Debunking Misconceptions: Heat Pumps Compatible with Older Buildings
Headline: Ground Source Heat Pumps Transform Edwardian-Era London Social Housing
In an innovative move, a ground source heat pump system has been installed into an Edwardian-era building in London, marking a significant step towards decarbonizing heat in buildings. The project, part of a regeneration of The Sutton Dwellings estate by housing provider Clarion Housing, has seen each new social home equipped with a compact ground source heat pump for heating and hot water.
This marks the oldest social housing flats to be heated using a networked heat pump solution to date. The renewable heat energy for the pumps is sourced from 27 boreholes drilled beneath the estate, providing a sustainable and efficient heating solution for the 81 flats spread across four blocks.
Stuart Gadsden, Commercial Director at Kensa, the company responsible for the installation, claims the project proves that ground source heat pumps can work in older buildings and even in cities, despite space limitations. He further emphasized that the installation demonstrates the seamless integration of history and modern solutions.
The installation of these heat pumps, small enough to be housed inside a cupboard in each flat, has had no impact on the exterior of the property. Residents, who previously relied on coal fireplaces and later gas for heating, can now enjoy low-cost, low-carbon heating and hot water, ensuring their homes remain warm.
This project could serve as a blueprint for other social housing providers seeking to decarbonize their properties. The project aligns with Kensa's mission to continually seek innovative solutions to improve lives and decarbonize heat in buildings, busting common myths about renewable heating, particularly ground source heat pumps.
Meanwhile, Ireland's housing crisis remains a focus of concern in separate news.
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- The installation of ground source heat pumps in an Edwardian-era social housing building demonstrates the potential for innovation in housing regeneration, particularly in addressing climate-change concerns.
- The recent project, showcasing the integration of environmental-science principles and technology, has transformed an older urban building into a sustainable and efficient housing solution, providing low-cost, low-carbon heating and hot water.
- Following the success of this project, ground source heat pumps could be an attractive solution for other social housing providers aiming to decarbonize their properties, aligning with efforts to improve lives and combat climate-change.
