Bromford, Phase Two

Ground Source Review: Bromford Phase Two

In 2015, Bromford Group commissioned Kensa Heat Pumps to install ground source heat pumps into 16 formerly electrically heated bungalows in rural Shropshire. Intended as a pilot scheme to determine the viability of the technology, the ground source heat pumps proved so successful at reducing resident’s fuel bills and providing a reliable heat source that in 2016 Bromford decided to commission a second project with Kensa Heat Pumps.

The second phase has been just as successful, with residents claiming £15/week savings on their fuel bills with the Kensa ground source heat pumps compared to their old heating system; a significant saving to those living in fuel poverty.

The project comprised 20 properties spread across two locations in Didmarton and Bibury in Gloucestershire. The properties were a mixture of semi-detached and terraced two bed bungalows housing elderly and disabled residents. The properties were previously heated by old electric night storage heaters, but dissatisfied residents said that they were expensive to run, inefficient and difficult to control. Bromford decided that the residents would benefit from the lower running costs and increased comfort delivered by a ground source heating system.

The positioning of the clusters of properties made the project perfect for utilising Kensa’s innovative shared ground loop array system featuring a communal borehole network with an individual ground source heat pump installed in every home. A single borehole drilled to a depth of 110m deep, provides each per pair of dwellings with a sustainable heat source. An experienced drilling company carried out the work and took care to keep any noise and disruption to a minimum.

This innovative ground array infrastructure meant that the project was eligible for the Non Domestic RHI scheme (this scheme has closed). Payments are based on the metered output of the heat pumps, which for this site equated to an average of £354 per property for the first quarter of operation from February-April 2016. Non Domestic RHI (this scheme has closed) payments are made quarterly over a twenty year period to offset the cost of the investment and provide a lucrative income stream. Kensa also negotiated an upfront ECO grant to support the investment work through a unique partnership with EDF Energy.

Kensa installed 6kW Shoebox Twin ground source heat pumps into the properties. Small and compact, these heat pump models fit neatly and easily inside the resident’s airing cupboards to provide 100% of their heating and hot water needs. In addition to this, new radiator systems and hot water cylinders were installed to replace the night storage heaters, along with thermostatic heating controls enabling residents to have better control over their heating.

The installation wasn’t without its challenges; weather during January and February was very wet, which meant that the drillers had to carry out extra ground protection. Also, surveys revealed the presence of asbestos at the Didmarton site, which required specially trained operatives to advise on the relevant health and safety procedures to be followed during the installation of the radiators and heat pump units. Nonetheless, the installation works were completed on time to a tight schedule, with work beginning in January and completed in March.

Residents have also been very pleased with the installation of their new ground source heat pump systems:

Mr Neal said:

We’re very happy. It’s fantastic, so simple to use! It comes on at 7, and when I get up at 8 I turn it off as it’s toasty warm. On the old system I was on just two heaters at nights – the rest of the house was cold and I was paying £90 per month! The disruption is nothing like what we expected. All the workers were great, they moved all the furniture for me and did a great job, no trouble at all really.

Here is a selection of anonymous resident feedback from customer feedback forms:

• Bill estimate been reduce from £500 to £350 for quarter. No comparison with old storage heaters, nice heating, more controllable, hot water great. Bungalow lovely – now not cold and damp and bills reduced, so chuffed!
• Like heating, nice and controllable, heats property really well. Due to illness I have to use a lot more heating BUT bills have not increased!
• Heats property very good, lots better than old storage heaters. Nice and controllable. Winter bill previously around £500 now around £300. Therefore warmer home, less money.
• Heating great, really pleased with how it heats the bungalow.
• Really happy with the heating. Bill reduced from £72 a month to £39. Heats bungalow really well, bungalow lots warmer and cheaper too.
• Very happy with the heating, been reliable so far, heats house great. Checked with supplier and kWh reduced by 3,500 for 8 months compared to previous year.
• Really happy with the ground source heating. Was paying £90 a month and reduced to £51, and the heating is on more!
• Like the heating, works instantly, within 5 minutes the heating can be on and good hot water.
• Very pleased with ground source heating, heats the bungalow really well.
• Very happy with heating, big improvement to the old storage heaters. Nice and controllable and saving money too.
• Very pleased with heating. Noticed bills reduced too. The bungalow is lovely and warm now.

Mr Fowler, Director of Financial Reporting at Bromford, visited tenants on site. He commented:

For most households, energy bills are a major cost burden.  When combined with recent changes to the welfare system, additional pressure has been placed on many customers of social housing.  At Bromford, we’re keen to engage with businesses that deliver innovative products and services that provide efficient and eco-friendly affordable warmth solutions for our customers.  Ground source heat pump technology ticks that box in areas where there is no mains gas provision.”

Matt Trewhella, Managing Director of Kensa Contracting said:

We were pleased to continue our ongoing partnership with Bromford with this project in Didmarton and Bibury. By replacing old, inefficient electric heaters with new, sustainable ground source heat pumps, we are helping them to make a difference to their residents, saving them money and improving their wellbeing.

This was an interesting project due to it being based over two different sites, featuring challenging drilling conditions and having a tight deadline, but we are very pleased with the outcomes. Kensa is in the process of starting a third phase of ground source heat network retrofits with Bromford, which will be progressing over the spring, again replacing electric heating.

Ground Source Review: Bromford Phase Two ǀ Resident Mr Neale with Russ Fowler director of financial reporting

Ground Source Review: Russ Fowler Director of Financial Reporting & resident Mrs Wilson in front of drilling rig

Ground Source Review: Bromford Phase Two ǀ Drilling rig at Bromford site

Ground Source Review: Bromford Phase Two ǀ Shoebox heat pump

Ground Source Review: Bromford Phase Two ǀ Didmarton Site