Integrating Heat Pumps in Commercial Buildings for Decarbonisation

Why heat pumps need more than just plug-and-play

More commercial buildings are adopting heat pumps in response to carbon regulations and rising gas prices. But the success of a heat pump installation depends less on the unit itself and more on the system it connects to.

Simply dropping a heat pump into an existing layout—without addressing flow temperature, hydraulic logic, or zoning—often results in performance failure, high running costs, or occupant discomfort.

If you want to realise the full potential of heat pump technology, the system must be prepared for it.

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Understanding which heat pump fits

Heat pumps vary widely in application and behaviour. Choosing the right type depends on your building, use case, and decarbonisation strategy.

Air-to-water heat pumps are the most common and typically easier to install, but their output is more variable depending on outdoor temperature.
Water-to-water systems offer greater efficiency and are often used in larger buildings or where ground or waste heat is available.
Hybrid heat pumps pair with traditional boilers, offering flexibility and staged electrification.

System design needs to reflect how each unit behaves across the year—not just on a design day.

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Hydraulic integration determines performance

The heat pump isn’t the bottleneck—the hydraulic integration often is.

Many legacy systems were designed around high flow temperatures and uncontrolled loops. When these are left unchanged, they cause return temperatures to spike, emitters to underperform, and pumps to over-deliver.

Key upgrades typically include:

Reducing flow temperatures to 45–55°C
Introducing buffer tanks or hydraulic separators
Rebalancing circuits and correcting valve authority
Adjusting control logic for staged and part-load operation

Simulation makes it possible to test and tune these changes before implementation—ensuring performance, not guesswork.

Explore how Hysopt supports decarbonising your building systems

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Delivering carbon and cost reductions

When integrated properly, heat pumps can deliver substantial carbon savings—especially when powered by renewable electricity. In many cases, buildings can cut heating-related CO₂ emissions by 40–70%, while simultaneously lowering operational expenditure over time.

A recent analysis using Hysopt showed that a university campus, after switching to low-temperature heat pumps and correcting flow imbalances, reduced:

Carbon emissions by 53%
Pump energy use by 38%
Boiler backup runtime by over 70%

The results weren’t from new tech—they came from smart preparation.

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FAQ: Heat pump integration in commercial buildings

Can I install a heat pump without changing my distribution system?

In some cases, yes—but the performance will be limited. Most systems require at least some degree of balancing, flow temp adjustment, and control recalibration.

Is it possible to keep the boiler as backup?

Absolutely. Many commercial projects begin with a hybrid setup, using the boiler for peak loads or redundancy while the heat pump handles base demand.

How can I be sure the heat pump will perform efficiently?

By simulating the full system first. Tools like Hysopt let you test behaviour across the full operating range before installing a single component.

Get the system ready first

Heat pumps can’t perform in a system that fights them. To decarbonise reliably, buildings must shift from product-first thinking to system-first strategy.

Start with simulation, plan your hydraulic layout, and optimise your control logic. That’s how heat pumps deliver on their promise—not just on paper, but in real-world conditions.

Here’s everything you need.