Heating Case

Heating

The space heating and domestic hot water site wide will be provided by a closed-loop ground source heat pump (GSHP) which is located in the cupboard beneath the stairs adjacent to the communal kitchen. The boreholes for the system are incorporated with piled foundations for the new flats, these foundations are known as 'energy-piles'.

On the delivery side the distribution pipework is fitted with zone valves and routed to the various zones via the most efficient route. The heat pump delivers low-grade heat to a zoned district-heating network throughout the site to serve zoned underfloor heating systems within each building.

Each dwelling is fitted with solar thermal collectors to provide the domestic hot water. It is expected that the hot water demand will be met through the solar system for 60% of the year. During the remainder of the year the panels will provide pre-heat for domestic hot water and the water temperature will be raised to overcome legionella by the GSHP. The hot water circuit from the GSHP will be controlled to top up domestic hot water twice per day otherwise the efficiency of the GSHP will be adversely affected.

In order to create a create an insulating windbreak on the North side of the Winter Garden wall alongside Maes Glas, the shade tolerant evergreen vine English ivy (Hedera helix) will be planted, reducing heat loss and also preserving the wall. By contrast, on the North wall of the Tannery we will not plant ivy. Our analysis lead us to conclude that the sheltered microclimate of the Courtyard Garden did not receive much wind, and thus the small insulative effect of an ivy windbreak was outweighed by the aesthetic value of the old Tannery wall.

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