Ground Source Heat Pump
Why have we installed this?
We believe that God created our universe and that everything that we have; life and the means of life, comes to us as gift from God.
We believe that this gift from God comes with a responsibility to care for our world.
We believe that responding to climate change is an essential part of our responsibility to safeguard God's creation. The GSHP enables our building to be Carbon Neutral as we already use 100% renewable electricity.
How does it work?
A GSHP moves energy from one place to another, using electricity. The technology is the same as a fridge – but working in reverse! For 1 unit of electricity energy in, you can get up to 4 units of heat out (i.e. an ‘efficiency’ of 400%.) The diagram shows how energy in the ground under the building is absorbed by water pumped through a borehole, 50m deep and returned via a second borehole, buried in the garden. The heat pump replaced our old gas boiler and supplies our hot water and heating.
Isn't that expensive?
Although the Capital Cost of a GSHP is significant, the annual cost of running the system will be much less than a gas boiler. We estimate that after 14 years the project will have more than paid for itself. The project was funded by a generous bequest by a member of our church, supplemented by donations from other church members.
Ultimately the cost to our world is too great not to invest in clean energy.