For a full year I have lived in a house that has one of these.
It’s a hot summer and I’m delighted that it can not only heat but also keep my place cool!
Now I got an email from my electricity provider that during the last weeks (I was at home most of the time) my electricity consumption was roughly twice of what it usually is.
Hence my question: compared to its heating capabilities, does a heat pump use much more electricity for cooling?
I’m not looking for a scientific breakdown.
edit:
Thanks for all replies so far. Cooling seems to be trickier than heating and I should keep my windows closed, which just feels wrong during summer… but apart from that cooling does not use more energy than heating.
Like other commentators have already stated, the conditions (temperature difference) in winter and summer are different.
However, if the temperature differences are the same, only reversed, heating requires less energy than cooling, as the (electric) power is also transformed to heat which in winter, when in heating mode is also usable heat, while in summer, it adds to the heat that needs to be discharged outdoors.
E.g. a heat pump with a electric power consumption of 1 kW and a COP of 5 transfers 5 kW usable heat, but has only a cooling power of 4 kW (and thus, an EER of 4).
There’s the answer I was looking for.
Do you think your example is realistic? That would be 20% - a relevant difference. Not ALL the electrical power consumption will be turned into inside heat I guess?