Listed home chooses heat pumps for heating and hot water
The installation of an air-to-water heat-pump space-heating system in a 17th-century Grade 2 listed private building to replace and old inefficient natural-gas boiler is expected to halve running costs and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 7 t a year. The Panasonic Aquarea air-to-water heat-pump bi-bloc system was installed by Medal Heating, the specialist division of Medal Aircon.
The heat pump supplies low-temperature radiators made by Jaga in this uninsulated single-glazed building.
Mark Hanson, technical director of Medal Heating, says, ‘We will be monitoring this project from all aspects of performance and running costs. We are fortunate that the current owners are almost as enthusiastic about their beneficial impact on the environment as they are on the obvious running-cost benefits.
There is a separate heat-pump system for domestic hot water based on a Medal L’eau Cost Energy heat pump with a secondary heat exchanger for connecting to a solar panel. A water softener will increase the life expectancy of the system.
As well as the obvious comparisons to previous energy use, energy monitors will record energy use over a full calendar year.
The home owner says, ‘It is all very well quoting theoretical vales and benefits as it relates to a comparatively modern home. This is a true test, and we are sure that by associating the project with Panasonic and Jaga we will be well supported during the fitting process and will reap the benefits in the short-term bills.’
