Dig one metre down, and the ground is at a constant temperature of around 10 degrees. When we install a ground source heat pump, we lay loops of pipes in the ground, or we place them in a bore hole up to 150m deep. The pipes contain a liquid which absorbs the ground heat, which then provides the heat source for a heat pump located inside the house.
Ground source heat pumps are silent, maintenance needs and costs are negligible and there are no visible external units. Ground source heat pumps can be installed in existing properties, and are particularly recommended for new builds and larger homes or business/community use premises. Because of the constant level of heat, ground source heat pumps are even more efficient than air source heat pumps, though they cost more to install. Once installed and operating, you can expect a cut in fuel bills of between 35% and 70%.
