The cold is back. And he did it by force. When we thought we were going to experience the warmest winter in history, Squalls Gerard and Fien took control of the peninsula and we saw a notable drop in temperatures in almost all cities. It also comes at a time when energy prices continue to skyrocket: OCU estimates that every home spends 750 euros a year on heating.

And, of course, families wonder how they can save money on airing their homes. The answer could be: aerothermal energy. Or better: government-subsidized aerothermal.

What is aerothermal energy? It is a system that allows the use of thermal energy from the air to produce both air conditioning and heating or hot water. I eat? Thanks to the heat exchange between the two systems: our home and outside.

When we want to cool our house, we will have to throw the heat outside. When we want to heat our house, we will have to get heat from outside by expelling the cold air. These changes are effected by a fluid that can pass into liquid and gaseous states. releasing or absorbing heat in phase change.

How to install at home? All these processes are carried out in a system called “heat pump”, which will allow us to heat or cool according to the working direction of the fluid. Therefore, we will need to have a unit inside and outside the house tasked with expelling hot or cold air.

Among the most common systems, underfloor heating, which provides an ideal temperature distribution due to the laying of ducts under the floor, and heats the room by passing water through it, stands out. However, installation is more expensive and requires more work. Another system is low-temperature radiators: they are like conventional radiators but more efficient because they operate at a lower temperature. In this case, installation is easier, faster and cheaper.

Is it expensive or cheap? The good news is that the compressor consumes only electrical energy to run its motor: it produces 3 to 4 kWh of heat energy for every kWh it uses. So it is very efficient. It is the initial cost that can recoup more than one, but it is true that in the long run it is recovered by the subsequent energy savings. There are also a number of Government subsidies to realize these thermal facilities at the residential level with aerothermal energy.

State aid. They are promoted through the Spanish Plan for Recovery, Transformation and Resilience and Royal Decree 477/2021. The aim is to achieve “decarbonisation by investing in green infrastructures”. Basic assistance ranges from 500 €/kW to a maximum of 3,000 Euros per house in the residential sector and from 650 €/kW/kW to 3,900 Euros for public housing and the third sector.

On the other hand, there is additional help for adapting the air conditioning and hydraulic circuits. Underfloor heating: 600 €/kW, with a limit of 3,600 € per house. Low temperature radiators or fan coils: 550 €/kW, with a limit of 1,830 € per house. Both grants can be combined, so in the case of a heat pump and underfloor heating installation the maximum grant can be up to € 6,500.

How is it requested? They can be ordered until 31 December 2023. IDEA website where you will find access to the portals through which the assistance of each Autonomous Community is managed. Andalusia, Catalonia, Madrid, Valencia and Basque Country are the five countries with the largest budgets. Other assistance may be requested for solar, biomass, geothermal, hydrothermal technology installations for air conditioning and/or domestic hot water.

Image: Remove Splash