay only for the electrical energy that runs the pump. Renewable energy from the surroundings is free.

A cleaner environment

Oil heating results in the emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is one of the major causes of the greenhouse effect. In addition, there are sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrous gases (NO_x), which cause acid rain. By replacing oil heating with heat pumps, environmentally-damaging emissions will be reduced by 90 - 100%.

By careful selection of our heating system, we can influence the quality of our surroundings.

Norway has excellent access to environmentally sound hydroelectricity. When we use electrical energy to run heat pumps, the benefit we gain from our hydroelectric resources is three times that of using wall radiators or electric boilers. Heat pumps are currently an important tool in the work towards achieving more efficient use of our hydroelectric resources and a cleaner environment.

Heat pumps promote a cleaner environment!