Green Homes Network

Heid lives in a two bedroom, 1950s built ground floor flat in Edinburgh. She is very concerned about climate change and reducing her household emissions so found the idea of replacing her gas boiler with a renewable heating option appealing.

Exploring heating options

Heid initially considered installing a ground source heat pump because of their efficiency. She spoke to suppliers and realised that the only part of her garden with vehicular access wouldn’t be large enough to accommodate the required underground coils. Heid thought about drilling vertically to save space, but this would be expensive, and the supplier couldn’t guarantee that the geological conditions would be suitable.

She was therefore advised that installing an air source heat pump would be more appropriate. To see this technology in action, Heid visited her grandparent’s neighbours who showed her their underfloor heating system and water tank set up. This helped Heid to understand the scale of the system and she was keen to take the project forward.

Help with the next steps

She contacted Home Energy Scotland, a free and impartial energy advice service funded by the Scottish Government, for advice on funding options.

Heid applied for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan and found the process straightforward. She received cashback towards the air source heat pump, as it is a renewable technology, and says that without this support she would have attempted to extend the life of her old boiler by using it as little as possible, which wouldn’t have been comfortable.

Heid used Energy Saving Trust’s Renewables Installer Finder to find installers in her area. She obtained three quotes and found speaking to multiple suppliers a useful process as this gave her a sense of what they would be like to work with by how effectively they communicated and answered her questions.

Installing the system

Heid commissioned XKY Energy to install a Vaillant 5kWh air source heat pump. Unfortunately, the work was delayed as there was a shortage of heat pumps available in the correct size. Eventually the work was completed to within budget and the installers followed up with visits to ensure the system was working correctly.

Heid had heard from her uncle, who has solar panels installed, that a Mixergy water tank would be an efficient way to heat water, particularly as her outgoing system meant she didn’t have a hot water tank. For the distribution system XKY Energy recommended installing Type 22 Double Convector radiators, but Heid was happy to do this separately. She decided against installing underfloor heating because she plans to install wooden flooring throughout much of the property.

Living with the technology

Heid is very happy with the new system and the level of heat from her radiators. The installer showed her how to set the Vaillant system controls and she finds these easier to manage than her gas boiler. Heid says the Mixergy tank requires a separate internet connection, so is slightly more complicated to manage, but she is now able to set the hot water schedule separately to avoid generating unused hot water throughout the day.

Heid sets the heat pump to come on automatically to maintain a minimum of 14^oC throughout the year and 18^oC in winter. She used to spend around £250 each year on gas, and hopes to see an overall saving, but it may be too early to say if she’s financially better off because electricity prices continue to fluctuate.

Heid says the process of upgrading her heating to a renewable system has been a positive one. She says, “it’s great to know so much about the hot water and heating system that we have and I’m very happy with the customer service I received from the various providers like installers and manufacturers”.

Heid’s air source heat pump is part of a bigger picture of energy saving. She’s currently having the property plastered with 12mm of clay plaster, a natural material with insulating and humidity regulating properties, before moving on to floating floor insulation once savings allow. She is also considering a hand-turned washing machine to replace her conventional one if it breaks. Heid’s household has also been going without a fridge for over a year and, as they’re not missing having one yet, have decided to stick without for the foreseeable future.

Feeling inspired?

If you too want to research different types of renewable technologies, our Home Renewables Selector will help you discover your options and calculate your savings. You can also use the Renewables Installer Finder to find accredited installers in your area.