Geothermal and geothermal heating have become common options for heating homes. Installing a heat pump can benefit both the environment and your finances. However, heat pumps also have an impact on the environment, for example when it comes to groundwater. The location of the installation is also important to reduce the impact on the environment.

Before installing a heat pump that extracts heat from rock, soil, surface water or groundwater, you need to register with your local authority. Remember to submit your notification well in advance of your planned installation. The municipality will then make a decision on the matter, which you must wait for before starting the installation. Anyone who installs a heat pump without making a notification will have to pay an environmental penalty.

If you are drilling for geothermal heat or installing surface geothermal heat within a shoreline protection area, i.e. 100 metres from water, the municipality will also assess whether you need to apply for a shoreline protection exemption.

For more information on notification, installation of heat pumps and the notification form, see the list of links on this page. For the notification to be processed, it needs to be complete, which means that the site plan (map) and any neighbouring comments must be included.

Installing an air source heat pump can often be beneficial, both for the environment and for your economy, but sometimes the environment can be negatively affected. For advice on heat pumps, contact the municipality's energy and climate advisors.

There are many different types of air source heat pumps, for example:

• exhaust air heat pump
• air-to-water heat pump
• air source heat pump

Installing a heat pump can benefit both the environment and your finances. However, heat pumps can sometimes have a negative impact on the environment. In addition, some air-source heat pumps on the market cannot cope with the Swedish climate and they can also cause disturbing noise.

Sollefteå municipality's energy and climate advisors can give you more information about the type of heat pump that might be right for your house.

You can also read more about heat pumps on the Swedish Cooling & Heat Pump Association's website.