12 KW Heat Pump, PV & Underfloor for a New Build in Hertfordshire

Better Planet was instructed to design, supply, and commission a ground source heat pump, underfloor heating, and solar PV for this luxury property in Hertfordshire.

As no gas from the grid was available and planning required the use of a low-carbon heating system, a heat pump was a natural choice. With plenty of land available for horizontal ground loops, the ground source was a more attractive alternative than an air source. Despite a higher initial outlay, the ground source typically beats the air source financially in the long run, especially taking into account the higher tariffs from the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme. Furthermore, the ground source is slightly more efficient than the air source, resulting in lower operating costs.

Underfloor heating in screed throughout. Like all projects, Better Planet designed the system to operate at consistently low temperatures, taking into account room-by-room heat losses and floor coverings.

Solar PV is a great way to generate your own electricity and it is a good complement to a heat pump as the system can generate some of the electricity required to run the heating system. In this case, an immersion heater controller was added to the system, diverting electricity to the immersion heater in the hot water cylinder as a means to use more electricity on site.

Location: Hertfordshire