Arden Winch, a distributor of head-to-toe personal protective equipment, uniforms, and janitorial supplies, was faced with the problem of high gas consumption on their site. As a company committed to becoming net zero by 2030, they needed a sustainable solution to reduce their carbon footprint. After conducting extensive research, they decided that a ground source heat pump was the best way forward.
The ground source heat pump is a clever system that works like a fridge in reverse. It extracts low-grade energy from beneath the ground, which is then boosted to a more usable temperature using a small amount of electrical energy. This temperature can then be used to heat water and provide warmth for the offices. With an average ambient temperature of 8-10°C just one meter beneath the ground, and higher temperatures the further down you get, this vertical ground source heat pump system was a perfect fit for the company.
Over the course of a week, IMS installed a 12-kilowatt CTC GSi unit with an integrated hot water cylinder, which was connected to two 125m boreholes using a closed-loop system. The boreholes were neatly drilled in the main car park with little or no disruption to the business’s day to day operation. We also upgraded the radiators in the offices.
The heat pump has integrated hot water and is very compact so will take up largely the same footprint as before, and being a modulating unit, it will adapt to the individual heating demand of the building.
This successful installation of the ground source heat pump system is a significant step in Arden Winch’s journey to becoming net zero by 2030.
The return on investment is expected to take around seven to eight years, but for Arden Winch, it’s not just about the money; they’re committed to doing the right thing, and the installation of the ground source heat pump means that they will no longer be reliant on gas.