Guides
Independent, source-cited explainers for buyers and installers. No marketing, no sponsored content.
Basics
How heat pumps work — the physics in plain English
A heat pump is a refrigerator working in reverse. This guide explains the four-stage thermodynamic cycle, why COP can exceed 1, and what a 'natural' refrigerant changes.
7 min read · Updated 2026-05-07
COP vs SCOP — which number should you trust?
COP is a single test point, SCOP is a season-weighted average. Use both, but for purchase decisions SCOP is what matches your wallet.
5 min read · Updated 2026-05-07
Comparison
Air-to-water vs ground-source — which heat pump for which house
Cost, efficiency, ground-works and noise compared. A practical buyer's matrix and the climate threshold where ground-source pays off.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-07
Heat pump vs gas boiler — payback, CO₂ and what changes in 2027
Apples-to-apples economic and environmental comparison. The break-even depends entirely on the electricity-to-gas price ratio and your subsidy access.
7 min read · Updated 2026-05-07
Heat pumps in cold climates — what changes below -15 °C
Cold-climate HPs work fine to -25 °C if you choose right. The matrix of refrigerants, defrost strategies and backup heating that makes Nordic deployments succeed.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-07
Solar PV + heat pump — economics in 2026
Combining rooftop PV with a heat pump can move the payback math from marginal to obvious. The self-consumption ratio, battery sizing and how subsidies stack.
7 min read · Updated 2026-05-08
Policy & subsidies
Reading an EU energy label for heat pumps
What ηs, A+++, the climate-zone map and the sound-power figure on the EU energy label mean, and how to translate them into SCOP for like-for-like comparison.
5 min read · Updated 2026-05-08
F-gas regulation 2024 — what changes for heat-pump buyers
EU 2024/573 phases down high-GWP refrigerants. Timeline, GWP limits per heat-pump class and what it means if you're buying in 2026 vs 2030.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-08
country
Heat pumps in Germany 2026 — BEG subsidies, climate, brand share
Germany's BEG-EM scheme funds up to 70% of heat-pump capex (cap €21 000). Average climate, expensive electricity, and a market dominated by Daikin, Vaillant and Bosch.
7 min read · Updated 2026-05-08
Heat pumps in France 2026 — MaPrimeRénov' explained
MaPrimeRénov' bands a heat-pump grant from €5 000 to €11 000 by household income. Air-to-air units don't qualify; ground-source enjoys the highest amounts.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-08
Heat pumps in Italy 2026 — Conto Termico and Ecobonus
Italian heat-pump support runs through Conto Termico 2.0 (40–65% of project cost) and the Ecobonus 65% tax deduction. Mediterranean climate makes air-source the obvious default.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-08
Heat pumps in Poland 2026 — Czyste Powietrze step-by-step
Czyste Powietrze covers up to 100% of HP installation for low-income households. Cold winters make ground-source attractive for higher-tier subsidies.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-08
Heat pumps in Czechia 2026 — Nová zelená úsporám
Czechia runs two parallel HP schemes: NZÚ Light (fast-track, up to 100% for low-income / seniors) and NZÚ Standard (general programme, 30–50%).
5 min read · Updated 2026-05-08
Heat pumps in the Netherlands 2026 — ISDE grants and gas phase-out
Dutch ISDE (Investeringssubsidie duurzame energie) covers a fixed amount per HP type. Combined with the gas phase-out for new builds, HPs are the default.
5 min read · Updated 2026-05-08
Heat pumps in Spain 2026 — IDAE incentives, Mediterranean climate
Spain's heat-pump market combines warm climate, decent electricity tariffs and IDAE / regional autonómica subsidies. Air-to-water and reversible AC dominate.
5 min read · Updated 2026-05-08
Heat pumps in the UK 2026 — Boiler Upgrade Scheme and MCS
The UK's £7 500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant requires MCS-certified products and installers. Mild climate, expensive electricity, gas-heavy housing stock.
5 min read · Updated 2026-05-08
Operation & maintenance
Buying
Heat-pump electricity tariffs across Europe
Wärmepumpentarif (DE), tarif heures creuses (FR), Octopus Cosy (UK) — country-specific tariffs that make HP running costs meaningfully cheaper than the household default.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-08
Sizing a heat pump for an apartment vs detached house
Apartments have shared walls, lower per-m² heat loss and constrained outdoor space. Sizing follows the same physics, but the practical kW comes out smaller.
5 min read · Updated 2026-05-08