Mark Group

Heat Pump Report Praises Good Installation

Friday 17 September 2010

Energy-saving installation specialist Mark Group, has welcomed the Energy Saving Trust’s (EST) recent report, ‘Getting warmer: a field trial of heat pumps’, assessing the efficiency of heat pumps for the UK domestic market.

The field trial reviewed 83 heat pump installations at homes throughout the UK. The report concluded that systems which were well designed and installed, with clear instructions for the homeowner, could perform well and have the potential to deliver good carbon savings in the UK.

The report threw a spotlight onto heat pump inefficiencies which had resulted from poor advice, inadequate installation and systems which were far too complex for day to day homeowner operation. It also included recommendations for how to get the best out of a heat pump system – something which Mark Group fully endorses.

Mark Group Divisional Head for Heat Pumps, Andrew Taylor, said: “The field trials conducted by the Energy Saving Trust are to be welcomed as the first independent testing of heat pumps in the UK. They are an excellent step towards improving standards across the industry.”

The report recommended that before heat pumps are installed, consumers should ensure their property is fully insulated. It also advised that installers should explain why a specific heat pump is selected for a property, as well as how it will work with an existing heating system, what to expect from it and how to operate it.

“These recommendations are extremely encouraging,” Andrew continued. “We already take a ‘whole house approach’ to energy-saving, advising homeowners on all aspects from insulation through to microgeneration and have a rigorous training programme in place for all of our customer-facing staff.”

The EST recommends that consumers should look for installers and manufacturers which are approved under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), as a benchmark for training, knowledge and customer care. Mark Group is accredited by this scheme and only works with MCS approved suppliers, such as Mitsubishi. John Kellett, General Manager of the Domestic Heating Systems Division at Mitsubishi, added: “We have always insisted that our installers attend product specific training which covers all the points raised by the trial. We therefore welcome the EST’s call for a training and standards roadmap and would also support the establishment of minimum compulsory standards.”

The report has been published at a time when the Government is consulting on the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive. The scheme would reward homeowners for generating heat from ground and air source heat pumps.

A copy of the report is available at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
 

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