1. Run your heat pump when electricity is cheaper
You can set your heat pump to use more electricity during the cheapest periods of the day. In a year-long study with university researchers, we confirmed that the biggest savings go to households on a variable-rate electricity plan, who can save up to 31% on their monthly bill using smart control. The mechanism is simple: every house behaves like a large thermal battery. The heat stored in your walls and floors can be used to coast through the most expensive periods without affecting your indoor comfort.
Price swings on the dynamic electricity market have grown sharper year on year. Over the past 12 months, our average customer saved more than €200 on their electricity bill—about a quarter more than the year before. For larger apartment buildings with heat pumps, the savings from automated control topped €1 000.
2. Lower your indoor temperature
Another major saving comes from simply lowering your setpoint temperature. It reduces heat loss and simultaneously improves your heat pump’s efficiency. A study in winter 2023/24 showed that lowering the indoor temperature from 23°C to 21°C in a 167 m² detached home delivered a 22% saving on heating costs. Adjust the temperature in small steps: a well-insulated building can take a day or two before you actually feel the change indoors. Make sure to lower the setpoint directly on your heat pump rather than just tweaking room thermostats, as this is the key to actually improving your heat pump’s efficiency (COP).
3. Turn down your hot water tank
A frequently overlooked saving sits right in your hot water tank. With a heat pump, it pays to keep the hot water temperature lower than you would with a standard electric boiler—for example, 50°C instead of 60°C. Heat pumps run significantly more efficiently when producing heat at lower temperatures. Modern heat pumps include an anti-legionella cycle that automatically heats the water to 60°C once a week, keeping your water clean and safe from bacteria.
4. Put a timer on your hot water circulation pump
Many homes have a hot water circulation pump so that warm water reaches the tap instantly. The downside? Your tank cools down much faster while everyone is out for the day. The simplest fix is adding a basic timer to the circulation pump, setting it to run only in the morning and evening when your household actually uses hot water. To give an example for a typical home: when the circulation pump runs all day, the heat pump has to reheat the tank two or three times while nobody is home. With the pump on a timer, it runs at most once a day.