New build achieves BREEAM goal with ICS Cool Energy

Social enterprise build in Derbyshire achieves 'very good' BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) accreditation by using 10% renewable energy.

ICS Cool Energy has helped a new social enterprise build in Derbyshire to achieve a BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) accreditation in line with a 'very good' at minimum and ambitions for 'excellent' by using 10% renewable energy.

The building houses a number of residential accommodation units, as well as administration offices, laundry facilities and community daytime areas including external gardens which need to achieve high energy savings and long-term payback costs. ICS Cool Energy's heat pumps division (ICS Heat Pumps) supplied two DeLonghi electric air-to-water heat pumps to the two storey building which is heated by a central boiler plant with a facility for each residential unit to be separately controlled.

Unlike 'air-to-air' heat pumps which heat air within a building, the DeLonghi units heat water which circulates around a traditional low temperature heating system such as under-floor heating, without the need for boilers.

Ian Mellor, Area Sales Manager for ICS Heat Pumps explains: "Air-to-water systems can now provide low pressure hot water at 65°C, which is suitable for localised hot water generation to feed an under floor heating system. When comparing this air-to-water heat pump system with a traditional gas boiler, we can see huge energy saving efficiencies."

With the installation of the four x heat pump systems, the social enterprise facility will save (based on an electric cost of 6.4p/kWhr) in excess of £4,490 per year with payback as little as seven years.

For further information on ICS Heat Pumps products and services, please visit www.icsheatpumps.com or call free on 0800 169 3861.