Geothermal Heating & Hot Water for only £13 per week

Objective:

The Rural Housing Association is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for its tenants through sustainable and cost-effective living solutions. Their goal was to install a communal heating system that would deliver reliable, eco-friendly heating and hot water to nine apartments in a social housing scheme in Randalstown, Co. Antrim, while also reducing the tenants’ running costs.

Challenge:

As this was a communal apartment block, b4b Renewables collaborated closely with the architect from the early stages of the design. The project required that the design include a centralised plant room to ensure that all maintenance and operations from the ground source heat pump were centralised, optimising efficiency.

Solution:

To meet the client’s requirements, b4b Renewables designed a Geothermal Ground Source Heat Pump System (GSHP) that was tailored to the unique needs of the apartments. The system was designed to maximise efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and lower the overall cost of heating for tenants.

Key System Features

Geothermal System:
The installation included 2 x Ecoforest 22kW GSHPs, connected to 6 x 140-meter boreholes, which extract heat from the ground, offering a highly efficient method of heating.

Heating and Hot Water Supply:

Each apartment was equipped with Underfloor Heating (UFH), Mechanical Heat Recovery Ventilation (MHRV) systems, and a 250L hot water cylinder, ensuring a continuous and reliable supply of hot water and heating.
The system operates at a Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 4.8, which reflects the high efficiency of the heat pumps, meaning that for every unit of electricity used, the system produces 4.8 units of heat.
Domestic Hot Water (DHW) is heated to 58 degrees Celsius, providing tenants with instant access to warm water.

Simplified Control Systems:

To ensure ease of use, b4bRenewables simplified the system controls. They also replaced local Heat Interface Units (HIU) with 2 heat meters per apartment, allowing more efficient monitoring and billing of heating consumption.

Cost Efficiency:

The system was designed to keep running costs low. Each apartment has an estimated weekly cost of only £13 for all heating and hot water, significantly reducing the financial burden for tenants.

Results:

The implementation of the GSHP system has provided several key benefits to both the Rural Housing Association and its tenants:

1. Cost Reduction: With running costs as low as £13 per week, tenants benefit from a substantial reduction in heating and hot water expenses.

2. Sustainability: The communal system utilizes renewable geothermal energy, reducing carbon emissions and supporting the Rural Housing Association’s sustainability goals.

3. Energy Efficiency: The high COP of 4.8 ensures that energy is used effectively, resulting in lower overall energy consumption.

4. Reliability: Tenants now have a constant supply of hot water and consistent heating, improving the overall comfort and livability of the apartments.

This project demonstrates b4b Renewables’ ability to deliver tailored, sustainable heating solutions that meet the unique needs of social housing schemes, enhancing tenant satisfaction while contributing to environmental sustainability.