Ground Source Heat Pumps for Self-Builds & Renovations

Why should you install a heat pump in your home?

A heat pump is ideal for self-builds because it’s a fit-and-forget technology that is low-carbon and simple to use.

Easily integrating with your preferred controls, heating distribution system or other renewable technology, a heat pump can be as smart or as simple as you like. Unlike fossil fuel heating systems, a Kensa heat pump doesn’t need servicing and requires minimal maintenance over its 20-year design life.

Low-carbon & rewarding advantages

Kensa’s MCS-accredited heat pumps such as the Evo ground source heat pump, are highly efficient products delivering much more energy than they consume.

From April 2022, the government-funded Boiler Upgrade Scheme will provide a grant of £6,000 to those investing in a ground source heat pump.

Why do ground source heat pumps suit homeowners?

They prepare you for a future without gas

The UK government is banning fossil fuel heating in new-build homes from 2025 – and has announced ambitious targets to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035. By using a ground source heat pump for domestic heating, you’re preparing for the eco-friendly building techniques in the zero-carbon future ahead. This is a vital step for reducing the UK’s carbon emissions.

They can replace old heating systems

Looking to replace an old oil boiler, direct electric heating, or move away from gas? From listed properties to barn conversions, a ground source heat pump is a great choice if you are replacing an old heating system. It’s a long-term, cost-effective, energy-efficient heating alternative.

The best ground source heat pump installations in existing homes have insulation improvements, as this heightens the efficiency of a heat pump by roughly 2% for every 1°C reduction in heat load. Homes can also upgrade the heating distribution systems, for example, installing larger radiators for the heat pump’s low-flow temperature.

If you have exhausted the possible energy efficiency improvements for your home and it still has an Energy Performance Certificate of D or lower, do not despair. The vast majority of Kensa heat pumps in British properties are in homes much like yours, with thousands of happy customers just like Richard:

I would definitely advise other people thinking of installing a ground source heat pump to pair it with underfloor heating. It saves replacing radiators, and is more design friendly, removing pipework and freeing up space in rooms.

They are easy to install inside the home

Installing a Kensa ground source heat pump is similar to installing a standard boiler. Our heat pump systems are specifically designed to be installed in British properties without the need for specialist training. Any competent builder or plumber is capable of installing one.

• Use Kensa’s MCS Umbrella scheme if you or your preferred installer isn’t MCS accredited.
• Or find an installer from Kensa’s Underground Network.

They save you more with smart technology

Smart metering has given rise to dynamic tariffs, where consumers are charged different prices for electricity at different times of the day. This means you can save even more on your heating bills with a ground source heat pump.

By using smart controls that learn your heating preferences and your property’s heat physics, it is possible to avoid the peak times of strain on the electricity grid. Your ground source heat pump can shift heat load – known as ‘load shifting’ – to the times when the grid can best accommodate it. This is usually in line with lower carbon and lower-cost electricity.

For instance, your heat pump will turn on when there is extra capacity in the grid and turn off when the grid is under strain, providing helpful running cost savings.

How do air source & ground source compare when it comes to smart controls?

Ground source heat pumps are better at load shifting than air source heat pumps. This is because the ground remains a stable temperature 24/7, while air source heat pumps experience a reduction in efficiency when the outside air temperature is colder, typically at night. The grid generally has the most excess capacity overnight.

If you combine energy storage with your heat pump, it is possible to reduce peak demand even further.

What is involved in a domestic heat pump project?

1. Firstly, use Kensa’s free cost calculator to make sure a heat pump is right for your new build or renovation. See if the benefits of low emissions and savings suit you and your property.
2. Submit your building or renovation plans to us. We can then take into account your property’s heat demand, look at typical schematics, your home’s efficiency, and the space and conditions around your home for groundworks.
3. Decide if you want to install the heat pump yourself or have a Kensa-approved installer do it for you. You can either do this by using one of our recommended installers, finding a heat pump installer on the MCS database, or utilising our Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) Umbrella service if your own preferred installer is not yet MCS approved.
4. Watch your plans become reality as the ground source heat collectors are fitted, and the heat pump is installed inside your home.
5. And finally, feel the benefits of eco-friendly heat for years to come. Both you and your installer can contact Kensa’s technical support team for any advice about your ground source heat pump before, during and after your installation.

Domestic heat pump case studies

River House in Cambridge

When Keith Clarke and his family moved into a spacious Grade II listed farmhouse in Cambridge, he knew the old, inefficient gas boiler has to be replaced. River House had a high heat load and a Kensa ground source heat pump was up to job – meeting the demand for heating and hot water while using a nearby lake as its renewable energy source.