As an established engineering company, and the UK’s only manufacturer of a full range of ground source heat pumps, Kensa Engineering provides definitive information on a technology which is attracting considerable interest amongst social housing providers.
Choosing a ground source heat pump for your next development has never been more attractive and there are significant benefits over more traditional heating options.
- Maintenance and Servicing Requirements
There is no requirement for any mandatory annual service, which can significantly reduce the total lifetime ownership cost, as well as the reduction in servicing costs, this also eliminates the need to gain access annually to every property.
The Kensa heat pump is fitted with the world’s most advanced and durable Copeland scroll compressors which have a minimum design life of 20 years, which means it has double the life expectancy of a gas boiler.
- Reduction in heating bills for your clients
With increasing fuel costs, fuel poverty is becoming a major concern. Many tenants are finding they are struggling to pay for their heating or even worse can’t afford to heat their properties, which can result in health problems. Due to its high efficiency, 300-400% (i.e. for every 1 kWh of electricity used, 3 to 4 kWh are produced) a ground source heat pump can reduce your clients heating bills significantly, particularly if the fuel being replaced is direct electricity, oil or LPG.
- Help gain compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations and meet the mandatory reductions set out within the Code for Sustainable Homes for energy reduction.
Due to the lower CO2 emissions from a heat pump installing a ground source heat pump will increase a building’s SAP rating and help the building meet current Building Regulations and Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Level 3 of the Code, represents a 25% improvement on Part L, and must be achieved to attract Housing corporation funding with level four (44% improvement) increasingly becoming the target.
- Safety
Using ground source heat pumps means there is no risk of combustion, noxious gases or smells leading to health hazards for your tenants. This can also mean peace of mind regarding legal liability for housing providers and their employees.
- UK manufacture
Specifically designed to match the UK climate with full application support based in the UK.
- Grants
The equipment is fully certified under the government and Energy Company grants schemes such as the recently announced CERT (Carbon Emission Reduction Target) 2008-2011 programme. This grant funding will be available for heat pumps commissioned after April 1 2008.
In the meantime, Kensa has access to a scheme under EEC2, which provides a variable level of grant support depending upon the efficiency of the heat pump, the size of the property, the fuel to be displaced and the proportion of home occupiers who are recognized as being a Priority Group. It should be noted that the level of grant support under CERT will exceed any EEC scheme; even so, EEC grant support can cover the entire cost of the heat pump.
Kensa is a manufacturer with an objective to remove any ‘mystery’ linked to heat pump technology and their integration into modern buildings. Kensa’s application department will help you answer questions on how to reduce your tenants heating bills and integrate systems into buildings.
For Key issues regarding the integration of heat pumps click here.
