Photo credit: Daniel Wells

Air Con is an Energy-Efficient Alternative to Gas Central Heating

As temperatures begin to drop, property owners could be overlooking a heating solution they already own. Modern air conditioning systems can also work as efficient heat pumps, offering an energy-efficient alternative to traditional central heating.

• 3 in 4 Brits (75%) use gas central heating as their main heating source, whilst only 2% of Brits use a heat pump.
• According to the Energy Saving Trust, heat pumps can be more than three times as efficient as gas boilers.
• Unlike gas boilers, air con heating does not burn fossil fuels, meaning it offers a lower-carbon, eco-friendly method of heating a property.

A spokesperson for London Cool, specialists in residential and commercial energy-efficient air conditioning and heat pump systems across the South East, said: “Many people still think of air conditioning as something that only has a purpose during the warmer months, but modern systems can be just as useful in winter. With heat pump technology, the same unit can provide efficient heating when temperatures fall, giving property owners another option for staying warm and comfortable throughout the year.”

How Air Con Heating Works

When your air con is in heating mode, the system reverses its cooling cycle, extracting heat energy from the outdoor air and transferring it indoors. Even when temperatures are low, there is still heat in the air for the system to capture. The indoor unit then distributes this warmth throughout the room.

Rather than generating heat directly, air con heaters move existing heat, making them an efficient way to provide heating and cooling from the same system.

Property Heating Behaviours in the UK

Source: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Attitudes Tracker.

According to statistics from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Attitudes Tracker, around 3 in 4 Brits (75%) reportedly use gas central heating as their main heating method, with almost half of properties reportedly using just one source of heating. Meanwhile, only 2% of Brits report using a heat pump.

Energy-Efficiency Benefits of Air Con Heating

Unlike traditional heating systems, heat pumps move existing heat rather than generating it from scratch. This means they can deliver significantly more heat energy than the electricity they consume. According to the Energy Saving Trust, heat pumps can be more than three times as efficient as gas boilers, making modern air conditioning a highly efficient option for winter heating as well as summer cooling.

For property owners looking for a versatile way to temperature control their property, air con can provide both heating and cooling functions from a single installation. And, depending on your energy tariff, you could even make significant savings on your energy bills.

Winter Heating with Lower Emissions

Heat pumps can also help properties to reduce the carbon emissions associated with their heating habits. Unlike gas and oil boilers, which burn fossil fuels to generate heat, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from the surrounding environment into the room.

As air con heating does not burn fossil fuels, it can provide a lower-carbon way to heat a property, particularly as the electricity grid continues to incorporate more renewable energy.

A spokesperson for London Cool said: “Air conditioning runs on electricity rather than burning gas, so there are no direct emissions from combustion. Instead of generating heat through burning fossil fuels, the system transfers heat from one part of the system to another. This makes modern air conditioning a more efficient way to heat a building and can help to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.”

The Heating Appliance You Didn’t Know You Had

For property owners who already have air conditioning installed, winter heating could be as simple as switching the system to heating mode. Many people may not realise that their air conditioning unit can also work as a heat pump, providing warmth as well as cooling throughout the year.

For those without air conditioning who are looking for an energy-efficient way to control the temperature of their home, London Cool supplies and installs a range of modern residential and commercial air conditioning systems. With heating and cooling capabilities in one system, they can provide a versatile solution for maintaining a comfortable property all year round.

About London Cool
London Cool has supplied air conditioning services throughout London, Surrey, Sussex, Kent and the South East since 1994. They are specialists in portable air conditioners, heaters, and dehumidifiers, offer unit hire, and supply, install, and service installed air conditioning systems.