South Norfolk & Broadland District Council HQ

The Challenge

South Norfolk & Broadland District Council needed to transform their renewable heating at their HQ in Norfolk.

The existing chiller plant was inefficient and would soon be due for replacement. The brief was to install a new Air Source Heat Pump plant alongside the existing chillers.

The Expert Solution & Result

Despite the brief being to install a new Air Source Heat Pump plant alongside the existing chillers – we knew this wasn’t the right thing to do.

So we didn’t do it.

We recommended the design of a combined heating and cooling system offering not only a 70% energy saving for heating compared to the original boilers but also a 35% increase in efficiency compared to the original chillers.

Not only this, the new heating and cooling system was installed in place of the old chillers, allowing for significant cost savings on equipment, enclosure construction, electrical linkage and piping connections.

Because of our bespoke approach to the challenge we were also able to deliver the project for 40% less than the budgeted sum – delivering outstanding value for South Norfolk and Broadland District Council.

The Feedback

Annie Sommazzi, Clean Growth and Sustainability Manager at Broadland and South Norfolk District Council said:

“We are delighted to share our positive experience working with Finn Geotherm on the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) project. Their expertise and dedication have been instrumental in the successful delivery of this initiative. This project was complex, time constrained and was based across three sites in Broadland and South Norfolk. One of the key challenges of the project involved the upgrade of the UK Power Networks (UKPN) substation at Diss. Finn Geotherm managed this complex task with exceptional efficiency, ensuring minimal disruption and completing the upgrade in a timely manner – a matter that was vital to the overall success of the PSDS work programme. Their ability to navigate the intricacies of this process demonstrated their technical proficiency and commitment to excellence. Finn Geotherm’s performance across the three PSDS sites, all of which remained fully operational throughout the project, was outstanding. They coordinated seamlessly with our teams, ensuring that daily operations were not affected and maintaining a high level of professionalism at all times. Particularly noteworthy was their work on one site, which serves as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) housing vulnerable residents. Finn Geotherm exhibited great sensitivity and care, ensuring the safety and comfort of all residents while carrying out the necessary works. Their approach reflected a deep understanding of the unique challenges associated with working in such environments. As M&E engineers, Finn Geotherm brought innovative, out-of-the-box solutions to the table, which were crucial in delivering the projects on time and within budget. Their creative problem-solving skills and flexibility were key factors in overcoming the various hurdles encountered during the project. They were always responsive, client focused and we had a lot of fun working with them! Overall, Finn Geotherm has been an exceptional partner in our PSDS project. Their professionalism, technical expertise, and commitment to client satisfaction make them a highly recommended choice for any future projects.”