Ground Source Heat Pumps

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Ground source heat pumps use pipes buried in the garden to extract heat from the ground. This is usually used to warm water for underfloor heating systems. It can also be used to pre-heat water before it goes into a more conventional boiler.
Beneath the surface, the ground stays at a constant temperature, so a ground source heat pump can be used throughout the year - even in the middle of winter.
A ground source heat pump circulates a mixture of water and antifreeze around a loop of pipe - called a ground loop - which is buried in the garden. When the liquid travels around the loop it absorbs heat from the ground - used to heat underfloor heating systems and even hot water.

Normally the loop is laid flat in trenches about two metres deep, but if there is not enough space in your garden you can install a vertical loop to a depth of up to 100 metres.

The efficiency of a ground source heat pump is measured by a coefficient of performance (CoP) - the amount of heat it produces compared to the amount of electricity needed to run it. A typical CoP for a ground source heat pump is around 3.2.

The benefits of ground source heat pumps

Reduce your CO2 emissions: a typical ground source heat pump saves around 1.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year when replacing oil.
Eliminate your fuel bills: ground source heat pumps run on electricity, so there's no need to pay for gas, oil or solid fuels to heat your home.
Cut down on wasted electricity: heating your home with a ground source heat pump is much more efficient than using electric radiators.