GAS ABSORPTION HEAT PUMP SOLUTION FOR EXISTING RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement n. 285158

Why

Residential buildings represent 60% of the building stock and the area where most of the potential to drastically reduce energy use and CO₂ emissions lies. New directives push for deep retrofitting efforts, in order to achieve energy efficiency and RES adoption targets for 2020 and beyond. These require acting both on envelope and on energy use systems, mainly heating and DHW equipment that representing 51% of energy use in this sector. Frequently the upgrade of the envelope insulation is subject to constraints (i.e. historical centres, availability of space, need to relocate the tenants, costs and time issues) and acting on the heating plant is the only viable option. Currently solutions are not always suitable or cost effective in existing buildings (radiators, DHW, solar radiation in winter). Therefore to accelerate the improvement in energy efficiency and in the use of renewable energy in the residential building, a specifically designed solution needs to be made available.

What

One of the most important international research projects in the area of climate change and energy efficiency applied to the built environment, which also falls under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7) promoted by the European Community.

The challenge for this project is to implement the gas absorption heat pump technology in the area of single-family detached residential homes. What is even more important is the goal of designing heat pumps that can be installed in the existing buildings stock to improve the heating efficiency (49% of the overall energy consumption in terms of primary energy, and 36% of greenhouse-gas emissions).

Who

15 among the most important European organizations in the energy, industrial, and research fields are involved in the project.

When

Until 2014.