2008-07-23
A Norfolk housing association is putting green energy solutions to the test with a trial site incorporating Dimplex ground source heat pumps.
|
| Heat Pump at Flagship Housing |
|
Norwich-based Dimplex heat pump installer partner Econic Ltd installed the SI 5 ME ground source heat pumps in the houses in the Flagship Housing Group development. The choice of Dimplex equipment over other suppliers’ ensured that the project could benefit from Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2 grant funding, which now provides up to 50% of the capital and installation costs for ground source heat pumps for public sector and not-for-profit organisations.
The basic home is a highly insulated timber frame design, originally awarded an EcoHomes rating of ‘Excellent’ that has now achieved a high level 3 rating (just two points under level 4) under the Code for Sustainable Homes, and the trial focuses on the most effective way to raise this rating through the addition of renewable heating.
The Dimplex heat pumps provide low carbon heating and hot water for a terrace of four two-bedroom and one three-bedroom homes. As space is at a premium in the properties, the heat pumps have been installed externally, in purpose-built units in the gardens of the houses, with vertical ground collectors installed under the back gardens, using push technology from Econic. The ground floors of the houses have underfloor heating, while the upper floors are heated using fan convectors.
Richard Nunn, a director of Econic, comments: “This is a pioneering project using low carbon heating technology, assisted by the LCBP2 heat pump grant scheme, which is only available from BERR-appointed framework suppliers. We are confident that the houses with heat pumps will not only see lower fuel bills but will also benefit from a reduced carbon footprint.”
Although the tenants have yet to receive their first energy bills since moving in in early 2008, early reports on the heat pumps’ performance are positive.
The results of the trial will be independently monitored by the University of East Anglia for at least the first year of the investigation. Laura Handford of the Flagship Housing Group explains: “As the government announces plans to build 10 new eco towns in the UK, this type of test provides valuable statistics on the performance of sustainable technologies, which will help to influence low carbon homes in the future.”
|
Related contacts
|
Dimplex UK Ltd
Millbrook House
Grange Drive
Hedge End
Southampton
Hampshire
SO30 2DF
Tel: 0845 600 5111
Fax: 01489 773050 |
Email link to Dimplex
|
| For latest electrical industry news, register for Voltimum's free newsletter. |
|
|
Source: dimplex |
|
Back