Kensa’s ground source heat pumps have been installed in 81 flats across four blocks at the Sutton Dwellings estate, which was built in 1913.
This project is part of a regeneration of the estate by Clarion Housing, which started in 2019. In this phase, Clarion Housing said that each new social home has received energy-efficient heating and hot water via its own compact ground source heat pump.
The statement said that the heat pumps are small enough to be housed inside a cupboard in each flat. It added that renewable heat energy used by the heat pump is sourced from the ground via the 27 boreholes drilled deep beneath the estate’s urban footprint.
The statement added that installing networked heat pumps for Sutton Dwellings showcases one of the solutions to decarbonise existing buildings in the UK, 80% of which are expected to still be standing in 2050.
Regenerating the 100+-year-old buildings highlights how heat decarbonisation solutions can work for the UK’s existing properties, it said. This also follows other social housing retrofit projects completed by Kensa, it noted, including the installation of Shoebox heat pumps in 273 flats across multiple 1960s tower blocks in Thurrock, and over 400 flats across eight tower blocks owned by Enfield Council.
Stuart Gadsden, commercial director at Kensa, said: “Often you see claims heat pumps don’t work, they aren’t suitable for older buildings, there isn’t enough space to install ground source heat pumps in cities. This project is proof you can do all these and more!
“This was an ambitious project, but at Kensa, we’re always searching for the next innovation, the next solution that can improve people’s lives and be the answer to decarbonising heat in the millions of UK buildings that need it. Hopefully, this project can serve as a blueprint for other social housing providers with properties that need decarbonising.
“While this can be seen as a great myth-busting project for renewable heating, particularly ground source heat pumps, the most important outcome will be the benefits felt by residents. With our systems they will be getting low cost, low carbon heating and hot water, allowing them to keep their whole homes warm.”