Ground-source heat pumps easily achieve renewable-energy targets in Cornwall
Renewable-energy targets for a business park on the south coast of Cornwall have been met with the help of Dimplex ground-source heat pumps. Falmouth Business Park consists of 10 single- and 2-storey units giving a total of 2250 m2 of self-contained offices.
Robert Church, senior project manager with developer Priority Sites, says, ‘Installing the Dimplex ground-source heat pumps was a really cost effective way for us to achieve the renewable-energy targets set as part of the planning consent for the site.’
Six units are heated by the heat pumps, giving 43% renewable-energy usage at a stroke.
Other environmentally friendly initiatives include rainwater harvesting for flushing toilets. The units have achieved a Grade B EPC — with scores that exceed the benchmark for this type of building. The development has also achieved a ‘Very good’ BREEAM rating.
The heat pumps were installed by Earth Energy, which also drilled the 15 boreholes, each 80 m deep. Brian Kennelly of Earth Energy says, ‘Many developers are keen to invest in micro-generation solution such as heat pumps, with their low energy costs, in the knowledge they can attract premium rents from tenants. Energy-efficient heating and cooling from a single heat-pump system also means that capital investment is optimised.’
