Renewable energy is good investment for Devon sports and community hall

Adding to the reduction of carbon emissions made by the highly visible solar photo-voltaic panels on this community hall in Devon is a Danfoss ground-source heat pump.
A Danfoss heat pump has been installed to replace oil-fired boiler plant at Woolfardisworthy (pronounced Woolsery) sports and community hall in Devon; the oil-fired plant has been retained to provide back-up in extreme conditions. The Diplomat Robust heat pump has an output of 8 kW and draws energy from the ground using loops of pipework buried a metre down in the grounds. The resultant hot water serves the underfloor heating system and radiators — and also provides domestic hot water. Facilities include a choice of meeting rooms, a fully equipped kitchen and bar and a main hall, which can be a setting for bowls, skittles and badminton, or provide a 275-seat venue from everything from wedding receptions to theatrical performances. Built in 2000, the 750 m2 hall was originally designed with high levels of insulation in the timber-frame construction using recycled newsprint and triple-glazed windows and doors. Measures were also taken to make maximum use of daylight. Harvested rainwater is used to flush the toilets. The underfloor heating systems serves all internal areas that receive no thermal gain from the Sun. Other areas have radiators. The latest measures taken by the hall trustees include photo-voltaic panels on a south-facing roof capable of generating 9 kW and a 15 m-high 6 kW wind turbine. This electricity contributes to the operation of the heat pump, so carbon emissions are now very low. Hall trustee Brian Butler explains, ‘On most days, the site-generated electricity provides any addition energy required by the heat pump, and any surplus is sold to the Grid. Consumption and operating costs have been very carefully monitored. Between the end of January and 1 April this year, our new measures have saved an average of £15 a day when compared to the original systems, to which the Danfoss heat pumps has contributed 50%. Taking into account our Low Carbon Building Programme grant of 50%, that represents an 18% return on capital!’
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