Ground heat source pumps

[saffy100]

Hi,

Does anyone on the org have a ground heat source pump for heating. Looking for some brains to pick!

Cheers
Saffy100

[skimeister]

Nope but I have done some research into them as I am having 1 fitted next year. If I can help pse ask :D

[Green_not_greed]

Try this - pretty good source of info for starters

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/generate_your_own_energy/types_of_renewables/ground_source_heat_pumps (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/generate_your_own_energy/types_of_renewables/ground_source_heat_pumps)

From what I can gather a very promising source of heating but current system problems include high cost and lower heat return than from a conventional boiler. The latter means that if you are to use it effectively you should invest in underfloor heating or in new efficient radiators (K3 etc). It will warm your house but perhaps not as well as you'd like.

GNG

[saffy100]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. Oil has proved so costly to run, at present, i am spending around 20% of my wages on heating and its going up, 50p a litre at the moment!! i had a letter from my supplier. So its a necessity to look at other heating avenues for the future.

[Green_not_greed]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. Oil has proved so costly to run, at present, i am spending around 20% of my wages on heating and its going up, 50p a litre at the moment!! i had a letter from my supplier. So its a necessity to look at other heating avenues for the future.

I am also on oil and interested in exploring both ground source heat and solar. I'm sure that waiting 12-18 months will open up the market for these technologies, making for much cheaper and available devices readily available through proven Caithness suppliers.

[alistair harper]

Hi Folks

If you are wanting any info on ground source heat pumps or if you want help with your energy saving why not call 01847896524 and ask for alison or angelia or one of the team about renewable sources or if would like a free home visit which includes free energy saving light bulbs, room thermoeters and powerdown for desktop computers also if you take a home visit you will be entered into our draw to win a free 15 inch lcd television.

[bekisman]

I was sorting out my paperwork and came upon a cutting I had taken from the Daily Mail October 6th 2007 'free heat' it's 'Hotbeams' - Air-Source Heat Pump - just had a look; interesting...

http://www.hotbeams.co.uk/heatpump.htm (http://www.hotbeams.co.uk/heatpump.htm)

[dellwak]

A lot of people with oil heating here on the continent are changing over to pellets.
Some oil burning systems can be easily and economically converted from oil to pellets. You just have to change the oil burner to a pellets burner and exchange your oil tank for a pellets container.
Of course, domestic oil burning systems tend to be bigger over here and kept in the cellar, so I don't know if a change over to pellets would be as easy in the UK where the oil burners tend to be small and kept in the kitchen. But you can also get stand alone pellet burners, so it might be worth thinking about if you can find a reliable supplier of pellets.

[bekisman]

What are 'pellets'?

[dellwak]

Wood shavings and sawdust that is compressed into a pellet shape.
Some farmers have found it commercially viable to plant fast growing trees like willow that can be cut down after two years and processed into pellets.
At the moment they are a clean and enviromentally safe alternative to oil or gas.
But I don't know what the future will bring concerning them.
Try this site to learn more.
www.woodpelletstove.co.uk/ (http://www.woodpelletstove.co.uk/)