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Should We Rethink the Name “Heat Pump” for Homeowners?

Mars · 2024-11-23T09:08:14Z

The term “heat pump” has become familiar in the UK’s renewable heating industry, especially with the recent surge in interest around air source heat pumps. Yet, for many homeowners, the term can be puzzling. Heat pumps are promoted as one of the most efficient ways to heat homes, but the name “heat pump” itself may not actually convey what they do – or how they work, leading to unnecessary confusion. Why Are They Called “Heat Pumps”? The term derives from the process of moving heat rather than generating it. Unlike traditional boilers, which burn fuel to create warmth, heat pumps work by transferring heat from one place to another. The word “pump” here might make sense to engineers, but from a homeowner’s perspective, it can be misleading. Many might assume it’s similar to a mechanical pump used to push liquids or gases, which doesn’t fully capture the principle of heat extraction and transfer. This disconnect between the technical term and the everyday understanding of the word raises an interesting question: should the name change to something more intuitive for consumers? Does the Term “Heat Pump” Create Confusion? For homeowners unfamiliar with the technology, the term “heat pump” might not intuitively explain what the system does. In fact, some homeowners may think it’s related to traditional pumps or systems that circulate water or air through radiators. This misunderstanding could partly contribute to the reluctance of some homeowners to adopt heat pumps; if they’re unclear on how the system works or even what it does, they might be less inclined to trust it over a conventional boiler. Unlike a “boiler,” which clearly conveys that it heats (or “boils”) something, the term “heat pump” lacks a similar straightforward implication. It doesn’t tell you if the system will warm up your home, if it’s energy-efficient or even if it uses renewable energy. This ambiguity might leave many homeowners wondering: Why switch to a heat pump? Is it different from a boiler, and if so, how? Could a Name Change Make a Difference? The idea of renaming the heat pump isn’t new. Industries often rebrand products to make them more appealing or easier to understand. Consider the shift from “LED lamps” to “LED light bulbs.” While both terms are accurate, the latter is more consumer-friendly and gives a clearer sense of what the product actually does. Similarly, renaming heat pumps could help homeowners understand their benefits more clearly and help them compare them directly to other heating systems like boilers. What Do Homeowners Think? Of course, rebranding would only be effective if it truly resonates with homeowners. After all, they’re the ones who ultimately decide whether or not to install a heat pump. It’s possible that the term “heat pump” has already gained enough familiarity to make a new name disruptive rather than helpful. However, if a clearer name helps people better understand the technology and its benefits, it could also speed up adoption rates. We’d love to hear from homeowners on this. Does the term “heat pump” make sense to you, or would a different name make things clearer? If you have any ideas for names that better capture the purpose and function of these systems, share them with us by leaving a comment. Let’s see if we can find a term that’s intuitive, descriptive and maybe even inspiring – a name that can challenge the established “boiler” and position heat pumps as the clear choice for a sustainable future.

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cathodeRay

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27/11/2024 6:01 pm

Posted by: @jamespa

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Last time I looked the air in my bicycle pump wasn't visible either!

But its presence is visible, as an inflated tyre! And it can be felt (vert visceral), as you operate the pump.

Another thought: how about heat teleporter? More syllables, but it draws in a bit from the glamour and excitement of space travel, and in a way the heat from outside is teleported, from the outside in. The tele- prefix is extremely common - tele-vision, tele-phone, tele-graph.

Edited to correct typo

This post was modified 5 months ago by cathodeRay

Midea 14kW (for now...) ASHP heating both building and DHW

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cathodeRay

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27/11/2024 6:06 pm

Posted by: @toodles

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Energy relocator is also accurate but, it doesn’t really cut the mustard does it?! Toodles.

Maybe combine our two ideas, and come up with Energy Teleporter? That sounds like the sort of thing any right thinking person would want for their home!

Midea 14kW (for now...) ASHP heating both building and DHW

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Toodles

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27/11/2024 6:08 pm

@cathoderay Installed by Dr. Who perhaps? 😉 Toodles.

This post was modified 5 months ago by Mars

Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.

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downfield

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27/11/2024 6:14 pm

All of the above I agree with - but @editor I imagine started this thread to see if the name we have could be hindering the adoption of the technology. (I may be wrong).
In any case, if heat pump is our best shot, why is a refrigerator so called?

This post was modified 5 months ago by Mars

Mitsubishi Zubadan 14kW with Mixergy 210l DHW in 220m2 barn property. 24 solar panels = 9kWp with GivEnergy 5.0kW Hybrid inverter and 19kWh GivE batteries. Jaga Strada fan-assisted rads throughout. Landvac vacuum glazing/triple glazed windows.

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JamesPa

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27/11/2024 6:25 pm

According to Google 'The word refrigerator comes from the latin refrigare, derived from frigus (meaning cold)'

4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.

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cathodeRay

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27/11/2024 7:17 pm

It has been said that Latin is the last refuge of the linguistic scoundrel, but putting that aside, how about a recaleferator? If they got away with getting refrigerator into common usage, then doing the same for recaleferator should be a doddle! I'm not sure what the short form will be though.

Midea 14kW (for now...) ASHP heating both building and DHW

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JamesPa

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27/11/2024 7:49 pm

Posted by: @cathoderay

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It has been said that Latin is the last refuge of the linguistic scoundrel, but putting that aside, how about a recaleferator? If they got away with getting refrigerator into common usage, then doing the same for recaleferator should be a doddle! I'm not sure what the short form will be though.

just cale (cally) I would think. I dont dislike it!

I just checked German, French and Spanish, all are a direct translation of heat pump - or of course it may be the other way round, Carnot was French after all.

This post was modified 5 months ago by JamesPa

4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.

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Marzipan71

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30/11/2024 5:23 pm

How about calling them refaragerators to bring all the Daily Mail readers back on side?

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Toodles

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30/11/2024 5:52 pm

@jamespa He? And who’s Army?

Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.

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Toodles

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30/11/2024 5:54 pm

@marzipan71 How about ‘Coldtohotbox”?

Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.

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downfield

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01/12/2024 5:58 pm

Posted by: @cathoderay

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It has been said that Latin is the last refuge of the linguistic scoundrel, but putting that aside, how about a recaleferator? If they got away with getting refrigerator into common usage, then doing the same for recaleferator should be a doddle! I'm not sure what the short form will be though.

Not sure you need the "re". Caleferator sounds fine to me. Shortened to Cally. Mind you, it's bound to sound offensive in some language...

This post was modified 5 months ago by Mars

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