Chris Davis, Commercial Director for Kensa Heat Pumps explores the district ground source heat pump solution for flats, apartments and small private housing developments, identifying best practice and sourcing financial support to deliver cost-effective and efficient off-gas heating systems.

Specifying heating solutions for flats and apartments is becoming an increasingly complex affair. Once very much the domain of direct electric heating successive changes to Part L of the Building Regulations in recent years has meant specifiers now have to look for alternative, lower carbon options in order to meet building energy efficiency compliance requirements.

With many clients – both private developers and social landlords – often preferring to avoid the installation of individual gas boilers in each apartment of a multi-storey property on both safety and maintenance cost grounds, developers and house builders are beginning to consider alternative options such as heat pumps far more widely.

In particular, whole building “district heating” systems are becoming more popular as developers look for simple, cost-effective solutions that help achieve compliance with building energy efficiency standards, while remaining cost-effective to install.