Heat pumps

Shaping the future of low-carbon heating

As the world accelerates towards net zero, the decarbonisation of heat has become a priority. Heat pumps are a key part of that transition, but scaling deployment must go hand in hand with competence, quality and performance.

A heat pump is a versatile system capable of providing heating, cooling and hot water for homes, commercial buildings, and industrial applications. It extracts energy from the air, ground, or water and converts it into heat or, when operated in reverse, removes heat in the same way as an air conditioner. This makes heat pumps a highly efficient, low-carbon and sustainable solution for both heating and cooling. They are effective in almost all climates, thanks to the underlying process known as the refrigerant cycle.

CIBSE leads the professional dialogue on heat pumps globally, informing policy, setting standards and equipping engineers with the expertise to deliver high-performing heat pump systems across new and existing buildings.

Understanding heat pumps

As we step up the transition to low-carbon heating systems, heat pumps are moving from specialist solution to mainstream infrastructure and that shift demands deeper professional understanding.

A heat pump does not generate heat in the conventional sense; it transfers it. Its efficiency depends on system design, operating temperatures, building fabric performance, emitter sizing, controls strategy and commissioning quality. Performance is engineered, it does not happen by default.

Applying heat pumps effectively requires whole-system thinking. Electrical capacity, peak demand, thermal storage, occupant behaviour and integration with wider building services must all be considered. When these factors are properly addressed, heat pumps can deliver highly efficient, low-carbon heating.

CIBSE defines and disseminates the required technical knowledge that underpins successful application. Through guidance, research, training and professional standards, we equip the sector with the competence required to deliver systems that perform reliably and consistently globally.

Why heat pumps matter

Decarbonising heat is one of the most complex challenges facing the built environment. Buildings account for a significant proportion of carbon emissions, and transforming how they are heated is essential to achieving net zero.

Heat pumps are central to this transition but their impact extends beyond carbon reduction. They influence grid demand, building design, capital investment decisions and long-term operational performance. The choices made today will shape energy resilience and building performance for decades.

The transition cannot be measured by installation numbers alone. It must be measured by outcomes: reduced emissions, improved efficiency and systems that operate as intended. That requires standards, evidence and professional accountability.

How CIBSE is leading on heat pumps

Guidance that sets the benchmark

CIBSE develops authoritative technical guidance to ensure heat pumps are designed, installed and operated to deliver measurable performance.

• AM16 Heat pump installations for multi-unit residential buildings
  Best practice guidance for residential heat pump applications, covering system design, commissioning and operational performance.

• AM17 Heat pump installations for large non-domestic buildings
  Comprehensive guidance for large-scale heat pump installations in complex buildings, addressing electrical integration, system design challenges and real-world performance.

• TM51 Ground source heat pumps
  Detailed technical guidance on ground source heat pump systems, their design considerations and application.

• Domestic Heating Design Guide
  Produced by the CIBSE Domestic Building Services Panel, this guide supports low-temperature heating system design and provides essential principles underpinning successful heat pump deployment.

CIBSE is leading the heat pumps conversation. We inform policy, set benchmarks for competence and provide the technical framework that enables heat pumps to deliver at scale. Our focus is clear: ensuring that low-carbon heating solutions achieve the performance the sector and society expects.