Ground heat pumps are a renewable source of energy as the heat comes originally from the sun. For every unit of electricity used to pump the heat, three or four units of heat are produced. Heat pumps comprise three main elements, firstly a loop or lengths of pipe buried in the ground in a horizontal trench or in a borehole. The pipe is filled with a mixture of water and antifreeze. Secondly a pump is used to pump the mixture around the pipe where it absorbs heat from the ground. Thirdly there is the distribution system which is normally in the form of under floor heating or radiators. In some cases water storage for hot water supply is also included.

The ground source pump has three elements an evaporator, compressor and a condenser. The pump of course requires a supply of electricity to operate it. Both the type of property and heating requirements will have a bearing on the different options adopted in terms of the type of loop. Boreholes tend to be used where space is limited, but where there is space available then a trench can be dug and either a horizontal or spiral loop inserted. A ground source heat pump can provide 100% of space heating requirements, but will usually only pre-heat domestic hot water, so top up heating with an immersion heater is required.

A ground heat pump whilst providing green energy in the form of heat from the earth, requires electricity to operate the pump and if this supply of electricity is provided by fossil fuels then the system is not 100% green. It will be necessary to source a green supply of electricity. However even without green electricity, the emissions will still be less than with other heating systems. Some grants are available for this type of heating and it should certainly be considered if funds and space are available.

Company Resource: Industrial Air Conditioner, Air Source Heat Pump, Modular Air Conditioner