Heat Pumps
- Heat pumps are a viable option to replace fossil fuelled heating in all properties in the Parish.
- Air source heat pumps take heat from the air. Ground source heat pumps take heat from the ground either from a borehole or from a loop of pipework buried about 1.5 m down. Water source heat pumps take heat from a river or large stream.
- Heat pumps may require larger radiators as to keep the efficiencies of the heat pump high.
- Air source heat pumps are cheaper to install but more expensive to run than ground source heat pumps. At the moment, the overall cost favours air source heat pumps for single properties. Water source heat pumps are more suitable for large heating demands, such as a hotel or a group of houses near the water.
- For the next year or so there are grants available for domestic heat pumps. The building would need to have a good energy efficiency rating, but this makes sense anyway, requiring the fitting of a high level of insulation and draught proofing.
- There may be opportunities for community heating schemes for groups of houses, but this needs further investigation.