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Ground source heat pump pilot a success

Posted: 30/01/2007

A Council scheme to test ground source heat pumps and energy saving measures has proved a runaway success. Harrogate Borough Council fitted ground source heat pumps (GSHP) to eight detached bungalows in a year long trial to measure their energy and cost efficiency. Energy bills were high, ranging from £450 - £700 for hot water and heating before the beginning of the study. A year on the council monitored performance and found significant gains had been made. Average bills were down to £215.

The original aim of the scheme was to relieve tenants of fuel poverty (in the context of ever increasing fuel prices) in a way that was cost effective to the Council. The use of renewable technology, as well as acheiving a dramatic saving on fuel bills, has resulted in at least a 53% - 71% reduction in CO2 emissions as well as a 52% - 78% reduction in energy consumption.

The old people's bungalows, built in 1979, were off the gas network and the standard improvement option would have been electric storage heaters. This would have required a larger electrical sub-station to be built and the replacement of a supply cable.

The storage heater option would have resulted in installation costs for the Council which were comparable with the provision of the ground source heat pumps. However the heat pumps had the added benefits of lower running costs to the tenants and significant reduction in CO2 emissions (one of the Council’s top corporate priorities is caring for the environment’).

The units were installed in the summer of 2005. Originally five of the properties had solid fuel heating and three had electric storage heaters. The properties chosen were originally constructed with empty cavities and low levels of loft insulation.

As well as having GSHP installed, the properties have been upgraded with additional cavity wall insulation and loft insulation levels up to 250mm. The windows had been replaced with double glazed units. Doors are composite and thermally efficient. High levels of insulation were deemed necessary as a pre-requisite for installation of a heat pump system.

In the year leading up to the installation of heat pumps, the residents were using a range of electricity and coal to heat the bungalows and provide hot water. The post installation average annual heating and hot water bill of £215 has been calculated for homes with the heating level set at 210C, but as people have become used to the availability of constant heat, several have decided that a lower temperature is preferable and this may result in them reducing their heating costs further at a later date.

The tenants say they are mostly happy with their new heating systems. Some have used phrases such as “we are entirely satisfied with the heating systems” and “we are happy using these heat pumps”, although, because there is a constantly even temperature around the clock, others have found their bedrooms too warm at night. This is being addressed by the provision of thermostatic radiator valves.

The Council’s heating contractor Help-Link UK installed the “IVT Greenline” units, manufactured in Sweden, supplied by Ice Energy, and the Council is currently preparing a funding bid to install further ground source heat pump units along with other renewable technology systems.

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