Heat Pumps 38
Tony Staniforth, specification sales director, Kingspan Renewables looks at the drivers that will help boost heat pump uptake.
Since the announcement of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in March, air source heat pumps have been a contentious topic in the renewables industry. Whilst their omission from the RHI’s first phase is disappointing, it is important not to forget that there are other legislative and financial drivers in place that are set to impact on the uptake of air source heat pumps across domestic and commercial applications.
Noel Shapton, Hydratech, provides a review of high performance fluids for solar thermal installations whilst conveying some facts and dispelling a few myths associated with solar fluids.
Ground or air? For a homeowner considering installing a heat pump, what exactly do you need to know? Heat pump expert Nu-Heat, explains
Kensa Heat Pumps has provided ground and water source pumps at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.
Lee Valley White Water Centre, a new world class venue, built in the Lee Valley, provides a much-needed white water site for canoeists, kayakers and rafters alike. Effort was sought by the developers of this project to reduce the carbon footprint of the Park’s operations and maximise energy efficiency.
It’s all very well saying more installers need to get into installing renewable technologies, but for many it remains a leap into the dark. Ian Stares, product group manager for renewables and green energy products at PTS, says there are four key steps installers must take before they take the plunge.
Renewable energy company Eco Environments has launched a wholesale division by announcing partnerships with two major German manufacturers.
Even with the most modern gas boilers and state-of-the art insulation, we cannot continue to heat so many homes by natural gas and still achieve an 80% cut in emissions as laid down in the Climate Change Act 2008. The Academy’s report, Heat: degrees of comfort, looks at the challenges of matching our demand for domestic heating with the binding requirement to reduce our overall carbon emissions. The report looks at new technologies including heat pumps, considers options such as district heating and combined heat and power schemes and looks at incentives and drivers for the creation of new markets.
Yorkshire-based Ploughcroft, solar panel installer and renewable energy trainer, has won a prestigious award for its popular new Eco Roof Visitors Centre.
Chancellor George Osborne’s recent Autumn Statement confirmed a £200 million introductory offer to help boost the Green Deal when it eventually comes in to force. The consultation period for the scheme is due to end on 18 January 2012, with a number of points still needing to be finalised.
Chancellor George Osborne’s recent Autumn Statement confirmed a £200 million introductory offer to help boost the Green Deal when it eventually comes in to force. The consultation period for the scheme is due to end on 18 January 2012, with a number of points still needing to be finalised.
Charlotte Leslie MP has officially opened the NAPIT Bristol Training Centre – as part of its joint venture with Plumb Center and Sevenoaks Energy Academy.
An effective launch of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) has been thwarted because the government fears a repeat of the chaos surrounding solar Feed-in Tariffs, the UK’s largest supplier and installer of renewable energy equipment has revealed.
Kensa Heat Pumps says it has always believed in sharing knowledge for the benefit of the industry and consumers. The company’s Installer Partner Programme offers pre-sale and marketing support, discounts, referrals and UK based technical support every step of the way.
Businesses and communities across Britain will from Monday be able to apply for a heat tariff payment, triggering a new era of clean green heat technology, energy minister Greg Barker, said today.
Houghton’s new £21m Primary Care Centre is now open to the public. The fourth centre of its kind to be built in Sunderland, has been developed by NHS South of Tyne and Wear, working on behalf of Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) and will improve access to health services for local communities.
Cow poo and grass are the main ingredients for cooking up new high efficiency power.
A short new documentary-style film exploring the use of renewables technologies in all types of buildings ‘where we live and work’ has been produced by Dimplex, the authority in renewables and electric heating market leader.
Sheltered housing schemes, featuring renewable products from Grant UK, have been instrumental in helping Stroud District Council – winners of the 2010 Green Energy Award – with its green housing energy initiative.
The objective on both sheltered housing projects was to provide a renewable solution to meet the needs of the communal areas, in terms of hot water supply and heating.
The new MCS Microgeneration Installation Standard (MIS 3005) has been released. It requires heat pump systems to be at least 100 per cent sized for a property for 99 per cent of the heating season. It also requires systems to be designed to a target external design temperature of between approximately -1°C and -4°C, depending where the property is located in the UK. This means the heat pump should be able to almost entirely heat the house without electric or other back up, under all but the most extreme conditions
Kingspan Renewables has scooped the Renewable Supplier of the Year award at the Plumb Center and Parts Center National Supplier Conference; an annual event recognising loyalty and excellence in service amongst their market-leading suppliers.
The award was presented by the conference’s guest speaker, England rugby star Austin Healey, and was collected by Kingspan Renewables managing director, Cameron Holroyd who commented: “We are very proud to have been recognised as a lead supplier in what is such an important growth sector. This further marks our commitment to delivering top-of-the-range renewable heating and hot water solutions that are custom-designed to suit each application and deliver the best results for distributors, installers and end-users alike.”
Renewable energy installation is a multi-faceted operation and the role of installer has ramped up. Not only is there training to undertake, legislation to adhere to and technology to keep abreast of, but there is the added responsibility of acting as advisor to the customer.
Amid the day-to-day running of a renewables business, it can be easy to overlook the needs of the consumer and assume they come to you fully armed with a battery of energy expertise. However, they may not know which technology best suits their needs, FiTs may be getting them in a flap and they may feel confused cutting through the cowboys to find a company they can trust. This is where the you come in – it’s important to know the answers to your customer’s questions, allaying any queries they may have about investing in renewable technology.
In order to meet the demands of the Climate Change Act, installers need to gain the knowledge, skills and certification to work with renewable technologies. Simon Allan, director of renewables, explains what this means for the industry and how materials suppliers such as Plumb Center are perfectly placed to be a key reference, information and training source.
The carbon targets set by the Climate Change Act will make some extraordinary demands on the construction industry, not only to deliver very low impact new buildings but to substantially refurbish the vast majority our 26 million dwellings and the 2.5 million non-domestic buildings.
A waterside property in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, has been fitted with a heat pump system from Danfoss Heat Pumps UK, which generates its energy from the River Thames. Mike and Doris Tucker had owned the character stone-built property for seven years and now, in retirement, decided to investigate ways to make the home more energy efficient and sustainable. This included replacement double glazing, improved loft insulation and a high efficiency heat pump.
Tucker, a qualified engineer, previously used LPG gas, as the property is not on mains gas. Over the past two years, with significant LPG price increases, set to continue into the future, he decided it was time to act. He found heat pump installer Geothermique during an internet research on heat pumps and local installers, and was impressed when they came to survey his property, the resulting survey results and savings projections.
Vaillant has added to its renewables portfolio with the launch of its geoTHERM air range of air to water heat pumps (AWHP), suitable for a wide range of applications in new build and refurbishment properties.
The geoTHERM air range consists of three models – 7kW, 12kW and 15kW – each of which aims to provide maximum comfort and efficiency, combined with simple installation, smooth operation and advanced diagnostics.