Ground Source
THERE is enough hidden warmth in the ground outside a building to heat a well-insulated home or office efficiently. A ground source heat pump uses a network of pipes either laid out beneath a garden or buried vertically deep into the ground to pick up this heat and transfer it to heat radiators, underfloor heating or even hot water. The heat transfer takes place 24 hours a day, seven days a week – even on the coldest days in winter, as the temperature about two metres beneath the ground remains fairly constant. Technology inside the heat pump boosts the low grade heat to a higher temperature which an be used to provide heating and hot water in the house. The cooler fluid passes back onto the ground where the cycle continues as it absorbs more eat before going back into the hat pump. Heat pumps do have some impact on the environment, as they use electricity to run, but their carbon footprint can be significantly reduced by using photovoltaic (PV) solar technology to generate some of the energy they need to run. However, compared to traditional heating methods like oil and gas, the heat pump is much more environmentally friendly, as the heat they extract from the ground is a free, natural resource. Using a heat pump effectively to keep a home or office warm means a change in habits compared to traditional heating systems. For instance, unlike gas or oil boilers, ground and air source heat pumps deliver constant heat at lower temperatures. But in a well-insulated home or office, the system can be left on 24/7 during colder periods and can still provide efficient heating. This means that radiators feel warm to the touch, rather than being hot as they would when using a gas or oil boiler.
The benefits of ground source heat pumps
According to the Energy Saving Trust, ground source heat pumps can be environmentally friendly while saving money for businesses and households.
Benefits include:
- Heat pumps can lower a home or business’s carbon emissions, so reducing its carbon footprint.
- Ground source heat pumps can heat spaces AND provide hot water.
- There is no need for any fuel deliveries.
- A heat pump can lower fuel bills, particularly if a property is heated with a conventional electric system or an inefficient traditional set-up.
- Running costs are low as heat pumps require hardly require any maintenance.
