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Heat pump technology offers cooling alternatives for summer heat
As summer heatwaves become more frequent, homeowners are increasingly looking toward heat pumps and specialized building materials to manage indoor temperatures without traditional air conditioning.
Experts from Verbraucherzentrale NRW note that heat pumps can provide cooling through two methods: active cooling, which uses reversible heat pumps to move heat from indoors to outdoors, and passive cooling, which uses heat exchangers to transfer heat to groundwater or soil. While passive cooling is less powerful, it is significantly more energy-efficient and can help regenerate geothermal probes.
However, the rise in heat pump installations—which were the most common heating systems in 2025—has led to recurring installation errors. A study by the Institut für Bauforschung, commissioned by the Bauherren-Schutzbund, identified the ten most common mistakes in new builds and renovations. To ensure quality, experts recommend checking for professional certifications, such as the 'Fachbetrieb Wärmepumpe' seal, and verifying a company's experience and maintenance services.
Alternative climate-resilient construction methods also show promise. For example, using clay modules in ceilings can act as a natural buffer for temperature and humidity, stabilizing the indoor climate and working in tandem with water-based ceiling heating/cooling systems.
Entities
Bauherren-Schutzbund · Bundesverband Wärmepumpe · Germany · Institut für Bauforschung · Verbraucherzentrale NRW
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Heat pumps were the most commonly installed heating systems in 2025. www.carmen-ev.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Using clay modules in ceilings can regulate temperature and humidity to provide cooling without traditional air conditioning. www.tagesschau.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A study commissioned by the Bauherren-Schutzbund identified the 10 most common errors in heat pump installation for new builds and renovations. www.carmen-ev.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Passive cooling uses heat exchangers to transfer building heat to cooler ground or groundwater, offering lower cooling capacity but higher energy efficiency. supertipp-online.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Active cooling is achieved via reversible heat pumps that reverse the cycle to move heat from indoors to outdoors. supertipp-online.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Not all heat pumps are equally suitable for cooling; suitability depends on the system's technology and appropriate heating surfaces. supertipp-online.de