Biomass is better for older properties!
Ground source heat pumps seem to be a “popular” choice for those who are looking at renewable energy technologies for heating. However, beware, they are not suited for everyone!
Heat pumps (both ground source and air source), are great, but only in the right situations. IE a well insulated property, ideally with underfloor heating.
Whilst they are seen as “sexy”, and something to tell your friends about! There may be better options out there?
Biomass (typically wood pellet burning), may prove a better option for older (country) houses, especially if they are currently heated by oil.
Take a typical “country” house:
Insulation won’t be great, no matter how hard you try, and underfloor heating will be costly. So the issue with heat pumps is that they may struggle to heat the property to the desired temperature in winter. True, you can “link” them to traditional heat sources, such as a gas or oil boiler. But what’s the point? There’s the additional cost, and room required.
However, a biomass boiler would be able to heat to the desired temperatures, won’t need additional heat sources, give greater returns (under the renewable heat incentive in April 2011), and probably be cheaper to install than a GSHP.
Don’t worry about the mess (it’s minimal these days, and the ash is great for the garden!).
Don’t worry about having to fill the boiler every day (it can be fully automated).
What’s more, it’s carbon neutral (assuming it’s from a sustainable source!?).
So, if you own a “country” home, then consider biomass as an extremely viable alternative to fossil fuel.
Under the Renewable Heat Incentive (April 2011, but if you install it now, correctly, you will be eligible for the payments), you should have no heating bills, and make a profit to boot!
what are you waiting for??!!
Contact Viridis Energie Consultants (independent renewable energy consultants), for further information..