Danfoss ground source heat pumps heat changing room block in Derby College

(09/04/2009)

St Benedict’s Catholic and Performing Arts College in Derby provides secondary education for around 1,500 pupils and was originally built back in the 1940s. Since then new buildings have been added on, the latest of which is the changing block and a new all-weather pitch, which has recently been completed. The school has been refurbished through the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

They took the decision to use renewable energy sources, wherever possible, which included the installation of solar panels, a wind turbine, as well as the ground source heat pump. The pump is fed through a Thermia Duo 10 unit, which provides heating through two 200m ground loops which have been installed horizontally in the land outside the changing block.

Students at the school are looking forward to benefiting from a more sustainable and affordable source of energy provided by ground source heat pumps that have been supplied into their new changing room block.

Jenny Williamson, director of business and development for Saint Benedict’s School, explains: “We worked with a design engineer and architect to come up with the most sustainable heating solution for the new block. We chose ground source heat pumps, as they are one of the most sustainable and energy efficient ways to heat a building and are much more affordable to run than conventional heating systems. Our aim was to create a building with a much lower carbon footprint, which is much better for the environment, yet still meets all our heating and hot water needs at an affordable price.”

By combining the heat pumps with the wind turbine and solar panels, it means the changing block will be self sufficient and can provide its own electricity and energy, creating a carbon neutral building.

Although the initial cost of a heat pump is higher than for conventional heating, there is help available for public sector, schools and charitable organisations, such as the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCPB) phase 2, for which Danfoss Heat Pumps is an approved supplier to British Gas. The college applied for a grant under this scheme and received up to 50 per cent towards the total installation costs.

Sally Moore, Director of Danfoss Heat Pumps, explains: “Heat pumps are four times as efficient as a conventional gas boiler – so the College should expect that their running costs will be drastically reduced. Many organisations view heat pumps as investing in the future of their buildings, giving them a low maintenance, sustainable supply of heating that improves their energy rating and is therefore much lower cost to run!”

Related categories:  Energy Conservation   Heat pumps   Solar heating