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Ground Source Heat Pumps at The Really Green Heating Company

Ground Source Heat Pumps | FAQ

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Converting energy in the ground into low cost heating and hot water for your home.

A ground source heat pump is an electrically powered system that taps into the natural energy stored in the earth to heat your home. The systems we supply can provide all of your heating and hot water needs.The principle is simple, and the result is low-cost comfortable heating that uses sustainable energy and causes no direct emissions or other damage to the environment. For every single kilowatt of electricity used to power the heat pumps, this system could generate four kilowatts or more of heat for your home.

The different types of ground source collectors:

Horizontal Collector	Compact Collector	Bore Hole Collector

What's more, it also helps to conserve the earth's dwindling supplies of non renewable fossil fuels; coal, gas and oil.
Heat pumps are extremely reliable and long lasting with a typical system lasting up to 25 years and the ground pump lasting up to 50 years. We are also giving a free 5-year part and labour manufacturers warranty on all systems fitted by the Really Green Heating Company.

There’s more good news. You could also qualify for a government grant towards the cost of installation under its Low Carbon Buildings Programme.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sustainable energy?

Sustainable energy is best thought of as energy which can be replenished within a human lifetime and which causes no long-term damage to the environment.

Solar energy, wind energy and geothermal energy, amongst others are all self sustaining. They all have sources that cannot be depleted. Extended use of these energy aids the conservation of other non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels.

How does a heat pump work?

The technology inside a heat pump works on similar principles to those of a domestic fridge. Heat pumps take advantage of the principles of thermodynamics in order to achieve their results.
A water and glycol mixture is pumped around the collector circuit and causes the refrigerant in the evaporator to turn into a gas. This refrigerant passes through the compressor, causing the temperature to rise significantly. The hot gas moves to the condenser, where it condenses and the latent energy is released into the heating circuit.

How is energy collected from the ground?

There are three options to obtain energy from the ground.
In a horizontal collector, lengths of pipe are buried underground to a depth of 1 metre. This is a good solution if the property in question has enough land to accommodate the collector. Worcester offer compact collectors which reduce the amount of space required for the collector by increasing the amount of pipe work in given area.
An alternative to the horizontal collector types is the vertical collector. A bore hole is drilled to a depth of between 60 and 200 metres, and the collector is fed into the hole. A vertical collector minimises the amount of land required on the surface of the collector.

What type of heat pumps will be available?

Worcester will launch a range of three system heat pump models for use with an external cylinder.

Will I also need a boiler with the Greenstore system?

In the majority of circumstances, the answer is no. Worcester’s system is all you need to satisfy your total heating and hot water requirements. However, the Really Green Heating Company will advise you on your individual situation.

Can I keep my existing radiators?

Ideally, for maximum benefit and efficiency, a heat pump is best used with underfloor heating, but oversized radiators are also a practical option.

What is COP?

It stands for Coefficient of Performance and it relates to the amount of energy extracted from the ground for each unit of energy used to run the pump.

A heat pump could provide between 3-5kW of heat for each kW of electricity used. The return varies according to the temperature of the heat collected and the heat required to heat your property.

For example; 3kW of heat is provided by the pump and 9kW of heat is provided by the ground source, making a total of 12kW. To calculate the COP, divide the total (12kW) by the amount provided by the heat pump (3kW). This gives a COP of 4.

Am I entitled to a grant towards the cost of installing a heat pump system?

The government is actively encouraging the use of sustainable energy domestic heating systems, and under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme you can apply for a grant.

For more information call The Really Green Heating Company on 0800 634 4954 today.