HEATING & PLUMBING
ARISTON BRINGS THERMAL COMFORT TO BARN CONVERSION
Spreading the word
In addition to training initiatives, in the interest of raising awareness for merchants and homeowners alike, Daikin, the UK heat pump manufacturer, has been launching Sustainable Home Centres for some years. These centres allow visitors to view heat pumps and innovative technology up close. In addition to serving as a showroom, the Centre also functions as a training facility and a stocklist for installers transitioning to renewable energy technologies.
One of the most recent centres, opened at the Bradford branch of James Hargreaves Plumbers Merchants on July 18 in a partnership between the two.
their own home for free, with no financial or reputational risk.
In a similar vein, Grant UK has launched its own programme, called ‘Start with Grant’, also partnering with Nesta on the project. Grant is delivering a version of the programme that is tailored to its own products and services, offering a complete solution from training to MCS certification through Heat Pump Go’s umbrella scheme, which handles the certification, making the process accessible for those still working towards MCS accreditation.
“This isn’t just about installing a heat pump,” said Anna Wakefield, head of internal sales and marketing at Grant. “It’s about helping installers understand the technology, build their confidence and become genuine advocates for low carbon heating. When they can speak from personal experience, it transforms how they connect with customers. Start with Grant gives them that insight and reassurance.”
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The new Sustainable Home Centre is open to installers and homeowners in the region, serving as both a showroom and a training facility and stocklist for installers transitioning to renewable energy technologies. Commercial manager of heating & renewables at Daikin UK, Iain Bevan says: “Heat pumps hold immense potential for slashing energy consumption and home bills. Over their 15-year lifespan, transitioning from a fossil fuel boiler to an air source heat pump on a low-cost heat pump tariff could yield savings exceeding £6,000 compared to gas boilers, over £7,000 compared to oil, and surpassing £17,000 compared to LPG.
“Our studies reveal that a staggering 68% of homeowners are unaware of the significantly higher energy efficiency of heat pumps over gas boilers. While gas boilers operate at 70-90% efficiency, heat pumps soar between 300- 400%. There is an essential need to educate homeowners about heat pump technology, and our Sustainable Home Centres within the James Hargreaves Plumbing Supplies branches offer the ideal platform for such endeavours.’’. BMJ
A
fter suffering from years of poor heating performance, the owner of a five-bedroom, barn conversation property located in Newquay, Cornwall, decided it was time to switch out the existing heat pump system for a new Ariston NIMBUS Pocket 150 air source heat pump (ASHP). The new ASHP was installed by Ariston partner, BoilerTech.
An easy-to-install system The installation process involved a complete rehaul of the old ASHP, including a rewiring of the system, set-up of zoning in the house and the installation of the new Ariston ASHP and associated controls. BoilerTech, a long- standing Ariston partner covering the whole of Cornwall, was called in to take on the project.
The NIMBUS Pocket M NET R32 was the heat pump of choice due to its high efficiency and low environmental impact. Its modern and innovative design is the result of thorough consultation with professionals and allows for flexibility when it comes to diverse installation needs. Using Eco Refrigerant R32, it produces low noise levels up to 53dB(A), a power range between 1.7 to 17.7kW and can be remotely managed with the Ariston NET app. The property will now benefit from better heating performance and excellent thermal comfort for the family. The efficiencies gained from the right installation and zoning mean the homeowner could expect to see energy and cost savings of up to 20% when compared to the old system.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2025
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