Heat pumps offer householders in off-gas areas an alternative to high emission fuels

(20/07/2010)

A County Durham couple are now enjoying warmer visits from their grandchildren after becoming the first in their community to embrace green technology. Karen and Kevin Clarey of Cockfield near Bishop Auckland, are the first householders in the area to have their out-dated coal fire replaced with a new energy efficient heat pump system - a move which looks set to save them more than £100 per month and has improved quality time spent with their seven grandchildren.

Cockfield is one of dozens of towns and villages across the UK which is still classified as an off-gas community meaning it has no mains gas supply providing power to the surrounding homes. As a result housing providers and homeowners are forced to look for alternative ways of heating their properties, with Karen (50) and Kevin (49) being the first to benefit from a partnership between their housing provider Home Group and not-for-profit organisation Community Energy Solutions (CES).

CES, which operates primarily across the North East and Yorkshire, specialises is providing affordable energy solutions to single properties and entire communities which may not have access to methods such as gas or simply want to improve their energy efficiency.

Together with Home Group the organisation identified Karen and Kevin as the ideal candidates for a new air to water heat pump (ASHP) system, which would see an outdoor unit, indoor hydrobox and domestic hot water cylinder fitted to replace their old coal fire and solid fuel back boiler.

The system works virtually like a fridge in reverse, with the outdoor unit drawing in air and using a heat exchanger to transfer the ambient heat to water which is then pumped around the property as conventional central heating to radiators in each room. The system is designed to maintain a constant temperature in the home and removes the need to have the boiler constantly turning on and off, which increases comfort and reduces cost.

To provide back-up heating in the event of a power cut and the electrical supply to the outdoor unit failing, Home Group and CES also provided Karen and Kevin with an Aga wood burning stove which is fitted in the living room fireplace.

Before the installation Karen and Kevin’s only source of heat had been an open coal fire in the living room which was eventually replaced with a closed coal stove 18 months after they moved into the house - neither of which had worked effectively.

“For safety reasons you couldn’t leave the coal fire on overnight or when you were out,” said Karen “so the house always felt cold and was pretty uncomfortable, especially for the grandchildren when they stayed over.

“We didn’t understand exactly how the new system would work and were a little daunted by the technology but we really needn’t have worried. We’re already finding it really easy to use and more importantly it makes it a pleasure to be at home and spend time with the family without having to worry about shovelling coal to get the slightest bit of heat.”

It is too early to say exactly what Mr and Mrs Clarey will save on their energy costs but estimates suggests they will spend around £36 per month which represents a saving of more than £110 on their former minimum payments.

The couple had been previously paying around £150 per month based on an average of £10 per week on their electricity meter and £20 per week for coal. This would rise to around £30 per week for coal, £200 per month overall in the colder weather.

After the success of the installation in the Clarey’s home Home Group and CES now hope to continue their partnership to roll out the installations in properties around Cockfield and further afield. CES also plan to install an additional 2,000 heat pumps across the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside throughout the next year.

Sharon Lashley, Project Manager for CES said: “A lot of people are intimidated by the idea of green technology but I think we’ve proven with Mr and Mrs Clarey that this really shouldn’t be the case and we see heat pumps as offering householders in off-gas areas an alternative to high emission fuels such as coal.”

Jimmy Evans, Contract Surveyor (Gas) for Home Group said: “By working with CES we have been able to provide families like the Clareys with a new kind of energy that not only improves things for the householder but also for the wider community and environment as a whole. It really is a win-win situation.”

Related categories:  Cookers hobs ovens   Energy Conservation   Heat pumps   Residential applications   Stoves