With government targets clearly focussed on reducing the carbon dioxide emissions of every home, integrating energy-efficient products such as heat pumps, solar and underfloor heating, is set to continue.
An ASHP working efficiently can reduce energy consumption for heating by up to 50% when compared to conventional heat systems...
Underfloor heating
 Underfloor heating installation Even used as a stand alone space heating solution, underfloor has much to commend it to a number of different markets sectors:
- For house-builders it delivers the opportunity to secure quicker sales cycles and achieve optimum selling prices.
- In the healthcare/education arenas it is a safer alternative to radiators, since the gentle, effective heat cannot burn vulnerable people.
- Used in social housing projects, it can reduce heating bills for tenants and lower maintenance for housing associations/RSLs. Underfloor heating is virtually impossible to steal once screeded into a floor; compare that with radiators, which frequently go missing from site.
Solar thermal technology and heat pumps systems are ideally suited to work with underfloor heating, given its low operating temperatures.
 Ground source heat pump Air source heat pumps
Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) are the easiest heat pump to fit, either in a retro-fit or new-build situation, since they require no groundworks or building work to install. The only space required is beside an outside wall, making them ideal for well-insulated houses and apartments.
An ASHP will cover the heating requirements of a well-insulated property in all but the most extreme conditions. When used in combination with an immersion heater, both heating and hot water needs will be met. An ASHP working efficiently can reduce energy consumption for heating by up to 50% when compared to conventional heating systems.
Ground source heat pumps
Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) take advantage of the fact that the top 15m of the Earth’s crust maintains a year-round temperature of approximately 12°C. Installation of ground collectors takes two forms, the most common being pipes laid one metre below the surface in a series of horizontal trenches. Alternatively, pipe can be placed in one or more boreholes. The pipe is usually a closed circuit filled with a mix of water and anti-freeze that absorbs heat from the ground. This heat is then concentrated and available for domestic hot water and underfloor heating.
Exhaust air heat pumps
An exhaust air heat pump extracts air via ductwork connected to the warm areas of the building such as bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms. Heat is removed from the air and transferred into the heat pump’s refrigerant circuit before being discharged to the outside. The vapour compression cycle of the heat pump then raises the temperature of the refrigerant and transfers the heat into a water based system that can either warm the domestic hot water or heat the building.
Solar thermal technology
Solar thermal water heating systems are fairly standard now in the UK, most commonly in the domestic arena. However, solar heating is becoming more accepted in the public sector, for example in sheltered housing schemes, housing association developments, offices and leisure centres.
It is currently one of the most affordable renewable technologies and, if sized correctly, can provide the average home with more than 50 percent of its hot water needs over a year.
For more information about solar, underfloor heating, heat pumps or renewables training, please call Nu-Heat on 0800 731 1976.
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0800 731 1976
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