When does it make more sense to heat with wood that your heat pump?
As single family homeowners with access to wholesale electricity tariffs, you might find yourself at a crossroads when choosing between heating with a heat pump or auxiliary methods like wood. Both have their unique advantages and implications, particularly in terms of cost, environmental impact, and overall comfort.
Previously, we listed tips on how to use your heat pump during cold times. In all cases, keep warm.
Heating with Wood: Comfort vs. Environmental Impact
There's a certain charm and warmth to a fireplace in your home. It offers a cozy ambiance and can be a more immediate source of heat. However, it's essential to consider the local emissions from burning wood. While heating with wood might seem eco-friendly, it has significant environmental impacts:
- Air Pollution: Wood burning releases pollutants, including particulates and greenhouse gases, affecting local air quality.
- Inefficiency: Wood burning is not as efficient as modern heating technologies. Dry birch contains about 1700 kWh of energy per cubic meter, but due to varying efficiency (about 75-80%, efficient ones reach to 85%), the actual energy utilized is less.
On the other hand, wood heating can be cost-effective, especially when electricity prices spike. If you're heating with wood during high electricity cost periods, it's crucial to ensure you're doing so responsibly and sustainably.
Dry birch contains about 1700 kWh of energy per cubic meter. A cubic meter weighs approximately 410 kg, meaning 1 kilogram contains about 4.15 kWh/kg. A storage heater (wood-burning stove) uses about 7.5 kg of wood per heating session, equating to roughly 31 kWh. Assuming the efficiency of the storage heater is 85%, this results in about 26 kWh of energy per heating session. From this, one can calculate the average daily price including transmission.
The price of a cubic meter of wood is around 140 euros. Therefore, with an efficiency of 85%, the cost per kWh comes to approximately 9.6 cents per kWh.
Heat Pump Heating: Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness
Heat pumps stand out for their efficiency and lower environmental impact compared to wood heating. They operate by transferring heat from outside to inside your home, using significantly less energy compared to traditional heating methods. Here’s why a heat pump is a smart choice:
- High Efficiency: Heat pumps have a high coefficient of performance (COP), meaning they can produce more heat per unit of electricity consumed. Standard air-source heat pumps typically achieve COPs of 2 to 3 in mild cold climates, while cold-climate versions maintain COPs over 1.5 (i.e. 150% efficiency) in temperatures as low as -30°C (-22°F).
- Lower Emissions: They result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions, especially when paired with renewable energy sources.
With average electricity costs of 10c/kWh plus distribution and taxes (6c/kWh), we'd get to similar costs if the heat pump's COP is as low as 1.5, but with a higher COP, heating with your heat pump makes economically more sense. Similarly to if electric energy price rise above 20c/kWh, as we've seen in recent weeks in the Nordpool area, the COP should be above 2.5.
Kapacity.io Smart Controls: Enhancing Heat Pump Efficiency
Kapacity.io introduces smart controls that can save up to 25% on your heat pump's electricity costs. On days with high hourly electricity price variations, Kapacity.io Cloud will avoid high price peaks and take advantage of the low price moments, making your heat pump a more reliable and cost-effective source of heating. Here’s how Kapacity.io Cloud works:
- Optimized Energy Usage: Our system intelligently adjusts heat pump operation based on real-time electricity prices and your heating needs.
- Increased Savings: With up to 25% savings on electricity costs, the overall expense of running a heat pump becomes much more manageable.
- Environmental Impact: By optimizing energy usage, we also reduce the environmental footprint, aligning with our commitment to tangible climate solutions.
Making an Informed Choice
As a homeowner, your decision between wood heating and using a heat pump should consider both environmental impacts and personal preferences. While the nostalgia and warmth of a wood fireplace are undeniable, the environmental and health impacts can't be overlooked. On the other hand, heat pumps, particularly when enhanced with Kapacity.io's smart controls, offer a more sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective heating solution. By choosing a heat pump with our smart controls, you’re not just ensuring a warm home; you’re contributing to a healthier planet.
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