An ambitious self-builder in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland is benefiting from a sustainable method of heating his property by choosing a Danfoss ground source heat pump.
The DHP-H Opti-Pro heat pump is providing Matthew Kelly with an affordable way of providing heating and hot water to his four bedroom self-build property.
Right from the initial design stages, Matthew was keen to find a heating system which would keep his family’s carbon emissions to a minimum and ensure that his energy bills remain affordable in the future. It was also a priority for the system to have a long lifetime and minimal maintenance costs to ensure that it would be a cost-effective solution for the future.
Having researched ground source heat pumps, Matthew contacted approved Danfoss installer Daly Renewables based in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, who recommended the Danfoss DHP-H Opti Pro which would be able to meet the energy demands of the property and has an expected life span of up to 25 years.
Matthew Kelly said: “I chose a Danfoss heat pump because of the company’s reputation for quality and the Opti-Pro has proved to be the ideal solution for our new home. The heat pump is able to provide adequate heating and hot water for my entire property and by ensuring that the house is extremely well insulated, we have been able to maximise our energy savings. I’ve also been very impressed with how well the heat pump maintains a comfortable and consistent environment, with little need for us to adjust the heat pump’s control panel.”
The heat pump uses an innovative climatic control system to respond to outdoor conditions in order to provide a constant room temperature and a comfortable living environment for the family.
Daly Renewables laid the ground loop, which supplies the heat pump, in a horizontal configuration in 1.2m deep trenches. In properties where space is more restricted it is possible to supply a heat pump via vertical energy wells. The Opti-Pro has an integrated 180L hot water cylinder and delivers heat via underfloor heating installed on both floors of the home to maximise energy efficiency. Daly Renewables also fitted a heat recovery system to maintain a comfortable living environment, whilst optimising energy efficiency.
Matthew benefited from £3,500 of funding through the Government’s Renewable Heating Premium Payment, which helps towards the cost of a heat pump installation. He also hopes to be able to take advantage of the Government-backed Renewable Heating Incentive payments which are planned to be introduced later this year.
Chris Dale, Director of Danfoss Ltd, says: “An increasing number of self-builders are recognising the benefits of choosing heat pump technology alongside high levels of insulation to create sustainable homes. Mr Kelly will benefit from excellent seasonable performance and he can be assured that his heating costs and carbon emissions will be kept to a minimum. He also has peace of mind in the quality of the DHP-H Opti Pro and can expect excellent performance from the heat pump for many years to come.”
The Opti Pro’s intelligent control system uses speed controlled circulation pumps to adjust its performance to the prevailing weather conditions. This ensures that the minimum amount of electricity is required to run the pump and also means that property owners can simply ‘set and forget’ the controls, as the heat pump automatically maintains the required internal temperature in the most energy efficient way.
