Barometer - Heat pumps

The market of heat pumps dedicated to the heating and cooling of buildings had an important growth till 2008, since then the market evolution has been in saw-teeth. The slowing down of the economy in Europe, financial uncertainties, the low number of newly constructed buildings have had a bad impact on the sales. In 2011 1.79 million units were sold in Europe and only 1.65 millions in 2012, it means a decrease of 8%. Aero-thermal heat pumps represent 94% of the installations, the remainder being geothermal heat pumps. Italy ranks first with about 16 million heat pumps operating in 2012, France is second with 1.3 million and Sweden third with about 900.000 units. The main European manufacturers of heat pumps are listed. (A.C.)