Debunking Misconceptions: Older Buildings Capable of Supporting Heat Pump Installations
In a groundbreaking move, Kensa, a leading renewable energy company, has successfully installed a ground source heat pump system in 81 flats at London's Sutton Dwellings estate. This project, part of a larger regeneration effort by housing provider Clarion Housing, is significant in its contribution to the decarbonization of heat in the UK's buildings and challenges common misconceptions about the suitability of renewable heating, particularly ground source heat pumps, in older buildings and urban areas.
A Step Towards Decarbonization
Before the installation, residents of the building heated their flats with coal fireplaces and later transitioned to gas. The new heat pump system, however, promises to provide low-cost, low-carbon heating and hot water, enabling them to keep their homes warm while producing zero carbon emissions at the point of use.
The heat pumps are designed to look and feel similar to gas, and are small enough to be housed inside a cupboard in each flat. The renewable heat energy for the system is sourced from 27 boreholes drilled beneath the estate.
A Blueprint for the Future
The project in London's Sutton Dwellings estate could serve as a blueprint for other social housing providers with properties requiring decarbonization. Kensa describes the project as an example of how history and modern solutions can work seamlessly in tandem, offering a pathway to retrofit the UK's other 'complex to decarbonise' buildings and homes currently heated using fossil fuels.
Proving the Feasibility of Renewable Energy in Older Buildings
The installation in the Sutton Dwellings estate is noteworthy for its role in demonstrating the feasibility of retrofitting older buildings with renewable energy solutions. The project challenges common misconceptions about the suitability of renewable heating, particularly ground source heat pumps, in older buildings and urban areas.
A Pioneering Example
There are successful examples of heat pump installations in Edwardian-era buildings, particularly in the UK. One such example is the installation of a ground source heat pump at the Drama Studio London, located in a three-storey Edwardian building. This project, carried out by Finn Geotherm, involved managing the challenges of large room volumes typical of Edwardian architecture.
In Oxfordshire, homeowners with Edwardian semi-detached homes built around 1910 have been successfully exploring heat pump solutions as part of broader energy efficiency upgrades. These efforts focus not only on heat pumps but also complementary measures like insulation and ventilation to maximize comfort and cost savings while respecting heritage aspects.
While specific detailed case studies beyond these examples are limited, the documented projects indicate that both ground source and air source heat pumps are viable in Edwardian buildings if installed with consideration of the building’s unique thermal characteristics and construction features.
A Myth-Busting Project
The project in London's Sutton Dwellings estate is considered a myth-busting project for renewable heating, particularly ground source heat pumps. Each new, modern social home in the regeneration receives highly energy-efficient heating and hot water via its own compact ground source heat pump.
The installation took place in four blocks of The Sutton Dwellings estate, which was built in 1913. Remarkably, the installation had no impact on the exterior of the property.
A Positive Impact on Residents' Lives
The project in London's Sutton Dwellings estate is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of its residents, providing them with efficient and environmentally friendly heating solutions. Kensa is continually seeking innovative solutions to improve lives and address the issue of decarbonizing heat in the millions of UK buildings in need.
- Kensa's installation of a ground source heat pump system in 81 flats at London's Sutton Dwellings estate, part of a larger regeneration effort by Clarion Housing, serves as a blueprint for other social housing providers with properties requiring decarbonization, demonstrating the feasibility of retrofitting older buildings with renewable energy solutions.
- By using technology to source renewable heat energy from 27 boreholes drilled beneath the estate, the new heat pump system in the Sutton Dwellings estate could reduce carbon emissions at the point of use, providing low-cost, low-carbon heating and hot water in a way that challenges common misconceptions about the suitability of renewable heating, particularly ground source heat pumps, in older buildings and urban areas.
- As a pioneering example, the Sutton Dwellings estate project, involving the installation of a ground source heat pump system in Edwardian-era buildings, has proven the feasibility of implementing renewable energy solutions in older structures and could potentially influence the retrofitting of other UK buildings currently heated using fossil fuels, advancing the field of science, environmental-science, and technology in response to climate-change.
