Ground source heat pumps

This depends upon whether you choose horizontal ground loop or vertical borehole installation. Horizontal ground loops need the most space – typically at least three times your total floor area (including ground and upper floors). Vertical boreholes can be installed on a smaller plot, but there are restrictions as to how close these can be sited to buildings, so it is best to check with an expert before making a decision.

Don’t forget to account for space within your home for the GSHP, cylinder and buffer tank – most people choose to locate these in a separate plant room.

A GSHP’s Coefficient of Performance, or COP, refers to the amount of energy produced by the heat pump compared to the amount of energy used to run it. The higher the COP, the more efficient the technology.

For example, an electric fire using 1kWh of electricity to generate 1kWh of heat would have a COP of 1 – making it 100% efficient as it uses the same amount of energy as it generates. A GSHP that uses 1kWh of electricity to generate 4kWh of heat would have a COP of 4 and is 400% efficient, extracting an additional 3kWh of heat from the ground to provide heating and hot water.

Absolutely! Underfloor heating (UFH) is at its most efficient when operating at lower flow temperatures – GSHPs provide a low-level, constant heat, making them a perfect partner for UFH.

MCS-compliant GSHP installations qualify for 7 years of RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) payments, which can be used to offset the cost of the installation. An average three bedroom house using 15,000kWh of heating per year could qualify for in the region of 20p per kWh, amounting to around £15,000 of RHI payments over 7 years (figures correct as at March 2019).