The housing development project being built by developer, Willmott Dixon, involves Bristol City Council building and selling private homes in order to fund social housing.

The project is Phase 3 of the council’s New Build Housing Programme to increase the supply of new homes in the city and tackle the city’s housing crisis.

The industry-leading development demonstrates how low carbon heating solutions, such as ground source heat pumps, can be used at scale as an alternative to mains gas. It paves the way for house builders to transition to zero carbon, in line with the government’s proposed Future Homes Standard, which is set to mandate that gas boilers can no longer be fitted in new build homes from 2025.

Ground source heat pumps have been specified for the Ashton Rise project. A shared ground loop of 36 vertical boreholes are being drilled up to 170m deep, to collect low-grade stored heat energy from underground. Pipework will feed this energy into individual heat pumps within each property, which upgrade the heat energy to temperatures high enough to provide 100% of the heating and hot water for each home.

The ground source heat pump technology will ensure homeowners receive equivalent performance to a gas boiler, but with extremely low carbon dioxide emissions, up to 70% less than gas, with zero local nitrogen oxide and sulphur emissions.

Gregor Heating is working alongside Kensa Contracting, who are responsible for the ground array infrastructure at the site, to install the ground source heat pumps and hot water cylinders. The Gregor team is also responsible for installation of the new plumbing system for the entire site.

“It is an exciting time for the industry”, said Craig Jeffaries, Gregor Heating’s director. “This is the start of the Bristol City Council’s commitment to using renewable heat in new homes and it’s great to see Bristol leading the way in using technology that seeks to reduce carbon footprint and save money on energy bills.”

David Broom, Kensa Contracting Commercial Director, added, “By installing ground source heat pumps in new homes, Bristol City Council is creating a pathway to zero carbon  in line with the ambitious targets for the city. Projects such as Ashton Rise that take advantage of shared ground loop array system architecture demonstrate the ability to deliver this practically as well as the benefits and scalability of the technology.”

Bristol Mayor, Marvin Rees, recently commented on the council website: “Building homes remains a top priority for us. We are not just building houses, we are trying to build quality homes and create communities where people can thrive.”

Completion is expected in Spring 2021.

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Local firm Gregor Heating and Renewable Energy were delighted to learn         
they have been shortlisted for the Renewables Awards 2012. With the awards
having received record interest this year, being on the shortlist is a huge
achievement in itself.

Gregor have been shortlisted in the category for ‘Air Source Installer of the Year’ and results for all the awards will be announced on September 13.

Richard Blackmore of Gregor said: “For a company of our stature, reaching the final six of such a prestigious award is a major achievement.

We realised at an early stage the important role renewable energy products will play in the future, especially with ever spiralling energy costs and the uncertainty of a continuing supply of fossil fuels in the future.

We have made it our aim to understand these alternative technologies,  to ensure our engineers are fully trained in both pre and post installation practices and that our surveyors correctly specify the right product for each individual application. We are therefore delighted to be recognised for this achievement.”

To find out more, call 0117 935 2400 or visit www.gregorheating.co.uk

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When considering the complete refurbishment of his house to the east of Bristol – and in particular the question of central heating – new owner, Mr O’Connell, was faced with one small problem. The house was located in a rural area with no mains gas supply and the cost of connection by British Gas was quoted as a staggering £175,000.

However this, together with the cost of oil, an awareness of renewable energy alternatives and a chance sighting of a Worcester Bosch advertisement on a petrol pump set him off on a “green” route that ended with a very satisfactory conclusion.

Detailed research led him to Gregor Heating & Renewable Energy and after visiting their website, as well as their Warmley Energy Centre where renewable systems can be seen in operation, planning began for a ground source heat pump system backed by solar energy panels. Grants from both Worcester Bosch and the Government to help with installation costs were obtained.

A ground source heat pump is an electrically powered system that uses the natural energy stored in the earth. The principle is simple and the result is low-cost comfortable heating that uses sustainable energy and causes no direct emissions or other damage to the environment. For every single kilowatt of electricity used to power the pump, four kilowatts or more of energy can be generated.

In Mr O’Connell’s case, two, seventy-metre deep boreholes were first drilled by a specialist contractor. Heat absorbed by collectors within the boreholes provide the ambient heat from which pressurised domestic hot water and 180 sq. metres of under-floor heating to the ground and first floors of the property is produced via a Worcester Greenstore Heat Pump. Two Worcester Greenskies Solar Panels mounted on a south-facing roof elevation were installed to supplement the domestic hot water requirement.

Although too early to assess actual fuel cost savings, Mr O’Connell is already delighted with the efficiency of the system. He said: “What I particularly liked about Gregor Heating was their straight forward and honest approach. Problems to be avoided were identified and suggestions, such as the need to properly insulate the house in order to attain maximum efficiency, were clearly explained. I am very happy to recommend them to anyone considering renewable energy installations”.

A further plus identified by Mr O’Connell is the value that the renewable energy system has added to his property.

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