It's all about the settings: How a smart heat pump saves you money

Whether a heating system uses a lot or a little energy also depends on how well it is adjusted. Choosing the right flow temperature is particularly important. Even a reduction of 5 °C can lower energy costs by 10 percent. The problem is that manually optimizing the heating curve requires expertise and a lot of time—after all, the settings have to be checked repeatedly.

With Homematic IP and a NIBE S-Series heat pump, however, users benefit from fully automatic adjustment of the flow temperature based on the actual heating demand of their rooms.
 

How does Homematic IP adjust the flow temperature of the NIBE heat pump? 

Smart Radiator Thermostats and motorized underfloor heating controllers from Homematic IP can be directly paired with NIBE S-Series heat pumps via the myUplink cloud. Once connected, both systems automatically exchange operating and temperature data. If the devices detect that the heating water reaching the radiators or heating circuits is too hot, the heat pump receives a command to reduce the flow temperature.

This also works the other way around: If the setpoint temperature in one or more rooms is not reached over an extended period, the Homematic IP system instructs the heat pump to increase the flow temperature.

Working together, Homematic IP and the NIBE heat pump ensure comfortably heated rooms with the lowest possible energy consumption.
 

Intelligent use of excess solar power

NIBE heat pumps and Homematic IP have yet another energy-saving trick up their sleeves that allows them to get the most out of any PV system: Storing excess solar power in the form of thermal energy.

An excess of electricity, detected by a Homematic IP interface for smart meters, can be automatically used to fill the domestic hot water tank with hot water. To do this, when the heat pump receives the corresponding signal, it switches to “High” domestic hot water mode and raises the temperature of the hot water tank to a higher level.

Additionally, if desired, the setpoint temperature of specific rooms can be slightly increased during periods of excess electricity. This allows self-generated solar energy—which would otherwise have to be fed into the grid—to be converted into heat and stored, for example, in the bathroom floor. The screed can release the heat overnight without the need for additional heating.

Whether for heating or using solar power, the greatest potential for savings often lies in intelligent control. The combination of Homematic IP and NIBE heat pumps helps make the most efficient use of available energy—and makes sustainable living a little easier in everyday life.