In 2012, Kensa Heat Pumps launched the world’s smallest  ground source heat pump – the Shoebox.

Ten years on, it has provided cheaper and more reliable heating for thousands of people facing fuel poverty, saved 197,400 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of burning 218,405,181 pounds of coal – and been recognised as key to enabling the mass adoption of ground source heat pumps.

 

David Broom, Managing Director of Kensa Contracting, said: “The development of the Shoebox was pivotal in unlocking Kensa’s opportunity within the social housing and new build sectors. The product facilitated the creation of the Shared Ground Loop Array system architecture which is now accepted as one of the key solutions for the delivery of the mass scale deployment of renewable heat.”

 

Here’s how the British manufactured miniature heat pump had the biggest impact on the UK’s renewable heating industry:

  1. Fits inside an airing cupboard or kitchen cabinet

Its compact footprint removes space issues that prevent the ease and installation of ground source heat pumps in tight spaces – it is the perfect fit for flats! It’s also quiet, similar to a fridge freezer.

 

  1. Small, but still efficient

With an Energy Related Product (ErP) rating of A+, the Shoebox is very efficient. Kensa’s unique heat pump interface, the Genesis System Manager, is installed in the Shoebox to help improve efficiencies and integration with other home heating controls.

 

  1. Heating and cooling capabilities

The Shoebox produces hot water up to 65ᵒC and can also offer cooling, which is becoming more popular as new building methods and global warming create problems with overheating.

 

  1. Proven greater efficiency and flexibility

A report by Aurora, concludes that ground source heat pumps with shared ground loop arrays are proven to offer greater efficiency and flexibility compared to other types of heating.

 

  1. Fuel poverty

The Shoebox has saved thousands of people from fuel poverty by enabling social landlords to retrofit ground source heating into their housing stock – often slashing residents’ fuel bills by up to 50%.

 

  1. Best-seller

As the leading supplier of GSHPs in the UK, Kensa’s Shoebox has become Kensa’s best-selling product and is used in domestic properties and commercial buildings. It’s been used in some of the UK’s largest ground source heat pump installations, including 300 flats for Enfield Council, and 273 for Thurrock.

 

  1. Pairing Shoebox and Shared Ground Loop Arrays

Alongside the Shoebox, Kensa pioneered the use of Shared Ground Loop Arrays – an ultra-efficient alternative to traditional district heating schemes. It reduces the overall cost of installation for multiple-property projects through economies of scale, reduces overheating, provides independent heating control, and enables the utilisation of waste heat, whilst lowering the impact on the grid when deployed at scale as described here.

 

  1. Making low carbon heating accessible

Through the installation of the Shoebox and the innovation of Shared Ground Loop Arrays, Kensa Contracting, has pioneered the market for installing mass scale networked heat pumps, making low carbon heating more accessible. 3,758 shoeboxes have been installed into social housing or public sector buildings so far, saving 1,658,415t of CO2e.

 

  1. Split ownership model removes ground array cost barrier

Kensa Utilities developed a split-ownership model that cuts costs when the ground arrays are funded separately to the heat pump. Developers or homeowners purchase a ground source heat pump and plug it into the infrastructure only paying a connection fee.

 

  1. Unlocking community-scale GSHP installations

Installation of large-scale Shared Ground Loop Array infrastructure lets whole streets and communities collectively switch to ground source, and the split-ownership model creates the opportunity for a nationwide heat pump infrastructure that mimics the existing gas network. This can be seen in practice in our Heat the Streets project and through this Regen report.

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