Air/Water Heat Pumps in Existing Heating and Hot Water Systems for Better Urban Air Quality and Primary Energy Savings: Scenarios of Two Italian Cities

In a previous work, significant contribution to urban air pollution, related fuel-fired heating systems, was recorded. Thus, the replacement of existing boilers for space and domestic hot water (DHW) production systems with high-temperature air/water heat pumps (which can operate radiators, most common terminals in building stock), is proposed improvement quality. Scenarios substitution within entire residential stock two Italian cities, Milan Salerno, belonging different climate zones their own thermophysical characteristics, were analyzed. For each them, consequences intervention on emission reduction, primary energy savings lower CO2 evaluated. The results show that reduction consumption, evaluated at design outdoor temperature present generation mix, varied between 34% 54% 43% 60% values renewable fraction electricity generation. range 30–52% 39–58% respectively. only unfavorable case occurred completely non-renewable scenario. intervention, which implies decrease emissions pollutants areas, unobtrusive citizens, since (HPs) are coupled current without internal distribution system being modified.