Air source heat pumps were the perfect choice for house builder Charles Church when it was looking for a sustainable heating system for its prestigious new ‘Ridgway Mews’ development in Stoneygate, Leicester.

The company required a heating system that was energy efficient as well as minimising the properties’ carbon emissions. After considering various alternatives, the house builder chose air source heat pumps from Danfoss Heat Pumps, formerly ECO Heat Pumps, as they provided the most environmentally friendly and efficient heating system.

The Renewables Advisory Board (RAB), which provides advice to Government on a wide range of renewable energy issues, has recently recommended heat pumps as the system most likely to achieve the renewable savings required by the Government, as part of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Charles Church chose to install air source heat pumps in three of the largest properties on the development as they were attempting to achieve as high a star rating as specified in the Code. The air handling unit, which is placed discreetly in the garden of each property, is able to harness the energy from the air and feed it into the properties’ heating and hot water system. The estimated carbon savings for the three properties is 65 tonnes each year, which just shows what a positive effect their use will have on the environment.

Air Source Heat Pumps from Danfoss Heat Pumps were chosen not just to attain excellent renewable targets but also provide homeowners a much more affordable means of heating the properties especially with the recent price rises in fuel bills.
Simon Mcdonald, Technical Director of Charles Church, explains: “We chose Air Source Heat Pumps as they supply a renewable energy source that will provide sustainable heating, minimise Carbon Dioxide emissions and be truly cost-effective for our customers to run.”

Heat pumps are one of the most efficient means of generating energy. For every single unit of electricity used to drive the heat pump at least four units of heat are generated, which equates to around 400 per cent efficiency.

This compares to some of the most efficient oil or gas boilers that are around 90 per cent efficient. Some householders also choose ‘green electricity’ for example from solar or photovoltaic sources, to drive their heat pumps which can mean that their heating system achieves carbon neutrality.

Air Source heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners face the prospect of ever increasing fuel bills. In addition, many people are actively seeking more environmentally friendly methods of heating their homes as they become aware of their own carbon footprint. In both cases, heat pumps provide a compelling option because they are very affordable to run and extremely energy efficient.

Air source heat pumps are also growing in popularity as they avoid the need for any ground works and because they are housed in small, compact units, they can be located discretely outside a property.

Phil Moore, Managing Director of Danfoss Heat Pumps explains: “Air source heat pumps are becoming more popular where customers would prefer not to have any groundwork. They work simply by extracting heat from the air and turning it into usable domestic heating and hot water - they can even provide comfort cooling in the summer. The great thing about them is that a system will typically pay for itself in 5-7 years, and as fuel bills continue to rise the advantages of fitting a heat pump will become ever more obvious.”

Phil adds: “Air source heat pumps will work efficiently whatever the outside air temperature, which leads to major savings in terms of reduced fuel bills on domestic heating. This will be perfect for the buyers at the Charles Church development who will already have them installed, saving them a significant amount in the future.”

Domestic heating makes up over half the UK’s total consumption of energy and heat pumps are now even more affordable, due to new funding that is available. As a partner to British Gas, Danfoss Heat Pumps can advise on a ‘cash back’ grant which is available to all homeowners who have properties fitted with heat pumps. The grant is offered as part of the major energy suppliers’ commitment to encouraging the use of more energy efficient and renewable sources.

Having celebrated its fortieth anniversary in 2005, Charles Church has grown to establish itself as one of the country’s foremost house building brands; whilst maintaining its unrivalled reputation for the design and quality of the country homes, landmark city and waterside schemes. They provide on average 1,500 homes a year on more than 90 sites.

Email: marina@dragonflypr.co.uk