New builds well-suited to ground source heat pumps

Posted: 15 Oct 2008 09:49:53 GMT

Ground source heat pumps can be successfully used in new build properties, but are not so suited to older homes.

That is the opinion of the author of the Housebuilder's Bible, who made his comments while speaking at the Grand Designs Live show in Birmingham.

During a seminar entitled "Don't Move, Improve", Mark Brinkley explained that new builds can often accommodate the necessary installation procedure of the technology.

Older homes, however, do no often have the space in their garden for a ground source heat pump.

He commented: "They work very well with new builds [but] with existing builds there are not that many situations where a ground source heat pump would really fit the bill."

Mr Brinkley went on to suggest that a potential alternative for heating water is an air source heat pump, but noted that they can produce an awful lot of noise.

Heat pumps were more popular than warm air furnaces in the US in 2006, according to research from the Freedonia Group published in February this year.

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