Speaker
Description
The transition toward air-source heat pumps is a key component of decarbonizing building energy systems. However, noise emissions remain a significant barrier to public acceptance, particularly in dense residential environments. Addressing this challenge requires not only mitigation measures but also improved predictive tools that support optimal system placement early in the planning process.
This contribution presents recent outcomes from the international collaboration IEA HPT Annex 63, which focuses on understanding how installation conditions influence acoustic performance. A central result is the development of an expanded, openly accessible database that compiles detailed acoustic source data for outdoor heat pump units. Unlike conventional metrics based solely on overall sound power levels, the database provides frequency-resolved and direction-dependent information, allowing for more realistic modeling of sound propagation in built environments.
The dataset integrates measurements from multiple laboratories using standardized evaluation and conversion procedures, enabling consistent comparison across different units and test methods. Analysis of representative systems reveals systematic variations in sound radiation depending on unit orientation and component layout, with implications for installation design. For instance, certain unit faces exhibit reduced emission levels, offering potential for passive noise mitigation through strategic placement.
As Annex 63 approaches completion, the work highlights how harmonized acoustic data can support planners, engineers, and policymakers in balancing energy efficiency goals with environmental quality. The results contribute to the development of more reliable prediction models and practical guidelines, facilitating the wider adoption of heat pumps in a socially acceptable and sustainable manner.