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Q Is
it really the cheapest central heating system to run?
A Yes it is - by at least
a factor of 3! and as oil and gas get more expensive, it will be even more
economical.
Q How much money will it save
me each year.
A It will save more than 70%
of your space and water heating bills, so if for example you spend £700
per annum on oil/gas and electricty heating bills, then you can expect to pay
less than £200 in an equivalent house heated with geothermal and solar. The
actual costs will depend on house size, insulation quality and heat usage. The
best cost savings are made in rural areas where LPG and oil are more expensive
than natural gas. See the chart below.
Q How much does it cost to
install?
A At present, heat pumps and
solar are slightly more expensive to install; as a very rough guide, the
total capital costs are about 20% higher than a gas or oil condensing boiler,
radiators and fuel storage system. You will be saving up to 80% per
annum in running costs and about 50% of overall costs including running costs,
maintenance and depreciation over time - so it is a very cost-effective option.
Q If
it’s so good, why
doesn’t everybody use it?
A Of course the best question! Because:-
- It is really
only suitable for new build, barn conversions or major renovation because
it needs underfloor heating.
- You need a biggish garden
to bury the ground source pipes and so it fits best in rural or surburban
environments.
Q Am
I really helping the environment?
A Absolutely
yes - no fuel is directly burned - the only carbon emissions are
from electricity production and this will probably get greener. Reduced
carbon dioxide emissions reduce global warming.
Q Is it complicated
to use?
A No - it is fully automatic
and controlled like any other central heating system by room thermostats.
Q Can
the system be installed in any house?
A It is ideally installed
in new build or houses undergoing major renovation because it works best
using underfloor heating.
Q Do I have to install both
heat pump and solar?
A This is the most energy efficient
combination, but you can install only a heat pump instead of a boiler for space
heating and/or you can install a solar collector and save those hot water costs.
Q I
have already decided to use environmentally friendly heating for my project
- What should I do now?
A Contact
us by telephone or by using the email form and we will call you to discuss
your project - from there we would need copies of the draft plans and
we can supply advice and a quotation for design and installation. You
are only eligible for the government grants (up to £2000) if you use
a registered installer like us.
Q I am starting a new-build
project, major renovation or a barn conversion, when should I consider using
heat pump and solar heating?
A From early
in the design phase - either contact us for discussion or ask your architect
to contact us. We will work with you or them through the design stage.
Q I
am an architect, should I recommend this form of heating to my clients?
A Yes
indeed, it is cheaper, safer, more reliable and easily meets the Part ‘L’ requirements
of building regulations and will almost certainly meet any future toughening
of the carbon or heat input rules. Talk to us.
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