When Nature Meets Heat Pump Technology

Modern heat pumps in New Zealand are compact units of technological innovation and visionary design. They’re far more efficient than their predecessors – the average heat pump can produce around 4kW of heat energy out of every 1kW of electrical energy you put into it. And each manufacturer seems to have a high-tech point of difference to accompany that efficiency. For example, Mitsubishi’s much-vaunted ‘HyperCore Technology’ which guarantees full effectiveness down to minus 15 degrees.

For all that wizardry, a very important component of modern heat pumps has very down to earth properties. It’s called catechin, and if you drink green tea, you’ve probably heard of it. Catechin is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in green tea; as a water-soluble polyphenol, it is extracted from the leaves during the brewing process and then consumed. But you don’t have to drink green tea to increase your intake of catechins. They’re found in unpeeled apples, berries, cherries and peaches. For those with a taste for the finer things in life, wine and chocolate are also rich sources of the compound.

Catechins have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, as well as a natural antioxidant in oils and fats, as a supplement for animal feeds ( to improve animal health and to protect animal products), as an antimicrobial agent in foodstuffs, and as an ingredient in health foods and nutritional supplements. Human health benefits of catechins include improved cardiovascular health, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity properties, as well as healthier skin.

Catechins are so versatile that they’re also found in many modern heat pumps. They’re infused into the filters in many heat pumps; they trap and deactivate microscopic bacteria and viruses, and in turn, reduce or even prevent the spread of some diseases. Furthermore, they strip the passing air of odour-causing pollutants, including tobacco smoke and pet smells.

There is often a question surrounding heat pumps and air quality. Catechin filters effectively answer this question and provides a cleaner, fresher environment in homes or commercial premises. In New Zealand, catechin filters are approved by The Asthma Foundation’s Sensitive Choice Programme, which identifies products and services that may benefit people with asthma and allergies. As well as being good for the environment, and for those breathing in the air, catechin filters are also known as being easy to clean and maintain.

Technology advances at a speed that dazzles us and this is certainly true in the world of heat pumps. It seems that if we blink, we miss the latest innovation. But even the most innovative heat pump specialists aren’t afraid to embrace natural solutions if it allows them to deliver a better product to the marketplace. This is certainly the case with catechin filters.