Heat Pumps Today

www.acrjournal.uk/heat-pumps 19 I N S T A L L A T I O N S Info www.welcometogreenstreet.com Info www.uwl.ac.uk/about-us Ealing’s air quality and reduced carbon emissions helped by UWL The Government has pledged 600,000 new heat pumps will be installed every year by 2028 as part of a bid to phase out gas boilers and reduce household greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Kensa believes that installing networked ground source heat pumps on shared ground loop arrays that utilise the natural heat in the ground, in a way that mimics the roll-out of the gas grid, is the quickest and simplest way to achieve these lofty installation targets. Rather than just funding boiler replacements on a house-by-house basis, by installing the underground infrastructure required for ground source heat pumps a whole street at a time, entire communities would be able to switch to renewable heating when they are ready to transition. During his visit, Lord Callanan, who is playing a leading role in the government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy and path to net zero, used a computer tablet to experience Kensa’s Green Street augmented reality experience, created especially for the conference in just eight weeks with Emmy-award winning Atlantic Productions. Lord Callanan was also interested to hear that Kensa was installing ground source heat pumps back in his native North East with several tower blocks in Newcastle benefiting from the pioneering approach. More than 2,600 properties are now heated using Kensa’s innovative approach, from streets of houses to tower blocks. He said: “Our landmark Heat and Buildings Strategy sets out how heat pumps will be a key technology for the UK as we look to decarbonise our homes and businesses while reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Businesses like Kensa will play a big part in developing the heat pump manufacturing industry in the UK, so it is fantastic to see their work being showcased at COP26 to a global audience.” Striving to improve air quality within the borough, the University of West London (UWL) has transformed its buildings to save an estimated 500 tonnes of carbon emissions per year – the equivalent of which would take 25,000 trees to o˜set. UWL has introduced low-emission heating and ventilation systems allowing it to create renewable energy sources and upgrade to low-energy lighting, all of which will have a substantial impact on the University’s carbon footprint. It means the University is now capable of generating enough energy to heat an estimated 70 homes every year – or enough electricity to make as many as 4,282,560 cups of tea thanks to work to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the amount of energy needed to run its buildings. The work, which also included removal of antiquated gas boilers to reduce nitrogen oxide pollution, will help improve air quality around UWL’s main sites in Ealing and Brentford, supporting the region’s transition to becoming a low carbon economy. The project has also been recognised as the top decarbonisation project in the higher education sector after receiving the Highly Commended award in the Energy Managers Association (EMA) Decarbonisation Project 2021 category. The ambitious retrofit covers UWL’s four sites – St Mary’s Road Campus, Vestry Hall, Drama Studio London, and Paragon House and was made possible thanks to a £5million award from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. At the heart of the transformation is the St Mary’s Road Campus, where old gas boilers have been replaced with ground source heat pumps alongside 580 solar PVT panels. Those involved with the project include Ameresco, as principal contractor and designer; NIBE Energy Systems, who supplied the heat pumps and solar PVT; and JKN Renewables Ltd who undertook the design, installation and commissioning of the system. The transformation is helping UWL meet its commitment to becoming a net- zero institution by 2030 – building on work which has already achieved a 60 percent reduction in carbon emissions since 2005. It also supports Ealing’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy in a bid to become an international leader in the sustainable delivery of higher education.