| Summary: | Conservation heating is used to control relative humidity in order to better preserve historic buildings and their interiors. The heating load for conservation heating when applied in a Nordic climate was characterized in order to investigate if and how air-to-air heat pumps can be used for conservation heating. Heating for conservation results in indoor temperatures that follow the seasonal variation of the outdoor temperature. Depending on the season and moisture load on the building, the indoor temperature will be 0-10 °C higher than the ambient temperature. The heating load is much smaller and more stable over the year as compared to heating for comfort. In the south of Sweden conservation heating is motivated mainly by preservation aspects, whereas in northern Sweden the potential for energy saving is considerable. Heat pumps in general and air-to air heat pumps in particular, have properties that match the requirements of conservation heating and can provide a cost effective solution. Heat pumps specially designed for conservation heating could improve the performance radically in relation to standard heat pumps.
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