Heat Pumps Explained: Efficient Hot Water, Heating & the All-Electric Home (Part 1)

Dean sits down with Tom Stephenson from Stiebel Eltron to unpack heat pump technology and the role it plays in electrifying modern homes.

Tom explains how heat pumps work, why they’re significantly more efficient than gas systems, and how pairing them with solar PV changes the way homes consume and store energy.

They explore why improving building fabric should come before adding mechanical systems, and how architects, builders and developers are starting to rethink energy systems in residential construction.

The conversation explores:

How heat pumps workWhat Coefficient of Performance (COP) meansWhy heat pumps can produce 3–4x more heat energy than the electricity they useAir-to-air, air-to-water and ground-source heat pumpsWhy Australia’s plumbing systems have traditionally relied on gasThe shift toward all-electric homesSolar PV, thermal storage and hot water as a “thermal battery”Why building fabric and insulation matter before mechanical systemsTom’s own all-electric home and how it performs in practice

Links and Resources:

Stiebel Eltron Australia: stiebel-eltron.com.auYour Home - Guide to Environmentally Sustainable Homes : yourhome.gov.au

Hosted by Dean Ipaviz, builder & director at Verdecon, creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @_thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au