Client brief
The owner of a London mews house wanted to move away from gas and replace the existing heating system with a fully electric, low-carbon alternative. The property also needed smarter energy management – the ability to store electricity and use it efficiently rather than simply drawing from the grid as needed. Space was tight throughout, with no external ground-level wall space available for equipment.
Our solution
Better Planet installed a Vaillant air source heat pump – but with a twist. With no suitable external wall space at ground level, the 194kg unit had to be craned onto the flat roof, where it now sits out of sight above the property. Pipework runs down through the roof into the plant room below, which houses the hot water cylinder and buffer tank.
The heating system serves two zones – radiators throughout the main living areas and underfloor heating in the master bedroom – all controlled from a single controller.
Alongside the heat pump, Better Planet installed a Sigenergy battery system in the garage. The battery stores cheap off-peak electricity and uses it to power the home and heat pump during peak hours, significantly reducing running costs. The installation was also future-proofed with cabling already in place for solar panels when the client is ready to add them.
Project success
A gas-free mews house in the heart of London, heated and powered smarter. The heat pump provides all heating and hot water, the battery cuts energy bills by shifting consumption to off-peak tariffs, and the groundwork is already laid for solar. A creative installation in a constrained urban setting – proving that even the trickiest London properties can go fully renewable.
