This option was disappointing for Gareth,
who runs an office design and build company in the heart of the West End of London, as he and Emma had envisaged the move to this beautiful setting would allow them to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Gareth explains: “I just assumed that we
would have to have oil fired central heating. I didn’t think there was a realistic alternative. I was chatting about it with Paul Worth who is the MD of 360 Engineering, a company I use to install air conditioning on my work projects, and he instantly recommended we use an […] air source heat pump system. "I was taken by surprise as we were not really
aware that there was an alternative to oil here. When we moved in there was no central heat- ing at all and there was just an immersion heater for hot water. However, Paul explained that we could use the air source heat pump in conjunc- tion with a conventional radiator system to heat the house and provide hot water. I was also impressed with the fact that it is such a straight- forward system to install. It combines with stan- dard radiators, just like a traditional central heat- ing system, so there was no impact on the refurbishment of our home” Air source heat pumps work by taking heat
from the outside air and transferring it indoors even at cold temperatures down to -20° C. They require a small amount of electricity, but because
they take free heat from the air they are extremely cost efficient and produce comparatively low carbon emissions. In fact the heat pump used in the Jordan’s house produces more than three units of heat for every unit of electricity used; even the most efficient gas boiler only produces 0.93 units of heat for each unit of gas it requires. The UK is committed to reducing the amount
of carbon emitted from our homes by one third over the next ten years, and to producing 15 per cent of our energy through renewable technologies such as air source heat pumps. The Government is currently developing a Green Deal for homeowners to help improve the energy efficiency in our homes, which it will roll out over the next parliament. In order to qualify for the funding available, renewable products used must usually be accredited under a programme called the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) and the company that installs the product must also be MCS accredited. The MCS scheme gives consumers the assurance that products and companies comply with a set of rigorous standards. The Jordan’s system works with a conventional
radiator system, which was installed by a local plumber, then 360 Engineering simply fitted the air source heat pump to the system. The system comprises an outdoor unit that can be situated up to 70 metres away from the house, plus an indoor unit, which is usually fitted where a conventional boiler would be. In addition, a hot water cylinder is needed for hot water provision. For Gareth and Emma, as well as Kitty, 9,
Jamie, 7, and 18 month-old Alexander, the most important fact is that their home is beautifully
THE CENTRAL HUB OF THE HOME IS THE HEATING AND HOT WATER SYSTEM
Enq. 149 selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.eu 45
we could use the air source heat pump in conjunction with a conventional radiator system
DURING THE INSTALLATION THERE WAS NO IMPACT ON THE REFURBISHMENT OF THE HOME
warm, has plenty of hot water when they need it, and they are not producing unnecessarily high carbon emissions. “The most amazing thing is that the heat pump
worked beautifully throughout last winter,” said Gareth. “Kent experienced the coldest winter for 30 years and even in the deep snow we had, the house was beautifully warm. We didn't experience any problems whatsoever.”
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