Earths heat helps residents make massive savings

A Places for People product story

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Jul 13, 2007

Places for People installs ground source heat pumps at an affordable development in Cambridge.

An affordable development in Cambridge's is set to offer people a greener and more energy efficient lifestyle with an innovative heating system that uses the earth's core heat to produce energy savings of up to 60 per cent.

Places for People - one of the UK's largest property management and development groups - is installing 16 ground source heat pumps at Arbury Park, in homes for affordable rent.

Ground source heat pumps provide a new and clean way of heating houses.

They make use of the natural heat and energy stored in the ground, to provide heating in the home.

The system is a simple one that basically transfers the heat that already exists in the ground in to the homes heating system.

As it is not burning fuel, it reduces the impact on the environment by producing fewer CO2 emissions and is three to four times more energy efficient than a gas boiler.

Rod Dennis, Development Director at Places for People said: "Housing is responsible for emitting more than a quarter of all the UK's carbon emissions.

"If the development industry is serious about tackling the threats posed by climate change, and is to meet the government's target for zero carbon homes in 2016, then they must begin investing in green technology now.

"The ground source heat pumps will help us to achieve higher energy targets on our buildings, and help reduce residents' energy bills, providing both environmental and social benefits.

"Our aim is to mainstream the use of low-carbon and renewable technologies and develop new homes that are not only energy efficient and have a limited effect on the environment, but which are also appealing to the people who live in them".

It is offering 282 affordable homes for sale and rent at Arbury Park over the next three years, in partnership with Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association.

126 of the properties will be built on a shared ownership basis with 20 per cent being made available for local key workers.

To buy a 50 per cent share on a brand new two- or three-bed roomed home at Arbury Park will cost around GBP100,000 and about GBP48 per week in rent (each home is individually priced).