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In the town of Medicina, in the province of Bologna (Italy), a 397-square-metre multifamily house is equipped with an innovative installation: the brine-to-water heat pumps are hybridised with a photovoltaic system and a solar thermal system. Additionally, the complex collection system integrates multiple sources: boreholes, an AU12 unit, a heat exchanger in a well, another exchanger in the irrigation system, and the outdoor swimming pool as an additional collection source during winter.
This advanced system is complemented by an electronic meter, a series of sensors, and custom-designed digital controllers. Studio Garelli highlights how “the energy system demonstrates that Ecoforest heat pumps are versatile and the ideal product to develop customised solutions, capable of integrating with multiple devices and sensors in a smart home, optimising energy savings to a higher level.”
Hybrid System
The system stands out for its excellent performance, achieving a seasonal performance factor (SPF) of 4.8, which translates into high energy efficiency throughout the year. This efficiency is enhanced by the integration of a 7 kW photovoltaic system that complements the Ecoforest ecoGEO+ 3-12 heat pump, enabling the system to cover a large portion of its electricity demand. The combination of both technologies not only significantly reduces energy consumption but also lowers CO₂ emissions, positioning this installation as a sustainable and innovative solution committed to environmental responsibility. The following chart compares the high heating output of the heat pump against energy consumption over a full year, in which a high seasonal performance factor (SPF) of 4.8 was achieved. The system’s efficiency results in the highest energy rating, A4, for this home, with a certified consumption of 25 kWh per square metre.
Economic Savings
The implementation of the ecoGEO+ 3-12 heat pump has resulted not only in improved energy efficiency but also in significant economic savings. Before installation, the same house incurred annual expenses of €5,803 with a condensing boiler. The new heat pump system reduced this cost to €2,015 during the 2021–2022 period, representing a 66% saving. With additional improvements, such as dynamic DHW management and the HTR introduced in 2022–2023, the cost dropped even further to €1,460, generating an additional 28% saving. In total, the reduction amounted to €4,320 in just two years, consolidating this solution as a profitable medium-term investment.
Carbon Footprint Reduction
The system’s savings directly translated into a reduction in carbon footprint. While the original system with a condensing boiler produced a carbon footprint of 9,943 kg of CO₂ per year, the installation of the heat pump along with photovoltaic energy achieved a 71.7% reduction, down to 2,816 kg of CO₂ per year. With the improvements introduced during the 2022–2023 period, this further decreased by 27% to just 2,041 kg of CO₂ per year. In this way, the savings result in a maximum reduction of the home’s environmental impact, without sacrificing comfort.
Versatility and Efficiency
Ecoforest heat pumps stand out for their great versatility, as they can be easily integrated with other home automation systems. This connectivity enables the development of customised solutions capable of communicating with smart home devices. The result is a system that provides greater comfort, optimises energy efficiency, and contributes to significant savings.
