Episode 7
After a long ride from Cardiff, we the HPtour to the COP arrives in Blackburn, close to Preston where I meet Jon Schofield from Together Housing and Ian Carr and his team from Kensa Contracting. Together housing is the social housing company that decided to renovate three tower blocks with 183 flats under occupancy (!) with heat pump solutions. By Jon’s own words, this was the most difficult project of those they have done. Nudged towards ground source heat pumps by the renewable heat incentive, they decided to set up a geothermal array, a shared loop inside the building and individual heat pumps (Kensa’s ‘shoe box’) in combination with a hot water storage in each apartment. Walking through the building revealed the challenge that lays in such a renovation project and it became clear how important an experienced partner was. Jon revealed, that knowing Kensa and their competence made a huge difference in the decision process and made it easier for Together Housing to finally decide in favor of the heat pump solution. Executing the renovation under occupancy created an additional challenge, as the impact on tenants was to be reduced to a minimum.
Looking at the design of the project, it resembles an energy grid with a number of drillings put down underneath car parks and green areas of the location. The warmed up water is then distributed to each tower block and used by individual heat pumps to provide heating and hot water (65°C) to the tenants.
The project was close to completion at the time of our visit and both the Kensa team, Together Housing and the tenants were very satisfied with the progress. The main lesson learned: even the renovation of high-rise buildings with heat pumps is possible .
More details by Kensa itself: kensacontracting.com
The Daisyfield site in Blackburn also was winner of the EHPA heat pump awards in 2020. Hpcy.ehpa.org
