Given the drive towards Zero Carbon, and Government restrictions that will soon prohibit the replacement of gas boilers, many churches are having to consider alternatives. Whilst heat pumps are being put forward as a leading option for domestic use in new and recently built residential property, there are many concerns about their thermal efficiencies in older buildings and those that don’t conform to standard configurations. In this blog we look at reasons why heat pumps are generally a no-go for churches.
Seven Reasons Heat Pumps May Not Work For Church Heating
1. Unconventional, large, often high-ceilinged, spaces
Even modern churches tend to be unconventional in shape – in part that is the beauty of them. The larger imposing buildings which celebrate God often have high vaulted ceilings, which means the air volume that needs to be heated to get warmth down to congregational level can be vast. Heat pumps struggle to effectively and efficiently heat such large, open spaces, and heat may not circulate well enough, leading to cold spots, and uneven temperatures.
2. Insulation and building structure
Heat pumps work within a quite limited temperature output. That means good insulation is essential for maintaining warmth. Even modern churches tend to be poorly insulated. Many older structures are not insulated at all with drafty windows, stone or brick walls, and other structural characteristics that require significantly more energy to maintain comfortable temperatures.
3. Temperature fluctuations and frequency of use
Many churches are only used periodically during services or events. Heat pumps, designed for continuous operation, struggle with temperature fluctuations between occupancy and non-occupancy periods.
4. Noise
A smaller but important point, heat pumps, particularly air-source models, generate noise during operation. In a setting where quietness and reverence are important, this noise may be disruptive and can be especially problematic in areas where the congregation gathers in close proximity to the heat pump units.
5. Cost of installation, maintenance and operation
Even in small domestic premises installing a heat pump system can be costly. In a large, complex building like a church the cost of installation alone can be prohibitive as significant retrofitting to adapt the system for such a unique environment, including improvements to the insulation, ductwork, and integration with existing heating systems, may be required. In addition heat pumps systems need to be maintained annually and overall operational costs can be high.
6. Aesthetic impact and permissions to change
Many churches are beautiful, wonderful and historically significant buildings which can be considered works of art. Installing a modern heat pump systems can easily compromise the aesthetics or architecture as outdoor units or modifications to the building structure may not align with the church’s appearance or could require permissions that could be difficult to obtain.
7. Zonal heating, the practicalities of control and energy bills
Given dwindling congregation sizes, and increasing energy costs, zonal heating in churches can not only keep worship warm but cut costs. Whilst heat pumps can provide heat on a zonal basis, it requires the installation of smart thermostatic valves on every radiator. In general, heat pumps in a church environment tend to be ‘all on, all off’ technology.
Where Infra-Red radiant heat scores points over heat pumps for heating churches
Infra-Red radiant heat circumvents all the above issues in churches. It is cheaper, more aesthetic, efficient, noise free and easy to operate. That is why more and more churches are looking to move to Infra-Red heating as their future-proofed, sustainable, low-cost, zero emissions heating strategy.