Housebuilder to use heat pumps on new site

Housebuilder Linden Homes is to install ground source heat pumps at a new site in Woking, which it claims can cut up to 70% off energy bills. The firm plans to create 85m deep boreholes in the back garden of each house of the Fusion development into which a continuous loop of pipe will be fed. The pipe containing a non-toxic liquid collects the available heat and takes it to a heat exchanger in the garage. The heat exchanger increases the temperature to make the heat more usable, and then produces hot water that is used to heat radiators in the normal way.

Peter Hawkey, director of Innovation at Linden Homes, said: "The installation of heat pumps at these two homes at Fusion is the latest in a series of steps in our research aimed at minimising environmental impact and saving money for our customers.

"Renewable energy is going to become even more of a selling point owing to the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates next year, as these will highlight the benefits of an environmentally friendly home."

The heat pumps installed at Fusion are supplied by Ice Energy and contribute to a total of almost 15% renewable energy on site, alongside other measures such as solar panels and positive ventilation systems, which heat the home using the energy from the sun.