Compact home benefits from bold switch to greener heating technology

Stewartsmill Lane, Gloucester

A 35 sq.m end-terrace house in Gloucester is a showcase for greener heating. Preparing for a new tenant, landlord and heating specialist Craig Vernon replaced the 1990s all-electric space heating and hot water systems with a modern, greener solution.

Which solution have you chosen?

The chosen ‘Hybrid Monobloc’ solution consists of a 4kW high temperature Daikin Altherma Hybrid monobloc air source heat pump in the garden and a 28kW Daikin combi boiler in the loft.

Why did you choose this?

This combination ensures that space heating is generated in the most economical way, and only when needed to ensure comfort indoors. Similarly, hot water is produced only on demand, to eliminate the need for maintaining temperature in a storage cylinder and therefore minimising energy consumption.

I considered a combi boiler for hot water and heating, but the more renewable option was preferable.The Daikin heat pump is very quiet – ideal for medium to high-density housing.

Craig Vernon, landlord

What does the house consist of?

The house has a living room and kitchen downstairs, with a bedroom and bathroom above. Its calculated heat loss is 70-80 Watts per square metre. The 4kW heat pump effectively means the house gets more than 100 Watts per square metre.

Even though it’s a new system and tenant, will there be lower energy bills?

I am confident the new tenant will be paying less overall for heating and hot water. What’s more, the new system brings more comfort and better controls than the original system.

Are there any other benefits from the change?

Yes – the release of valuable storage space with the removal of the original 3kW electric hot water cylinder from an upstairs cupboard.

What heat emitters have been installed?

The old Economy 7 night storage heaters – one in the living room and one upstairs in the bedroom – have been replaced by two conventional radiators on a wet circuit.