Benefits
By installing a ground source heat pump, you purchase a heating system that uses renewable energy, requires no regular maintenance, is quiet, unobtrusive and is completely safe with no local greenhouse gas emissions.
In time, the money that you spend could be recouped through savings to your energy bills. If you are a home owner seeking to install a GSHP, you could be eligible for the Renewable Heat Premium Payments in 2011/12 or the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in 2012/13 and this pay-back period could be quicker. Commercial, public sector and third sector organisations can already take advantage of the RHI if they are eligible.
Even without Government incentives there are sizeable savings that can be made. Ground Source Heat Pumps can be substantially more energy efficient as the most efficient gas or oil boiler, for a well designed and installed system. Instead of burning a fuel and producing the associated emissions they simply move energy that already exists—stored solar energy in the ground. If you compare their performance against solar panels fitted to roofs, ground source heat pumps have the capability to produce much more renewable energy. This is because they provide central heating year round, whereas solar panels cannot and as, according the Energy Savings Trust, this accounts for 60% of your annual energy bills, GSHP should develop bigger cost savings than Solar PV. This means energy security at a time of rising fuel costs.
Furthermore, ground source heat pumps have permitted development rights. This means that in the majority of cases (unless you are a listed building or mining area) you will not have problems with planning regulations for the installation of your system. However, due to some excavation works to bury the ground loop (or indeed to drill deep boreholes) you will need to comply with building regulations.
Other benefits are detailed below:
Benefits of Ground Source Heat Pumps
