06 Mar 2018

Ground source saves on heating costs at barn conversion

An 1800s cottage and barn conversion in rural mid-Norfolk has swapped expensive electric fires for energy-efficient ground source heating from renewable heating expert, Finn Geotherm.

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The four-bedroom detached cottage and barn conversion in North Elmham, Dereham, was renovated by homeowner Dave Nobbs. With a combination of open fires and electric heating, the cottage was expensive to heat and often had cold pockets in the rooms.

Dave was keen to move away from the volatility in price and supply of fossil fuels. Having researched renewable heating options, he contacted Finn Geotherm regarding a ground source heat pump system after seeing an installation the company had completed on another local period property.

Finn Geotherm specified and installed a Lämpöässä Vmi 14 ground source heat pump which incorporates a 480l thermal store. The new system now provides all the heating and hot water, running off a 900m ground loop laid in the garden. By involving Finn Geotherm during the planning stages of the renovation and barn conversion, Dave was able to allocate an area of his garage for the plant room and ensure that all of the pipework was connected neatly into the heating circuit for the main house during the build.

As a taxi driver, working at all hours during the day and night, the system is ideal as it ensures the house is always warm whatever time Dave gets home.

“I wanted a heating system that was sustainable and energy-efficient while ensuring my home would also always be warm,” explains Dave. “I am very pleased with my ground source heat pump. Finn Geotherm made the installation process as easy as possible, and by talking to them at the early stages of my renovation project, we were able to identify the ideal place for the plant room. The running costs are significantly less than fossil fuels and with the added benefit of Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments, it will pay for itself in just a few years.”

The installation is benefiting from the Government’s seven-year Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, a Government financial incentive which rewards people for opting for renewable heating.

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