Bromford - Ground Source Heat Pumps

For more than 50 years, Midlands-based housing group, Bromford has provided customers with new and affordable homes and provided a range of services aimed at reducing welfare-dependency and generating social value in employment, education, health and community safety.

J Tomlinson has worked with Bromford for over 7 years, providing a variety of gas and heating services including a full 3-star service and maintenance package, plus a 5-year planned heating replacement programme.

In line with their commitment to tacking fuel poverty for residents, Bromford was looking for a suitable, more sustainable heating solution for a range of off-gas bungalows and terraced homes across two of their sites in Shropshire, which had been using electric storage heaters for heating.

Utilising J Tomlinson’s past experience of installing heating systems to off-gas network properties, joint viability works were carried out on several solutions and a communal Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) scheme was deemed to be the most sustainable, cost-efficient option for these properties.

Ahead of installation, and following briefings with residents, nearby landowners and other local homeowners, J Tomlinson stripped out the existing system of storage heaters and ensured all existing wall surfaces were in optimum condition.

As well as keeping residents updated throughout the project, J Tomlinson also organised a meet and greet prior to work commencing, which gained a 100% rate from residents. J Tomlinson also provided additional shelving in airing cupboards and even repaired one tenant’s fence following the aftermath of Storm Doris.

Following a comprehensive assessment, the Vaillant 3kw GeoTherm Mini GSHP unit was selected as the preferred unit for the project.

The ground source heat pump system consists of three elements:

1. A ground heat exchanger, which collects heat from the ground

2. A water-to-water or water-to-air heat pump, which raises the heat collected to a useful temperature and transfers it to the house

3. A heat distribution system, which provides the heat to the house

In this case, J Tomlinson supplied and fitted a full wet central heating system to each property.

J Tomlinson is an MCS accredited installer, which means that these works qualified for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The project has created RHI income for 20 years for Bromford.

AWARD-WINNING SCHEME - In 2017, the scheme won Regional Small Scale Project of the Year at the West Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards due to its contribution to tackling fuel poverty and cutting carbon emissions

EXTRA FUNDING - In addition to the per unit savings found in creating a communal system, further capital costs can be offset via both the government backed Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding scheme and the government backed non-domestic RHI scheme

INCREASED ENERGY EFFICIENCY - Estimated energy savings from the project are 7,400 Kw/hr saving per property per year, leading to a project total of 111,000 Kw/hr per year

COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE & SERVICE PACKAGE - One of the unique features of this scheme is the fact that J Tomlinson has been able to offer a five-year, fully maintained and service 3* package going forward after installation, as the company is a partner of Bromford for maintenance and servicing.

CONSIDERABLE COST-SAVINGS - Customer feedback was almost immediately positive, with one reporting savings of 40% in comparison to last year’s electricity bill.

LONG-TERM SAVINGS – The system has an estimated lifetime of 25 years, making the lifetime savings of c1,044tCO2 and of c£91,875 of fuel savings (at current fuel prices).

CONSIDERATE CONSTRUCTORS COMMENDATION – The scheme received a glowing report from the Considerate Constructors Scheme.